Components of Selected Balance Sheet Accounts (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Bankruptcy Claims, amount reserved for outstanding claims	$ 3,922	$ 3,922
Other current assets:
Tubular inventory and well materials	1,931	2,125
Prepaid expenses	1,179	903
Other Assets, Current	3,110	3,028
Other assets:
Deferred issuance costs of the Revolver	2,597	2,785
Other	2,579	2,544
Other assets	5,176	5,329
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	6,617	9,825
Drilling costs	4,741	2,479
Royalties and revenue – related	29,839	26,116
Compensation – related	1,345	2,557
Interest	57	55
Other	4,603	4,743
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	51,124	49,697
Other liabilities:
Asset retirement obligations	2,532	2,459
Defined benefit pension obligations	998	1,025
Postretirement health care benefit obligations	506	488
Other	100	100
Other liabilities	$ 4,136	$ 4,072

Bankruptcy Claims, amount reserved for outstanding claims

No definition available.

Name:	pva_BankruptcyClaimsamountreservedforoutstandingclaims
Namespace Prefix:	pva_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and due within one year (or the operating cycle, if longer), including liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received, taxes, interest, rent and utilities, accrued salaries and bonuses, payroll taxes and fringe benefits.