Industry Segment Information (Revenue From Different Segments) (Details)	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)		Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)		Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) rig		Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) systems
Revenues
Oil and natural gas													$ 357,744,000		$ 294,221,000		$ 385,774,000
Contract drilling													174,720,000		122,086,000		265,668,000
Gas gathering and processing													207,176,000		185,870,000		202,789,000
Total revenues	$ 204,847,000		$ 188,488,000	$ 170,581,000	$ 175,724,000	$ 174,280,000		$ 153,408,000	$ 138,305,000	$ 136,184,000			739,640,000		602,177,000		854,231,000
Operating costs:
Oil and natural gas													130,789,000		120,184,000		166,046,000
Contract drilling													122,600,000		88,154,000		156,408,000
Gas gathering and processing													155,483,000		137,609,000		161,556,000
Total operating costs													408,872,000		345,947,000		484,010,000
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization													209,257,000		208,353,000		352,742,000
Impairments													0		161,563,000		1,634,628,000
Total expenses													618,129,000		715,863,000		2,471,380,000
General and administrative expense													(38,087,000)		(33,337,000)		(34,358,000)
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets													327,000		2,540,000		(7,229,000)
Gain (loss) on derivatives													14,732,000		(22,813,000)		26,345,000
Interest expense, net													(38,334,000)		(39,829,000)		(31,963,000)
Other													21,000		307,000		45,000
Income (loss) before income taxes													60,170,000		(206,818,000)		(1,664,309,000)
Identifiable assets:
Oil and natural gas	1,127,900,000	[1]				965,159,000	[2]				$ 1,218,036,000	[3]	1,127,900,000	[1]	965,159,000	[2]	1,218,036,000	[3]
Contract drilling	933,063,000					941,676,000					993,015,000		933,063,000		941,676,000		993,015,000
Gas gathering and processing	438,571,000					461,600,000					478,661,000		438,571,000		461,600,000		478,661,000
Total identifiable assets	2,499,534,000	[4]				2,368,435,000	[5]				2,689,712,000	[6]	2,499,534,000	[4]	2,368,435,000	[5]	2,689,712,000	[6]
Corporate land and building	56,854,000					58,188,000					49,890,000		56,854,000		58,188,000		49,890,000
Other corporate assets	25,064,000	[7]				52,680,000	[8]				60,240,000	[9]	25,064,000	[7]	52,680,000	[8]	60,240,000	[9]
Total assets	2,581,452,000					2,479,303,000					2,799,842,000		2,581,452,000		2,479,303,000		2,799,842,000
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures													332,280,000		142,155,000		454,287,000
Oil and Natural Gas
Revenues
Oil and natural gas													357,744,000		294,221,000		385,774,000
Contract drilling													0		0		0
Gas gathering and processing													0		0		0
Total revenues													357,744,000		294,221,000		385,774,000
Operating costs:
Oil and natural gas													135,532,000		126,739,000		170,831,000
Contract drilling													0		0		0
Gas gathering and processing													0		0		0
Total operating costs													135,532,000		126,739,000		170,831,000
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization													101,911,000		113,811,000		251,944,000
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties															161,563,000	[10]	1,599,348,000	[11]
Total expenses													237,443,000		402,113,000		2,022,123,000
Total operating income (loss)													120,301,000	[12]	(107,892,000)	[13]	(1,636,349,000)	[14]
General and administrative expense													0		0		0
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets													228,000		(324,000)		(147,000)
Gain (loss) on derivatives													0		0		0
Interest expense, net													0		0		0
Other													0		0		0
Income (loss) before income taxes													120,529,000		(108,216,000)		(1,636,496,000)
Identifiable assets:
Oil and natural gas	1,127,900,000	[1]				965,159,000	[2]				1,218,036,000	[3]	1,127,900,000	[1]	965,159,000	[2]	1,218,036,000	[3]
Contract drilling	0					0					0		0		0		0
Gas gathering and processing	0					0					0		0		0		0
Total identifiable assets	1,127,900,000	[4]				965,159,000	[5]				1,218,036,000	[6]	1,127,900,000	[4]	965,159,000	[5]	1,218,036,000	[6]
Corporate land and building	0					0					0		0		0		0
Other corporate assets	0	[7]				0	[8]				0	[9]	0	[7]	0	[8]	0	[9]
Total assets	1,127,900,000					965,159,000					1,218,036,000		1,127,900,000		965,159,000		1,218,036,000
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures													270,443,000		89,562,000		267,944,000
Non-cash ceiling test write-down net of tax															100,600,000
Drilling
Revenues
Oil and natural gas													0		0		0
Contract drilling													188,172,000		122,086,000		287,767,000
Gas gathering and processing													0		0		0
Total revenues													188,172,000		122,086,000		287,767,000
Operating costs:
Oil and natural gas													0		0		0
Contract drilling													134,432,000		88,154,000		174,757,000
Gas gathering and processing													0		0		0
Total operating costs													134,432,000		88,154,000		174,757,000
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization													56,370,000		46,992,000		56,135,000
Impairment of contract drilling equipment															0	[10]	8,314,000	[11]
Total expenses													190,802,000		135,146,000		239,206,000
Total operating income (loss)													(2,630,000)	[12]	(13,060,000)	[13]	48,561,000	[14]
General and administrative expense													0		0		0
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets													(776,000)		3,184,000		(7,516,000)
Gain (loss) on derivatives													0		0		0
Interest expense, net													0		0		0
Other													0		0		0
Income (loss) before income taxes													(3,406,000)		(9,876,000)		41,045,000
Identifiable assets:
Oil and natural gas	0	[1]				0	[2]				0	[3]	0	[1]	0	[2]	0	[3]
Contract drilling	933,063,000					941,676,000					993,015,000		933,063,000		941,676,000		993,015,000
Gas gathering and processing	0					0					0		0		0		0
Total identifiable assets	933,063,000	[4]				941,676,000	[5]				993,015,000	[6]	933,063,000	[4]	941,676,000	[5]	993,015,000	[6]
Corporate land and building	0					0					0		0		0		0
Other corporate assets	0	[7]				0	[8]				0	[9]	0	[7]	0	[8]	0	[9]
Total assets	933,063,000					941,676,000					$ 993,015,000		933,063,000		941,676,000		993,015,000
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures													36,148,000		19,134,000		84,802,000
Number of drilling rigs removed from service | rig											30
Mid-Stream
Revenues
Oil and natural gas													0		0		0
Contract drilling													0		0		0
Gas gathering and processing													277,049,000		237,785,000		268,012,000
Total revenues													277,049,000		237,785,000		268,012,000
Operating costs:
Oil and natural gas													0		0		0
Contract drilling													0		0		0
Gas gathering and processing													220,613,000		182,969,000		221,994,000
Total operating costs													220,613,000		182,969,000		221,994,000
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization													43,499,000		45,715,000		43,676,000
Impairment of gas gathering systems															0	[10]	26,966,000	[11]
Total expenses													264,112,000		228,684,000		292,636,000
Total operating income (loss)													12,937,000	[12]	9,101,000	[13]	(24,624,000)	[14]
General and administrative expense													0		0		0
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets													25,000		(302,000)		465,000
Gain (loss) on derivatives													0		0		0
Interest expense, net													0		0		0
Other													0		0		0
Income (loss) before income taxes													12,962,000		8,799,000		(24,159,000)
Identifiable assets:
Oil and natural gas	0	[1]				0	[2]				$ 0	[3]	0	[1]	0	[2]	0	[3]
Contract drilling	0					0					0		0		0		0
Gas gathering and processing	438,571,000					461,600,000					478,661,000		438,571,000		461,600,000		478,661,000
Total identifiable assets	438,571,000	[4]				461,600,000	[5]				478,661,000	[6]	438,571,000	[4]	461,600,000	[5]	478,661,000	[6]
Corporate land and building	0					0					0		0		0		0
Other corporate assets	0	[7]				0	[8]				0	[9]	0	[7]	0	[8]	0	[9]
Total assets	438,571,000					461,600,000					478,661,000		438,571,000		461,600,000		478,661,000
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures													22,168,000		16,796,000		63,476,000
Other Segments
Revenues
Oil and natural gas													0		0		0
Contract drilling													0		0		0
Gas gathering and processing													0		0		0
Total revenues													0		0		0
Operating costs:
Oil and natural gas													0		0		0
Contract drilling													0		0		0
Gas gathering and processing													0		0		0
Total operating costs													0		0		0
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization													7,477,000		1,835,000		987,000
Impairments															0	[10]	0	[11]
Total expenses													7,477,000		1,835,000		987,000
Total operating income (loss)													(7,477,000)	[12]	(1,835,000)	[13]	(987,000)	[14]
General and administrative expense													(38,087,000)		(33,337,000)		(34,358,000)
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets													850,000		(18,000)		(31,000)
Gain (loss) on derivatives													14,732,000		(22,813,000)		26,345,000
Interest expense, net													(38,334,000)		(39,829,000)		(31,963,000)
Other													21,000		307,000		45,000
Income (loss) before income taxes													(68,295,000)		(97,525,000)		(40,949,000)
Identifiable assets:
Oil and natural gas	0	[1]				0	[2]				0	[3]	0	[1]	0	[2]	0	[3]
Contract drilling	0					0					0		0		0		0
Gas gathering and processing	0					0					0		0		0		0
Total identifiable assets	0	[4]				0	[5]				0	[6]	0	[4]	0	[5]	0	[6]
Corporate land and building	56,854,000					58,188,000					49,890,000		56,854,000		58,188,000		49,890,000
Other corporate assets	25,064,000	[7]				52,680,000	[8]				60,240,000	[9]	25,064,000	[7]	52,680,000	[8]	60,240,000	[9]
Total assets	81,918,000					110,868,000					110,130,000		81,918,000		110,868,000		110,130,000
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures													3,521,000		16,663,000		38,065,000
Intersubsegment Eliminations
Revenues
Oil and natural gas													0		0		0
Contract drilling													(13,452,000)		0		(22,099,000)
Gas gathering and processing													(69,873,000)		(51,915,000)		(65,223,000)
Total revenues													(83,325,000)		(51,915,000)		(87,322,000)
Operating costs:
Oil and natural gas													(4,743,000)		(6,555,000)		(4,785,000)
Contract drilling													(11,832,000)		0		(18,349,000)
Gas gathering and processing													(65,130,000)		(45,360,000)		(60,438,000)
Total operating costs													(81,705,000)		(51,915,000)		(83,572,000)
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization													0		0		0
Impairments															0	[10]	0	[11]
Total expenses													(81,705,000)		(51,915,000)		(83,572,000)
Total operating income (loss)													(1,620,000)	[12]	0	[13]	(3,750,000)	[14]
General and administrative expense													0		0		0
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets													0		0		0
Gain (loss) on derivatives													0		0		0
Interest expense, net													0		0		0
Other													0		0		0
Income (loss) before income taxes													(1,620,000)		0		(3,750,000)
Identifiable assets:
Oil and natural gas	0	[1]				0	[2]				0	[3]	0	[1]	0	[2]	0	[3]
Contract drilling	0					0					0		0		0		0
Gas gathering and processing	0					0					0		0		0		0
Total identifiable assets	0	[4]				0	[5]				0	[6]	0	[4]	0	[5]	0	[6]
Corporate land and building	0					0					0		0		0		0
Other corporate assets	0	[7]				0	[8]					[9]	0	[7]	0	[8]		[9]
Total assets	$ 0					$ 0					$ 0		0		0		0
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures													0		0		0
Oil and Natural Gas
Operating costs:
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties													0		161,563,000		1,599,348,000
Capital expenditures:
Non-cash ceiling test write-down net of tax													0		100,600,000		1,000,000,000
Gas Gathering and Processing Equipment
Operating costs:
Impairment of gas gathering systems													$ 0		$ 0		$ 27,000,000
Capital expenditures:
Number of gas gathering systems impaired | systems																	3

[1] Oil and natural gas assets include oil and natural gas properties, saltwater disposal systems, and other non-full cost pool assets.

[2] Oil and natural gas assets include oil and natural gas properties, saltwater disposal systems, and other non-full cost pool assets.

[3] Oil and natural gas assets include oil and natural gas properties, saltwater disposal systems, and other non-full cost pool assets.

[4] Identifiable assets are those used in Unit’s operations in each industry segment.

[5] Identifiable assets are those used in Unit’s operations in each industry segment.

[6] Identifiable assets are those used in Unit’s operations in each industry segment.

[7] Corporate assets are principally cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, transportation equipment, furniture, and equipment.

[8] Corporate assets are principally cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, transportation equipment, furniture, and equipment.

[9] Corporate assets are principally cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, transportation equipment, furniture, and equipment.

[10] We incurred non-cash ceiling test write-down of our oil and natural gas properties of $161.6 million pre-tax ($100.6 million, net of tax).

[11] We incurred non-cash ceiling test write-down of our oil and natural gas properties of $1.6 billion pre-tax ($1.0 billion, net of tax). Impairment for contract drilling equipment includes an $8.3 million pre-tax write-down for 30 drilling rigs and other drilling equipment. Impairment for gas gathering and processing systems includes $27.0 million pre-tax write-down for three of our systems, Bruceton Mills, Midwell, and Spring Creek.

[12] Operating income (loss) is total operating revenues less operating expenses, depreciation, depletion, and amortization and does not include general corporate expenses, gain (loss) on disposition of assets, gain on derivatives, interest expense, other income, or income taxes.

[13] Operating income (loss) is total operating revenues less operating expenses, depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment and does not include general corporate expenses, gain (loss) on disposition of assets, loss on derivatives, interest expense, other income (loss), or income taxes.

[14] Operating income (loss) is total operating revenues less operating expenses, depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment and does not include general corporate expenses, gain (loss) on disposition of assets, gain on derivatives, interest expense, other income (loss), or income taxes.