Subsidiary guarantors - Statement of operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Subsidiary guarantees
Total revenues	$ 215,287	$ 279,746	$ 351,046	$ 259,696	$ 240,337	$ 205,818	$ 187,001	$ 189,006	$ 1,105,775	$ 822,162	$ 597,378
Total costs and expenses									757,283	572,490	685,340
Operating income (loss)	56,123	104,410	94,767	93,192	85,833	60,452	52,061	51,326	348,492	249,672	(87,962)
Interest expense									(57,904)	(89,377)	(93,298)
Gain on sale of investment in equity method investee (see Note 4.c)									0	405,906	0
Other non-operating income (expense), net									38,256	(15,427)	(79,479)
Income (loss) before income taxes									328,844	550,774	(260,739)
Total income tax expense									(4,249)	(1,800)	0
Net income (loss)	$ 149,573	$ 55,050	$ 33,452	$ 86,520	$ 408,561	$ 11,027	$ 61,110	$ 68,276	324,595	548,974	(260,739)
Reportable Legal Entities | Laredo
Subsidiary guarantees
Total revenues									809,396	623,028	427,028
Total costs and expenses									466,895	376,938	514,483
Operating income (loss)									342,501	246,090	(87,455)
Interest expense									(57,904)	(89,377)	(93,298)
Gain on sale of investment in equity method investee (see Note 4.c)										0
Other non-operating income (expense), net									50,083	402,536	(73,669)
Income (loss) before income taxes									334,680	559,249	(254,422)
Total income tax expense									(4,249)	(1,800)	0
Net income (loss)									330,431	557,449	(254,422)
Reportable Legal Entities | Subsidiary Guarantors
Subsidiary guarantees
Total revenues									365,633	266,455	213,866
Total costs and expenses									353,806	254,398	208,056
Operating income (loss)									11,827	12,057	5,810
Interest expense									0	0	0
Gain on sale of investment in equity method investee (see Note 4.c)										405,906
Other non-operating income (expense), net									(1,049)	8,083	9,381
Income (loss) before income taxes									10,778	426,046	15,191
Total income tax expense									0	0	0
Net income (loss)									10,778	426,046	15,191
Intercompany eliminations
Subsidiary guarantees
Total revenues									(69,254)	(67,321)	(43,516)
Total costs and expenses									(63,418)	(58,846)	(37,199)
Operating income (loss)									(5,836)	(8,475)	(6,317)
Interest expense									0	0	0
Gain on sale of investment in equity method investee (see Note 4.c)										0
Other non-operating income (expense), net									(10,778)	(426,046)	(15,191)
Income (loss) before income taxes									(16,614)	(434,521)	(21,508)
Total income tax expense									0	0	0
Net income (loss)									$ (16,614)	$ (434,521)	$ (21,508)