Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Total	Revision of Prior Period, Error Correction, Adjustment	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Retained Earnings (Deficit) Revision of Prior Period, Error Correction, Adjustment	Non-controlling Interest in Consolidated Subsidiaries	Non-controlling Interest in Consolidated Subsidiaries Revision of Prior Period, Error Correction, Adjustment
Stockholders' equity, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019		$ 1,055,635		$ 10,591	$ 0	$ 644,152	$ 199,135		$ 201,757
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		(803,674)					(770,494)		(33,180)
Activity in employee compensation plans		2,525		103		2,391			31
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Mar. 31, 2020		254,486		10,694	0	646,543	(571,359)		168,608
Stockholders' equity, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019		1,055,635		10,591	0	644,152	199,135		201,757
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		(890,624)
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Aug. 31, 2020		171,180		10,704	0	650,153	(731,877)		242,200
Stockholders' equity, beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2020		254,486		10,694	0	646,543	(571,359)		168,608
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		(215,565)					(215,649)		84
Activity in employee compensation plans		1,611		10		1,585			16
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Jun. 30, 2020		40,532		10,704	0	648,128	(787,008)		168,708
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		128,615					55,131		73,484
Activity in employee compensation plans		2,033				2,025			8
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Aug. 31, 2020		171,180		10,704	0	650,153	(731,877)		242,200
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of successor common stock		197,323		120		197,203
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Sep. 01, 2020		439,523		120	0	197,203			242,200
Stockholders' equity, beginning balance at Aug. 31, 2020		171,180		10,704	0	650,153	(731,877)		242,200
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		(6,736)					(8,968)		2,232
Activity in employee compensation plans		13				9			4
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020		432,800		120	0	197,212	(8,968)		244,436
Stockholders' equity, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2020		425,593		120	0	197,242	(18,140)		246,371
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		(591)					(1,937)		1,346
Activity in employee compensation plans		90				74			16
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Mar. 31, 2021		425,092		120	0	197,316	(20,077)		247,733
Stockholders' equity, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2020		425,593		120	0	197,242	(18,140)		246,371
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		(13,511)
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Sep. 30, 2021		376,290		120	(19,882)	197,479	(28,213)		226,786
Stockholders' equity, beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2021		425,092		120	0	197,316	(20,077)		247,733
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		(10,115)					(12,994)		2,879
Activity in employee compensation plans		260				245			15
Distributions to non-controlling interests		(12,344)							(12,344)
Repurchase of common stock		(9,048)			(9,048)
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Jun. 30, 2021		393,845		120	(9,048)	197,561	(33,071)		238,283
Stockholders' equity, ending balance (Error in the Allocation of Earnings from Superior between Unit Corp and Noncontrolling Interests) at Jun. 30, 2021			$ 0					$ (1,437)		$ 1,437
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	[1]	(2,805)					6,295		(9,100)
Net income (loss) | Error in the Allocation of Earnings from Superior between Unit Corp and Noncontrolling Interests			$ 12,200
Activity in employee compensation plans		(82)				(82)
Distributions to non-controlling interests		(3,834)							(3,834)
Repurchase of common stock		(10,834)			(10,834)
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Sep. 30, 2021		$ 376,290		$ 120	$ (19,882)	$ 197,479	$ (28,213)		$ 226,786

[1] Includes a one-time adjustment to correct an error discovered in our second quarter 2021 allocation of earnings from consolidated subsidiaries, as described in Note 2 - Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies.