CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total USD ($)	Total Penn Virginia Shareholders' Equity USD ($)	Common Stock USD ($)	Preferred Stock	Paid-in Capital USD ($)	Retained Earnings USD ($)	Deferred Compensation Obligation USD ($)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss USD ($)	Treasury Stock USD ($)	Noncontrolling Interests USD ($)	Preferred Stock USD ($)	Preferred Stock Total Penn Virginia Shareholders' Equity USD ($)	Preferred Stock Paid-in Capital USD ($)
Balance as of beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 1,237,999	$ 908,088	$ 265		$ 590,846	$ 319,167	$ 2,423	$ (1,286)	$ (3,327)	$ 329,911
Balance as of beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009			45,386,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	19,667	(8,423)				(8,423)				28,090
Change in hedging derivative financial instruments	582	0						0		582
Change in pension and postretirement obligations	348	348						348
Dividends paid	(10,271)	(10,271)				(10,271)
Common stock issued as compensation (in shares)			5,000
Common stock issued as compensation	92	92			92
Share-based compensation (in shares)			(2,000)
Share-based compensation	7,157	7,157			7,157
Deferred compensation (in shares)			8,000
Deferred compensation	573	573			562		320		(309)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)			136,000
Exercise of stock options	2,099	2,099	1		1,712				386
Restricted stock unit vesting (in shares)			24,000
Restricted stock unit vesting	202	202	1		201
Sale of subsidiary units, net of tax (Notes 3, 13 and 19)	153,103	82,915			82,915					70,188
Deconsolidation of subsidiaries	(382,325)									(382,325)
Unit-based compensation of subsidiaries	1,853	(1,267)			(1,267)					3,120
Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders	(49,566)									(49,566)
Other	(1,237)	(1,237)			(1,237)
Balance as of end of period at Dec. 31, 2010	980,276	980,276	267		680,981	300,473	2,743	(938)	(3,250)	0
Balance as of end of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010			45,557,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(132,915)	(132,915)				(132,915)
Change in hedging derivative financial instruments	0
Change in pension and postretirement obligations	(146)	(146)						(146)
Dividends paid	(10,316)	(10,316)				(10,316)
Common stock issued as compensation (in shares)			11,000
Common stock issued as compensation	93	93			93
Share-based compensation (in shares)			0
Share-based compensation	6,460	6,460			6,460
Deferred compensation (in shares)			0
Deferred compensation	1,134	1,134	1		876		877		(620)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)			95,000
Exercise of stock options	1,226	1,226	1		1,225				0
Restricted stock unit vesting (in shares)			51,000
Restricted stock unit vesting	271	271	1		270
Other	226	226			226
Balance as of end of period at Dec. 31, 2011	846,309	846,309	270		690,131	157,242	3,620	(1,084)	(3,870)
Balance as of end of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011			45,714,000	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(104,589)	(104,589)				(104,589)
Change in hedging derivative financial instruments	0
Change in pension and postretirement obligations	102	102						102
Dividends paid	(5,176)	(5,176)				(5,176)
Dividends declared ($146.67 per preferred share)	(1,687)	(1,687)				(1,687)
Issuance of stock (in shares)			9,200,000	1,150,000
Issuance of stock	43,350	43,350	92		43,258						110,462	110,462	109,312
Common stock issued as compensation (in shares)			80,000
Common stock issued as compensation	425	425	1		424
Share-based compensation	5,765	5,765			5,765
Deferred compensation (in shares)			35,000
Deferred compensation	155	155			157		(509)		507
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	0
Restricted stock unit vesting (in shares)			88,000
Restricted stock unit vesting	0		1		(1)
Balance as of end of period at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 895,116	$ 895,116	$ 364		$ 849,046	$ 45,790	$ 3,111	$ (982)	$ (3,363)
Balance as of end of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012			55,117,000	1,150,000