Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Income (Loss)) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Revenue	$ 259,893	$ 237,700	$ 720,526	$ 688,428
Operating expenses	191,912	172,608	574,662	438,624
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries
Operating income (loss)	67,981	65,092	145,864	249,804
Income (loss) from earnings of BBEP	14,370	17,024	(32,721)	24,203
Interest expense and other	(37,251)	(37,279)	(6,682)	(74,525)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(16,414)	(18,268)	(39,946)	(71,569)
Net income (loss)	28,686	26,569	66,515	127,913
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(4,766)		(11,119)
Net income (loss) attributable to Quicksilver	28,686	21,803	66,515	116,794
Quicksilver Resources Inc. [Member]
Revenue	209,036	204,389	591,394	582,283
Operating expenses	162,603	132,704	442,166	364,202
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries	14,728	(10,600)	(6,575)	5,546
Operating income (loss)	61,161	61,085	142,653	223,627
Income (loss) from earnings of BBEP	14,370	17,024	(32,721)	24,203
Interest expense and other	(37,003)	(32,266)	(3,182)	(60,667)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(9,842)	(24,040)	(40,235)	(70,369)
Net income (loss)	28,686	21,803	66,515	116,794
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to Quicksilver		21,803		116,794
Restricted Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue	1,095	1,802	3,584	5,013
Operating expenses	1,706	30,776	4,512	35,129
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries		7,465		17,414
Operating income (loss)	(611)	(21,509)	(928)	(12,702)
Income (loss) from earnings of BBEP
Interest expense and other
Income tax (expense) benefit	213	7,528	324	4,446
Net income (loss)	(398)	(13,981)	(604)	(8,256)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to Quicksilver		(13,981)		(8,256)
Restricted Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue	50,609	28,609	128,333	93,158
Operating expenses	28,450	21,689	130,769	68,831
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries
Operating income (loss)	22,159	6,920	(2,436)	24,327
Income (loss) from earnings of BBEP
Interest expense and other	(248)	(1,828)	(3,500)	(5,050)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(6,785)	(1,711)	(35)	(5,475)
Net income (loss)	15,126	3,381	(5,971)	13,802
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to Quicksilver		3,381		13,802
Restricted Subsidiary Eliminations [Member]
Revenue		(894)		(2,219)
Operating expenses		(894)		(2,219)
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries		10,600		(5,546)
Operating income (loss)		10,600		(5,546)
Income (loss) from earnings of BBEP
Interest expense and other
Income tax (expense) benefit
Net income (loss)		10,600		(5,546)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to Quicksilver		10,600		(5,546)
Quicksilver And Restricted Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue		233,906		678,235
Operating expenses		184,275		465,943
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries		7,465		17,414
Operating income (loss)		57,096		229,706
Income (loss) from earnings of BBEP		17,024		24,203
Interest expense and other		(34,094)		(65,717)
Income tax (expense) benefit		(18,223)		(71,398)
Net income (loss)		21,803		116,794
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to Quicksilver		21,803		116,794
Unrestricted Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue		30,366		82,299
Operating expenses		14,905		44,787
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries
Operating income (loss)		15,461		37,512
Income (loss) from earnings of BBEP
Interest expense and other		(3,185)		(8,808)
Income tax (expense) benefit		(45)		(171)
Net income (loss)		12,231		28,533
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(4,766)		(11,119)
Net income (loss) attributable to Quicksilver		7,465		17,414
Consolidating Eliminations [Member]
Revenue	(847)	(26,572)	(2,785)	(72,106)
Operating expenses	(847)	(26,572)	(2,785)	(72,106)
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries	(14,728)	(7,465)	6,575	(17,414)
Operating income (loss)	(14,728)	(7,465)	6,575	(17,414)
Income (loss) from earnings of BBEP
Interest expense and other
Income tax (expense) benefit
Net income (loss)	(14,728)	(7,465)	6,575	(17,414)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to Quicksilver		$ (7,465)		$ (17,414)