Document and Entity Information Document	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	May 11, 2012 Common Class A [Member]	May 11, 2012 Common Class B [Member]	May 11, 2012 Common Class C [Member]	May 11, 2012 Common Class D [Member]	May 11, 2012 Common Class E [Member]	May 11, 2012 Common Class F [Member]	May 11, 2012 Common Class G [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	Chaparral Energy, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001346980
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		65,702	357,882	209,882	279,999	504,276	1	3