Impairment of Natural Gas and Crude Oil Properties (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Impairment of natural gas and crude oil properties [Line Items]
Impairment of Leasehold	$ 33,130	$ 2,102
Delaware Basin Unproved Property Impairment	6,300
Impairment of proved ad unproved properties	26,900
Amortization of Individually Insignificant Unproved Properties	58	91
Impairment of Oil and Gas Properties	33,188	2,193
Impairment of properties and equipment	$ 33,188	$ 2,193

Amortization of Individually Insignificant Unproved Properties

No definition available.

Name:	pdce_AmortizationOfIndividuallyInsignificantUnprovedProperties
Namespace Prefix:	pdce_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Delaware Basin Unproved Property Impairment

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pdce_DelawareBasinUnprovedPropertyImpairment
Namespace Prefix:	pdce_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

[Line Items] for Impairment of natural gas and crude oil properties [Table]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pdce_ImpairmentOfNaturalGasAndCrudeOilPropertiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	pdce_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Impairment of other properties

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pdce_Impairmentofotherproperties
Namespace Prefix:	pdce_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The adjustment to reduce the value of existing agreements that specify the lessee's rights to use the leased property. This expense is charged when the estimates of future profits generated by the leased property are reduced.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68055307&loc=d3e2420-110228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLeasehold
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The expense recorded to reduce the value of oil and gas assets consisting of proved properties and unproved properties as the estimate of future successful production from these properties is reduced.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84176398&loc=d3e2921-110230

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 932
-SubTopic 360
-Section 35
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66906256&loc=d3e66150-109466

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The charge against earnings resulting from the write down of long lived assets other than goodwill due to the difference between the carrying value and lower fair value.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration