Components of the Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Loss from continuing operations		$ (6,718)	$ (30,159)	$ (104,976)	$ (40,490)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax					33,482	[1]
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	49,612				49,612
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in discontinued operations					(28,090)
Income (loss) attributable to Penn Virginia Corporation		(6,718)	(30,159)	(104,976)	14,514
Less: Portion of subsidiary net income allocated to undistributed share-based compensation awards, net of tax					(28)
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic, Total		$ (6,718)	$ (30,159)	$ (104,976)	$ 14,486
Weighted-average shares, basic		45,817	45,591	45,758	45,534
Effect of dilutive securities					199	[2]
Weighted-average shares, diluted		45,817	45,591	45,758	45,733

[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 nine months ended September 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.