Long Term Debt (Details Textuals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended							1 Months Ended					1 Months Ended						6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	May 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 7.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 [Member]	Feb. 28, 2011 7.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 7.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 7.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 [Member] Extinguishment One [Member]	Apr. 30, 2011 7.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 [Member] Extinguishment Two [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 7.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 [Member]	Feb. 28, 2011 7.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 7.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 7.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 [Member] Extinguishment One [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 7.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 [Member] Extinguishment Two [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 9.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 9.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 9.75% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 9.75% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 6 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2021 [Member]	Feb. 28, 2011 6 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2021 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Other Subordinated Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Other Subordinated Notes [Member]
Long Term Debt (Textuals) [Abstract]
Interest in guarantor subsidiaries	100.00%		100.00%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate Terms			the margin on outstanding Eurodollar loans bears interest at the Eurodollar rate (as defined in the Bank Credit Agreement) plus the applicable margin of 1.5% to 2.5% (previously 2.0% to 3.0%) based on the ratio of outstanding borrowings to the borrowing base, and the base rate loans bear interest at the base rate (as defined in the Bank Credit Agreement) plus the applicable margin of 0.5% to 1.5% (previously 1.0% to 1.5%) based on the ratio of outstanding borrowings to the borrowing base If the borrowing base were to be less than outstanding borrowings under the Bank Credit Agreement, we would be required to repay the deficit over a period of four months
Commitment fee incurred			ranging between 0.375% and 0.5% on the unused portion of the credit facility or if less, the borrowing base
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Terms			adjusts the maximum permitted ratio of debt to adjusted EBITDA of Denbury and its subsidiaries from 4.0x to 4.25x
Maturity date of Denbury Credit Agreement			May 2016
Debt Instrument Redemption Price In Year Five																					103.188%
Debt Instrument Redemption Price Prior to Year Five			equal to 100% of the principal amount plus a “make-whole” premium and accrued and unpaid interest
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount																						$ 400,000,000
Interest Rate on Senior Subordinated Notes																					6.375%
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount							0		437,000										19,996,000	22,139,000
Principal amount of notes for which cash tender offers commenced								225,000,000					300,000,000
Borrowing Base of Denbury credit agreement					1,600,000,000	1,600,000,000
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Premium												0		427,000			13,222,000	14,589,000					37,000	41,000
Net proceeds used for repurchase of notes			393,000,000
Debt Instrument Redemption Price In Year Six																					102.125%
Debt Instrument Redemption Price In Year Seven																					101.062%
Debt Instrument Redemption Price In Year Eight																					100.00%
Debt Instrument Redemption Percentage Of Principal Prior To Year Three																					35.00%
Debt Instrument Redemption Price Before Year Three With Equity Offering Proceeds																					106.375%
Debt Instrument Redemption Percentage Of Principal Prior To Year Five With Make-Whole Premium																					100.00%
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Extinguishment of Senior Notes										169,600,000	55,400,000				220,900,000	79,100,000
Redemption percentage of debt										100.625%	100.00%				104.125%	103.75%
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	$ 348,000	$ 0	$ 16,131,000	$ 0