Subsidiary guarantors - Condensed consolidating statement of operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Subsidiary guarantees
Total operating revenues		$ 123,275	$ 150,340	$ 182,331	$ 150,694	$ 237,290	$ 200,241	$ 183,044	$ 173,310	$ 606,640	$ 793,885	$ 665,257
Total operating costs and expenses										3,078,154	567,499	450,906
Income (loss) from operations		(1,015,677)	(927,859)	(501,480)	(26,498)	32,623	69,164	64,561	60,038	(2,471,514)	226,386	214,351
Interest expense and other, net										(102,793)	(120,879)	(100,164)
Other non-operating income (expense)										187,426	324,352	76,897
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes										(2,386,881)	429,859	191,084
Total income tax benefit (expense)	[1]									176,945	(164,286)	(74,507)
Income (loss) from continuing operations—basic and diluted										(2,209,936)	265,573	116,577
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax										0	0	1,423
Net income (loss)		$ (964,647)	$ (847,783)	$ (397,034)	$ (472)	$ 201,278	$ 83,407	$ (18,899)	$ (213)	(2,209,936)	265,573	118,000
Reportable Legal Entities | Laredo
Subsidiary guarantees
Total operating revenues										432,478	738,446	665,172
Total operating costs and expenses										2,897,272	505,455	455,972
Income (loss) from operations										(2,464,794)	232,991	209,200
Interest expense and other, net										(102,793)	(120,879)	(100,164)
Other non-operating income (expense)										182,396	317,980	84,861
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes										(2,385,191)	430,092	193,897
Total income tax benefit (expense)										176,945	(164,286)	(74,507)
Income (loss) from continuing operations—basic and diluted										(2,208,246)	265,806	119,390
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax												(1,390)
Net income (loss)										(2,208,246)	265,806	118,000
Reportable Legal Entities | Subsidiary Guarantors
Subsidiary guarantees
Total operating revenues										198,248	63,944	8,824
Total operating costs and expenses										203,278	70,316	3,673
Income (loss) from operations										(5,030)	(6,372)	5,151
Interest expense and other, net										0	0	0
Other non-operating income (expense)										6,708	(339)	2,268
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes										1,678	(6,711)	7,419
Total income tax benefit (expense)										0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations—basic and diluted										1,678	(6,711)	7,419
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax												2,813
Net income (loss)										1,678	(6,711)	10,232
Intercompany eliminations
Subsidiary guarantees
Total operating revenues										(24,086)	(8,505)	(8,739)
Total operating costs and expenses										(22,396)	(8,272)	(8,739)
Income (loss) from operations										(1,690)	(233)	0
Interest expense and other, net										0	0	0
Other non-operating income (expense)										(1,678)	6,711	(10,232)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes										(3,368)	6,478	(10,232)
Total income tax benefit (expense)										0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations—basic and diluted										(3,368)	6,478	(10,232)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax												0
Net income (loss)										$ (3,368)	$ 6,478	$ (10,232)

[1] Income tax benefit or expense for the midstream and marketing segment was calculated by multiplying income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes by 36%