Shareholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended		8 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		8 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	May 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011	May 31, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010 Noncontrolling Interests in Discontinued Operations	Sep. 30, 2009 Noncontrolling Interests in Discontinued Operations	Apr. 30, 2010 Noncontrolling Interests in Discontinued Operations	Apr. 30, 2010 Additional Paid-in Capital	Sep. 30, 2009 Additional Paid-in Capital	Apr. 30, 2010 Additional Paid-in Capital	Apr. 30, 2010 Penn Virginia GP Holdings, L.P. Limited Partner	Sep. 30, 2009 Penn Virginia GP Holdings, L.P. Limited Partner	May 31, 2010 Before Amendment
Common stock, shares authorized				128,000,000		128,000,000	128,000,000									64,000,000
Common stock shares issued in registered public offering			3,500,000
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock in public offering			$ 64,800,000
Accumulated other comprehensive losses attributable to pension and postretirement benefit obligations, net of tax				900,000	1,300,000	1,100,000
Treasury stock, shares				125,357		223,886
Sale of common units														11,250,000	10,000,000
Our reduced limited partner interest in PVG before the sale of units														51.40%	77.00%
Our reduced limited partner interest in PVG after the sale of units														22.60%	51.40%
Proceeds from the sale of PVG units, net	199,125,000	118,080,000		199,125,000	118,080,000
Sale of PVG units, net of tax								$ 70,200,000	$ 67,700,000	$ 137,900,000	$ 82,900,000	$ 32,700,000	$ 115,700,000