CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Common Stock	Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Deferred Compensation Obligation	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock	Total Penn Virginia Shareholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 1,222,442	$ 230	$ 485,967	$ 443,646	$ 2,237	$ (4,182)	$ (2,683)	$ 925,215	$ 297,227
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2008		41,871,000
Net income (loss)	(77,368)			(114,643)				(114,643)	37,275
Change in hedging derivative financial instruments	3,804					2,756		2,756	1,048
Change in pension and postretirement obligations	140					140		140
Dividends paid ($0.225 per share)	(9,836)			(9,836)				(9,836)
Issuance of common stock (in shares)		3,500,000
Issuance of common stock	64,835	35	64,800					64,835
Common stock issued as compensation (in shares)		3,000
Common stock issued as compensation	60		60					60
Share-based compensation	9,062		9,062					9,062
Deferred compensation (in shares)		12,000
Deferred compensation	(61)		11		186		(258)	(61)
Exercise of stock options	(19)		367				(386)	(19)
Sale of subsidiary units, net of tax (Notes 3, 13 and 19)	100,452		32,739					32,739	67,713
Unit-based compensation of subsidiaries	3,986		(833)					(833)	4,819
Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders	(78,171)								(78,171)
Other	(1,327)		(1,327)					(1,327)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	1,237,999	265	590,846	319,167	2,423	(1,286)	(3,327)	908,088	329,911
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009		45,386,000
Net income (loss)	19,667			(8,423)				(8,423)	28,090
Change in hedging derivative financial instruments	582								582
Change in pension and postretirement obligations	348					348		348
Dividends paid ($0.225 per share)	(10,271)			(10,271)				(10,271)
Common stock issued as compensation (in shares)		5,000
Common stock issued as compensation	92		92					92
Share-based compensation (in shares)		(2,000)
Share-based compensation	7,157		7,157					7,157
Deferred compensation (in shares)		8,000
Deferred compensation	573		562		320		(309)	573
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		136,000
Exercise of stock options	2,099	1	1,712				386	2,099
Restricted stock unit vesting (in shares)		24,000
Restricted stock unit vesting	202	1	201					202
Sale of subsidiary units, net of tax (Notes 3, 13 and 19)	153,103		82,915					82,915	70,188
Deconsolidation of subsidiaries (Notes 3, 13 and 19)	(382,325)								(382,325)
Unit-based compensation of subsidiaries	1,853		(1,267)					(1,267)	3,120
Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders	(49,566)								(49,566)
Other	(1,237)		(1,237)					(1,237)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	980,276	267	680,981	300,473	2,743	(938)	(3,250)	980,276
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010		45,557,000
Net income (loss)	(132,915)			(132,915)				(132,915)
Change in pension and postretirement obligations	(146)					(146)		(146)
Dividends paid ($0.225 per share)	(10,316)			(10,316)				(10,316)
Common stock issued as compensation (in shares)		11,000
Common stock issued as compensation	93		93					93
Share-based compensation	6,460		6,460					6,460
Deferred compensation	1,134	1	876		877		(620)	1,134
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	95,516	95,000
Exercise of stock options	1,226	1	1,225					1,226
Restricted stock unit vesting (in shares)		51,000
Restricted stock unit vesting	271	1	270					271
Other	226		226					226
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 846,309	$ 270	$ 690,131	$ 157,242	$ 3,620	$ (1,084)	$ (3,870)	$ 846,309
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		45,714,000