Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 161,618,000	$ (2,352,606,000)	$ 90,046,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depletion, depreciation and accretion	62,612,000	163,624,000	225,763,000
Impairment expense	1,863,000	2,625,928,000	107,059,000
Write-off of MLP related fees and expenses	0	7,505,000	0
Gain on Tokyo Gas Transaction			0
Crestwood earn-out			0
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(21,581,000)	289,981,000	(64,492,000)
Non-cash (gain) loss from hedging and derivative activities	3,904,000	57,826,000	(51,780,000)
Stock-based compensation	17,979,000	22,246,000	20,862,000
Non-cash interest expense	26,920,000	9,854,000	16,510,000
Fortune Creek accretion	19,245,000	19,472,000	0
Gain on disposition of BBEP units	0	0	(217,893,000)
Loss from BBEP in excess of cash distributions	0	0	28,269,000
Other	6,783,000	1,037,000	1,311,000
Changes in assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable	(3,994,000)	30,950,000	(31,803,000)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	322,000	(4,435,000)	(6,017,000)
Accounts payable	(7,133,000)	(8,895,000)	(11,434,000)
Income taxes payable	7,828,000	1,183,000	(4,803,000)
Accrued and other liabilities	(31,900,000)	(14,884,000)	22,471,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(51,700,000)	227,727,000	253,053,000
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(101,288,000)	(485,479,000)	(690,607,000)
Proceeds from Asset Sales		41,097,000
Proceeds from sale of BBEP units	0	0	272,965,000
Proceeds from sale of properties and equipment	7,171,000	72,725,000	4,163,000
Purchases of marketable securities	(213,738,000)	0	0
Maturities and sales of marketable securities	47,603,000	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	246,044,000	(371,657,000)	(413,479,000)
Financing activities:
Issuance of debt	1,237,352,000	467,959,000	855,822,000
Repayments of debt	(1,308,382,000)	(310,430,000)	(843,108,000)
Debt issuance costs paid	(26,296,000)	(3,022,000)	(12,506,000)
Partnership funds received	0	0	122,913,000
Distribution of Fortune Creek Partnership funds	(14,965,000)	(14,285,000)	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	11,000	1,299,000
Purchase of treasury stock	(1,927,000)	(3,144,000)	(4,864,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(114,218,000)	137,089,000	119,556,000
Effect of exchange rate changes in cash	4,026,000	(1,354,000)	(921,000)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	84,152,000	(8,195,000)	(41,791,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	4,951,000	13,146,000	54,937,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	89,103,000	4,951,000	13,146,000
Synergy [Member]
Investing activities:
Proceeds from Asset Sales	42,297,000	0	0
Tokyo Gas [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Gain on Tokyo Gas Transaction	(339,328,000)	0	0
Crestwood earn-out	(339,328,000)
Investing activities:
Proceeds from Asset Sales	463,999,000	0	0
kwk_CrestwoodLP [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Crestwood earn-out	0	(41,097,000)	0
Investing activities:
Proceeds from Asset Sales	$ 0	$ 41,097,000	$ 0