Variable Interest Entity Arrangements (Schedule of Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 3,891	$ 6,452	$ 752	$ 701
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts		93,875	119,397
Prepaid expenses and other		7,504	6,602
Total current assets		131,011	170,359
Property and equipment:
Gas gathering and processing equipment		781,970	767,388
Transportation equipment		30,327	29,524
Property, plant, and equipment, gross		8,721,795	8,615,042
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment		6,225,220	6,182,726
Net property and equipment		2,496,575	2,432,316
Operating right of use asset		4,551	0
Other assets		34,235	32,570
Total assets	[1]	2,729,180	2,698,053
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		132,899	149,945
Accrued liabilities		48,084	49,664
Current operating lease liability		2,369	0
Current portion of other long-term liabilities		14,310	14,250
Total current liabilities		197,662	213,859
Long-term debt less debt issuance costs		685,031	644,475
Operating lease liability		1,952	0
Other long-term liabilities		103,832	101,234
VIE [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		3,128	5,841
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts		23,331	33,207
Prepaid expenses and other		2,446	1,049
Total current assets		28,905	40,097
Property and equipment:
Gas gathering and processing equipment		781,970	767,388
Transportation equipment		3,264	3,086
Property, plant, and equipment, gross		785,234	770,474
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment		376,006	364,740
Net property and equipment		409,228	405,734
Operating right of use asset		2,779	0
Other assets		16,048	17,551
Total assets		456,960	463,382
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		24,246	32,214
Accrued liabilities		3,153	3,688
Current operating lease liability		1,702	0
Current portion of other long-term liabilities		6,923	6,875
Total current liabilities		36,024	42,777
Long-term debt less debt issuance costs		0	0
Operating lease liability		937	0
Other long-term liabilities		13,048	14,687
Total liabilities		$ 50,009	$ 57,464

[1] Unit Corporation's consolidated total assets as of March 31, 2019 include total current and long-term assets of its variable interest entity (VIE) (Superior Pipeline Company, L.L.C.) of $28.9 million and $428.1 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle obligations of the VIE. Unit Corporation's consolidated total liabilities as of March 31, 2019 include total current and long-term liabilities of the VIE of $36.0 million and $14.0 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIE have no recourse to Unit Corporation. Unit Corporation's consolidated total assets as of December 31, 2018 include total current and long-term assets of the VIE of $40.1 million and $423.3 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle obligations of the VIE. Unit Corporation's consolidated total liabilities as of December 31, 2018 include total current and long-term liabilities of the VIE of $42.8 million and $14.7 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIE have no recourse to Unit Corporation. See Note 14 – Variable Interest Entity Arrangements.