Commitments and Contingencies (Details)			9 Months Ended
	Mar. 26, 2018 defendant plaintiff	Apr. 20, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Aug. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2014
Drilling Rigs
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Operating lease, term					3 months	15 months
CO2 Compressor
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Operating lease, term					7 years		84 months	84 months
Lacheverjuan Bennett et al. v. Chaparral Energy, L.L.C., et al.
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of individual plaintiffs | plaintiff	27
Number of named defendants including parent | defendant	23
Number of unnamed defendants | defendant	25
Pending Litigation | Naylor Farms Case Putative Class Action | Low
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages sought			$ 5,000,000
Pending Litigation | Naylor Farms Case Actual and Putative Action | Low
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages sought		$ 90,000,000
Pending Litigation | Hallco Petroleum, Inc. v. Chaparral Energy, L.L.C. | Low
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages sought			75,000
Letter of Credit
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding			0			$ 869,000
Proceeds from letters			0	$ 0
Cash payments for interest			$ 0	$ 0