Acquisitions and Divestitures - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2010	Jan. 31, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from the sale of PVG units, net			$ 199,125,000			$ 199,125,000
Sale of PVG units, net of tax						152,290,000
Proceeds from the sale of remaining PVG units, net	139,120,000					139,120,000
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	49,612,000			49,612,000		49,612,000
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, income tax effects	35,100,000
Carrying value of oil and gas property					2,220,939,000		2,139,894,000
Proceeds from the sale of oil and gas property, net		23,277,000			696,000	23,277,000
Exchange of oil gas and properties		8,200,000
Penn Virginia GP Holdings, L.P. | Limited Partner
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Sale of common units			11.25
Our reduced limited partner interest in PVG after the sale of units			22.60%
Penn Virginia GP Holdings, L.P. | General Partner
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percent of PVG general partner interests relinquished	100.00%
Noncontrolling Interests in Discontinued Operations
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Sale of PVG units, net of tax			70,188,000			70,188,000
Additional Paid-in Capital
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Sale of PVG units, net of tax			82,102,000
Eagle Ford Shale
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acres of land acquired in Gonzales County, Texas					6,500
Cost of acquired land					24,000,000
Current working interest in the acquired acreage					86.00%
Arkoma Basin | Subsequent Event
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Transaction effective date					2011-07-01
Value of property interests being sold					30,000,000
Number of net acres to be sold					73,000
Proved reserves of natural gas equivalent to be sold					42,500,000,000
Carrying value of oil and gas property					101,000,000
Impairment of oil and gas property					$ 71,000,000