Supplemental Quarterly Financial Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 306,005		$ 254,438		$ 235,206
Operating income (loss)		(155,419)		(98,808)		(205,346)
Net income (loss) per share - Basic		$ (2.90)		$ (0.19)		$ (2.62)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	51,546			51,546
Net income (loss) per share - Diluted		$ (2.90)		$ (0.19)		$ (2.62)
Income (loss) attributable to Penn Virginia Corp.		(132,915)		(8,423)		(114,643)
Earnings (loss) per share - Basic
Continuing operations		$ (2.90)		$ (1.44)		$ (2.99)
Discontinued operations				$ 0.12		$ 0.37
Gain on sale of discontinued operations				$ 1.13
Net income (loss) per share - Basic		$ (2.90)		$ (0.19)		$ (2.62)
Earnings (loss) per share - Diluted
Continuing operations		$ (2.90)		$ (1.44)		$ (2.99)
Discontinued operations				$ 0.12		$ 0.37
Gain on sale of discontinued operations				$ 1.13
Net income (loss) per share - Diluted		$ (2.90)		$ (0.19)		$ (2.62)
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic		45,784		45,553		43,811
Diluted		45,784		45,553		43,811
First Quarter
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues		68,583		67,878
Operating income (loss)		(28,529)	[1]	92	[2]
Net loss from continuing operations		(26,340)		10,766
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax				12,174
Net income (loss) per share - Basic		$ (0.58)	[3]	$ 0.30	[3]
Net income (loss) per share - Diluted		$ (0.58)	[3]	$ 0.30	[3]
Income (loss) attributable to Penn Virginia Corp.				13,594
Earnings (loss) per share - Basic
Continuing operations				$ 0.24
Discontinued operations				$ 0.06
Net income (loss) per share - Basic		$ (0.58)	[3]	$ 0.30	[3]
Earnings (loss) per share - Diluted
Continuing operations				$ 0.24
Discontinued operations				$ 0.06
Net income (loss) per share - Diluted		$ (0.58)	[3]	$ 0.30	[3]
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic		45,687		45,465
Diluted		45,687		45,761
Second Quarter
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues		73,618		53,288
Operating income (loss)		(80,713)	[1]	(20,878)	[2]
Net loss from continuing operations		(71,918)		(21,097)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax				21,308
Net income (loss) per share - Basic		$ (1.57)	[3]	$ 0.68	[3]
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax				49,612
Net income (loss) per share - Diluted		$ (1.57)	[3]	$ 0.68	[3]
Income (loss) attributable to Penn Virginia Corp.				31,079
Earnings (loss) per share - Basic
Continuing operations				$ (0.46)
Discontinued operations				$ 0.06
Gain on sale of discontinued operations				$ 1.08
Net income (loss) per share - Basic		$ (1.57)	[3]	$ 0.68	[3]
Earnings (loss) per share - Diluted
Continuing operations				$ (0.46)
Discontinued operations				$ 0.06
Gain on sale of discontinued operations				$ 1.08
Net income (loss) per share - Diluted		$ (1.57)	[3]	$ 0.68	[3]
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic		45,768		45,539
Diluted		45,768		45,790
Third Quarter
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues		83,353		68,953
Operating income (loss)		(9,031)	[1]	(53,053)	[2]
Net loss from continuing operations		(6,718)		(30,159)
Net income (loss) per share - Basic		$ (0.15)	[3]	$ (0.66)	[3]
Net income (loss) per share - Diluted		$ (0.15)	[3]	$ (0.66)	[3]
Income (loss) attributable to Penn Virginia Corp.				(30,159)
Earnings (loss) per share - Basic
Continuing operations				$ (0.66)
Net income (loss) per share - Basic		$ (0.15)	[3]	$ (0.66)	[3]
Earnings (loss) per share - Diluted
Continuing operations				$ (0.66)
Net income (loss) per share - Diluted		$ (0.15)	[3]	$ (0.66)	[3]
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic		45,817		45,591
Diluted		45,817		45,591
Fourth Quarter
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues		80,451		64,319
Operating income (loss)		(37,146)	[1]	(24,969)	[2]
Net loss from continuing operations		(27,939)		(24,837)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax				(34)
Net income (loss) per share - Basic		$ (0.61)	[3]	$ (0.50)	[3]
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax				1,934
Net income (loss) per share - Diluted		$ (0.61)	[3]	$ (0.50)	[3]
Income (loss) attributable to Penn Virginia Corp.				$ (22,937)
Earnings (loss) per share - Basic
Continuing operations				$ (0.54)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations				$ 0.04
Net income (loss) per share - Basic		$ (0.61)	[3]	$ (0.50)	[3]
Earnings (loss) per share - Diluted
Continuing operations				$ (0.54)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations				$ 0.04
Net income (loss) per share - Diluted		$ (0.61)	[3]	$ (0.50)	[3]
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic		45,864		45,615
Diluted		45,864		45,615

[1] Includes impairment of oil and gas properties of $71 million and $34 million during the quarters ended June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

[2] Includes an impairment of $1.1 million for oil and gas properties held for sale during the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Includes impairments of oil and gas assets of $35.1 million and $9.7 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

[3] The sum of the quarters may not equal the total of the respective year's earnings per common share due to changes in weighted-average shares outstanding throughout the year.