Cash received from related parties

No definition available.

Name:	unt_Cashreceivedfromrelatedparties
Namespace Prefix:	unt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Completed wells

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	unt_Completedwells
Namespace Prefix:	unt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interest rate of employee partnerships in oil and gas properties

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	unt_InterestRateOfEmployeePartnershipsInOilAndGasProperties
Namespace Prefix:	unt_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interest received on senior notes

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	unt_Interestreceivedonseniornotes
Namespace Prefix:	unt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of oil and gas limited partnerships for employee investment

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	unt_NumberOfOilAndGasLimitedPartnershipsForEmployeeInvestment
Namespace Prefix:	unt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of wells drilled

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	unt_Numberofwellsdrilled
Namespace Prefix:	unt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Partnerships dissolved

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	unt_Partnershipsdissolved
Namespace Prefix:	unt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Related party ownership percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	unt_Relatedpartyownershippercentage
Namespace Prefix:	unt_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Senior subordinated note purchase

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	unt_Seniorsubordinatednotepurchase
Namespace Prefix:	unt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, amount of receivables arising from transactions with related parties.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(k)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39622-107864

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(3))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39603-107864

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(3)(a)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsReceivableRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of cash paid for royalties during the current period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 25
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3536-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsForRoyalties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of transactions with related party during the financial reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39603-107864

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39622-107864

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue, fees and commissions earned from transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiaries; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) an entity and trusts for the benefit of employees, for example, but not limited to, pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of the entity's management; (d) an entity and its principal, owners, management, or members of their immediate families; and (e) affiliates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(e))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07.1(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488393&loc=d3e606610-122999

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=unt_JohnNikkelMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=unt_G.BaileyPeytonIVMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=unt_ToklanOilandGasCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=unt_RobertNikkelMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=unt_WestThomasFieldServicesLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_GasGatheringAndProcessingEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Transactions With Related Parties (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
Transactions With Related Parties (Narrative) (Details)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Unit Partnerships	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Partnerships	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) wells Partnerships	Dec. 31, 2014 Partnerships	Nov. 30, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 10, 2016 USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of oil and gas limited partnerships for employee investment \| Unit	13
Partnerships dissolved \| Partnerships	0	2	0	1
Minimum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Interest rate of employee partnerships in oil and gas properties	1.00%
Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Interest rate of employee partnerships in oil and gas properties	15.00%
John Nikkel
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
John Nikkel senior subordinated note purchase							$ 400,000
Interest John Nikkel received on senior notes					$ 13,250	$ 4,800
G. Bailey Peyton IV
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Payments for royalties	$ 700,000	$ 500,000	$ 800,000
Toklan Oil and Gas Company \| John Nikkel
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party ownership percentage		25.80%
Number of wells drilled		0
Completed wells \| wells			1
Revenue from related parties		$ 0	$ 500,000
Cash received from related parties			900,000
Related party accounts receivable balance			0
Payments for royalties		$ 0	0
Toklan Oil and Gas Company \| Robert Nikkel
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party ownership percentage		20.00%
West Thomas Field Services, LLC \| John Nikkel
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party ownership percentage		25.00%
Revenue from related parties		$ 400,000	100,000
West Thomas Field Services, LLC \| Robert Nikkel
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party ownership percentage		20.00%
Gas Gathering and Processing Equipment \| Toklan Oil and Gas Company \| John Nikkel
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Amount received from Toklan for gathering system			$ 500,000