Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations of SandRidge Energy, Inc. and Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantors and Non-Guarantors' (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2010		Mar. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 373,838		$ 363,753		$ 364,774		$ 312,848		$ 293,070		$ 245,233		$ 182,439		$ 210,994		$ 1,415,213		$ 931,736		$ 591,044
Expenses
Direct operating expenses																	498,563		381,974		309,297
General and administrative																	148,643		179,565		100,256
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment																	383,069		326,111		1,934,042
(Gain) loss on derivative contracts	(445,000)		596,700		170,000		(277,600)										(44,075)		50,872		(147,527)
Total expenses																	986,200		938,522		2,196,068
(Loss) income from operations	(339,457)		696,582		279,716		(207,828)		(127,978)		(87,430)		119,452		89,170		429,013	[1]	(6,786)	[1]	(1,605,024)	[1]
Interest expense, net																	(237,332)		(247,442)		(185,316)
Loss on extinguishment of debt																	(38,232)
Other income, net																	3,122		2,558		8,292
Income (loss) before income taxes																	156,571		(251,670)		(1,782,048)
Income tax (benefit) expense																	(5,817)		(446,680)		(8,716)
Net income (loss)	(394,448)	[2]	636,004	[2]	223,170	[2]	(302,338)	[2]	(195,577)	[3]	307,602	[3]	54,611	[3]	28,374	[3]	162,388		195,010		(1,773,332)
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest																	54,323		4,445		2,258
Net (loss) income attributable to SandRidge Energy, Inc.																	108,065		190,565		(1,775,590)
Parent
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]
Total revenues																					58,273
Expenses
Direct operating expenses																					27,737
General and administrative																	416		882		15,645
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment																					627,478
(Gain) loss on derivative contracts																					(237,351)
Total expenses																	416		882		433,509
(Loss) income from operations																	(416)		(882)		(375,236)
Equity earnings from subsidiaries																	379,177		(10,253)		(1,227,164)
Interest expense, net																	(236,109)		(245,284)		(182,009)
Loss on extinguishment of debt																	(38,232)
Other income, net																			74		103
Income (loss) before income taxes																	104,420		(256,345)		(1,784,306)
Income tax (benefit) expense																	(5,984)		(446,910)		(8,716)
Net income (loss)																	110,404		190,565		(1,775,590)
Net (loss) income attributable to SandRidge Energy, Inc.																	110,404		190,565		(1,775,590)
Guarantors
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]
Total revenues																	1,285,854		894,621		498,032
Expenses
Direct operating expenses																	475,578		366,947		262,778
General and administrative																	144,574		176,075		82,691
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment																	351,708		319,297		1,295,414
(Gain) loss on derivative contracts																	(33,749)		50,872		89,824
Total expenses																	938,111		913,191		1,730,707
(Loss) income from operations																	347,743		(18,570)		(1,232,675)
Equity earnings from subsidiaries																	28,751		7,123		1,834
Interest expense, net																	(197)		(1,073)		(2,167)
Other income, net																	2,880		2,267		5,844
Income (loss) before income taxes																	379,177		(10,253)		(1,227,164)
Net income (loss)																	379,177		(10,253)		(1,227,164)
Net (loss) income attributable to SandRidge Energy, Inc.																	379,177		(10,253)		(1,227,164)
Non-Guarantors
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]
Total revenues																	268,427		138,685		172,585
Expenses
Direct operating expenses																	158,697		115,912		156,032
General and administrative																	4,670		3,293		2,516
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment																	31,361		6,814		11,150
(Gain) loss on derivative contracts																	(10,326)
Total expenses																	184,402		126,019		169,698
(Loss) income from operations																	84,025		12,666		2,887
Interest expense, net																	(1,026)		(1,085)		(1,140)
Other income, net																	242		217		2,345
Income (loss) before income taxes																	83,241		11,798		4,092
Income tax (benefit) expense																	167		230
Net income (loss)																	83,074		11,568		4,092
Net (loss) income attributable to SandRidge Energy, Inc.																	83,074		11,568		4,092
Eliminations
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]
Total revenues																	(139,068)		(101,570)		(137,846)
Expenses
Direct operating expenses																	(135,712)		(100,885)		(137,250)
General and administrative																	(1,017)		(685)		(596)
Total expenses																	(136,729)		(101,570)		(137,846)
(Loss) income from operations																	(2,339)
Equity earnings from subsidiaries																	(407,928)		3,130		1,225,330
Income (loss) before income taxes																	(410,267)		3,130		1,225,330
Net income (loss)																	(410,267)		3,130		1,225,330
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest																	54,323		4,445		2,258
Net (loss) income attributable to SandRidge Energy, Inc.																	$ (464,590)		$ (1,315)		$ 1,223,072

[1] Exploration and production segment income (loss) from operations includes net (gains) losses of $(44.1) million, $50.9 million and ($147.5) million on commodity derivative contracts for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The loss from operations for the exploration and production segment for the year ended December 31, 2009 includes non-cash full cost ceiling impairments of $1,693.3 million on the Company's oil and natural gas properties. The loss from operations for the midstream gas services segment for the year ended December 31, 2009 includes a $26.1 million loss on the sale of its gathering and compression assets in the Piñon Field.

[2] Includes a net loss (gain) of $277.6 million, ($170.0) million, ($596.7) million and $445.0 million on commodity derivative contracts for the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively.

[3] Includes a valuation allowance release of $456.4 million for the third quarter.