Variable Interest Entity Arrangements (Schedule of Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 25,188	$ 12,145	$ 40,994	$ 571
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts		59,863	57,846
Prepaid expenses and other		8,444	11,212
Total current assets		93,529	82,922
Property and equipment:
Gas gathering and processing equipment		252,463	251,404
Transportation equipment		3,335	3,130
Property, plant, and equipment, gross		601,198	600,989
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment		71,921	54,189
Net property and equipment		529,277	546,800
Operating right of use asset		4,443	5,592
Other assets		15,616	14,389
Total assets	[1]	642,865	649,703
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		34,552	37,368
Accrued liabilities		23,108	25,204
Current operating lease liability		3,648	4,075
Current portion of other long-term liabilities		10,418	11,168
Total current liabilities		87,433	80,347
Long-term debt		78,200	98,400
Operating lease liability		741	1,445
VIE [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		24,687	11,642
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts		25,890	27,427
Prepaid expenses and other		5,157	6,746
Total current assets		55,734	45,815
Property and equipment:
Gas gathering and processing equipment		252,463	251,403
Transportation equipment		1,822	1,748
Property, plant, and equipment, gross		254,285	253,151
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment		18,673	10,466
Net property and equipment		235,612	242,685
Operating right of use asset		2,384	2,823
Other assets		1,663	2,309
Total assets		295,393	293,632
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		20,200	17,045
Accrued liabilities		3,164	3,777
Current operating lease liability		1,771	1,762
Current portion of other long-term liabilities		4,481	5,799
Total current liabilities		29,616	28,383
Operating lease liability		566	1,013
Other long-term liabilities		1,130	1,589
Total liabilities		$ 31,312	$ 30,985

[1] Unit Corporation's consolidated total assets as of March 31, 2021 include total current and long-term assets of its variable interest entity (VIE) (Superior Pipeline Company, L.L.C.) of $55.7 million and $239.7 million, respectively, which can only settle obligations of the VIE. Unit Corporation's consolidated total liabilities as of March 31, 2021 include total current and long-term liabilities of the VIE of $29.6 million and $1.7 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, 2020 include total current and long-term assets of the VIE of $45.8 million and $247.8 million, respectively, which can only settle obligations of the VIE. Unit Corporation's consolidated total liabilities as of December 31, 2020 include total current and long-term liabilities of the VIE of $28.4 million and $2.6 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIE have no recourse to Unit Corporation. See Note 15 – Variable Interest Entity Arrangements.