Components of the Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Loss from continuing operations		$ (71,918)	$ (21,097)		$ (98,258)	$ (10,331)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax			21,308	[1]		33,482	[1]
Gain on sale of dicontinued operations	49,612		49,612			49,612
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in discontinued operations			(18,744)			(28,090)
Income (loss) attributable to Penn Virginia Corporation		(71,918)	31,079		(98,258)	44,673
Less: Portion of subsidiary net income allocated to undistributed share-basd compensation awards, net of tax						(28)
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic, Total		$ (71,918)	$ 31,079		$ (98,258)	$ 44,645
Weighted-average shares, basic		45,768	45,539		45,724	45,508
Effect of dilutive securities			251	[2]		259	[2]
Weighted-average shares, diluted		45,768	45,790		45,724	45,767

[1] For purposes of determining earnings per share, net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, which is fully attributable to PVG's operations, is applied against income from discontinued operations.

[2] For both the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, approximately 0.1 million potentially dilutive securities, including the Convertible Notes, stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units, had the effect of being anti-dilutive and were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per common share.