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Income Taxes (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]
The components of income tax provisions and benefits were as follows:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Federal income tax provision (benefit)
(in millions)
Current
$
(32.2
)
 
$
(71.3
)
 
$
2.1

Deferred
55.7

 
(257.8
)
 
(339.8
)
State income tax provision (benefit)
 
 
 
 
 
Current
(15.1
)
 
1.5

 
0.5

Deferred
(51.4
)
 
10.2

 
25.0

Total income tax provision (benefit)
$
(43.0
)
 
$
(317.4
)
 
$
(312.2
)
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]
The difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the Company's effective income tax rate is explained as follows:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Federal income taxes statutory rate(1)
21.0
 %
 
21.0
 %
 
35.0
 %
Increase (decrease) in rate as a result of:
 
 
 
 
 
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit
(2.5
)%
 
4.1
 %
 
44.3
 %
Federal rate change(1)
—
 %
 
—
 %
 
741.3
 %
State rate change(2)
20.9
 %
 
(2.9
)%
 
2.1
 %
Valuation allowance(3)
(18.0
)%
 
(1.9
)%
 
(84.4
)%
Permanent adjustments(4)
(7.1
)%
 
(0.1
)%
 
(0.4
)%
Return to provision adjustment
2.7
 %
 
(0.1
)%
 
(0.7
)%
Uncertain tax provision(5)
13.6
 %
 
—
 %
 
(7.7
)%
AMT Credit Reclass due to NOL Carryback(6)
—
 %
 
3.8
 %
 
(1.8
)%
Effective income tax rate
30.6
 %
 
23.9
 %
 
727.7
 %

____________________________
(1) 
The Tax Legislation changed the federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% starting in 2018. The rate change caused the Company to revalue its deferred tax liabilities and assets as of December 31, 2017 from a 35% to 21% federal corporate income tax rate which caused the majority of the change in rate.
(2) 
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the state rate change was primarily the result of the re-measurement of QEP's deferred tax assets and liabilities at a lower blended state tax rate due to exiting the state of Louisiana.
(3) 
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recognized an additional valuation allowance of $25.3 million on its Louisiana state NOL. The Company does not expect that it will have sufficient taxable income to utilize the state NOL it is carrying forward due to the Haynesville Divestiture. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company also increased its valuation allowance by $25.5 million and $36.2 million, respectively, against its Louisiana net operating loss as the Company did not forecast sufficient taxable income to utilize the entire net operating loss in Louisiana at December 31, 2018 and 2017.
(4) 
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the permanent items primarily related to disallowed officer compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of $6.1 million and share-based compensation shortfalls of $4.0 million.
(5) 
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recognized a tax benefit of $19.0 million due to the expiration of the statute of limitations related to the Company's uncertain tax position. During the year ended December 31, 2017 the decrease in the tax rate was due to the federal corporate income tax rate change related to the Tax Legislation.
(6) 
During the year ended December 31, 2018, QEP agreed to an IRS proposed change to the initial treatment of the 2016 carryback of net operating losses (NOL). This change resulted in a reduction of available NOL carryforwards valued at $75.7 million and an increase in AMT credit carryforwards of $126.0 million. The net change in value of $50.3 million was recorded in deferred income taxes.
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]
Significant components of the Company's deferred income taxes were as follows:
 
December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Deferred tax liabilities
(in millions)
Property, plant and equipment
$
592.9

 
$
665.1

Commodity price derivatives
—

 
30.1

Operating lease right-of-use assets
12.7

 
—

Other
0.9

 
2.6

Total deferred tax liabilities
606.5

 
697.8

Deferred tax assets
 
 
 
NOL and tax credit carryforwards
$
337.7

 
$
467.9

State NOL valuation allowance
(98.8
)
 
(82.3
)
Employee benefits and compensation costs
22.3

 
33.2

Interest carryforward(1)
45.7

 
—

Commodity price derivatives
3.9

 
—

Operating lease liabilities
14.1

 
—

Other
7.1

 
9.8

Total deferred tax assets
332.0

 
428.6

Net deferred income tax liability
$
274.5


$
269.2

Balance sheet classification
 
 
 
Deferred income tax liability – noncurrent
274.5

 
269.2

Net deferred income tax liability
$
274.5

 
$
269.2
Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards [Table Text Block]
The tax effected amounts and expiration dates of NOL and tax credit carryforwards at December 31, 2019, are as follows:
 
Expiration Dates
 
Amounts
 
 
 
(in millions)
State NOL and tax credit carryforwards
2020-2038
 
$
114.7

U.S. NOL(1)
2037-Indefinite
 
182.1

U.S. alternative minimum tax credit
Indefinite
 
37.1

General business credits
2036-2037
 
3.8

Total NOL and tax credit carryforwards
 
 
$
337.7


____________________________
(1) 
Federal NOL's created in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 can be carried forward indefinitely under the Tax Legislation (limited to 80% of taxable income computed without the NOL deduction).
Summary of Positions for which Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Table Text Block]
The following is a reconciliation of our beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:
 
Unrecognized Tax Benefits
 
2019
 
2018
 
(in millions)
Balance as of January 1,
$
19.0

 
$
19.0

Recognized tax benefits
(19.0
)
 
—

Balance as of December 31,
$
—

 
$
19.0