Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 13,360	$ 31,836
Accounts receivable	57,442	41,897
Due from affiliates	3,915
Due from general partner		165
Derivative instruments	27,485	45,522
Prepaid and other current assets	1,859	2,642
Total current assets	104,061	122,062
Noncurrent assets:
Gross oil and natural gas properties	1,909,430	1,667,646
Other property, plant and equipment	14,114
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization	(318,561)	(203,377)
Total oil and natural gas properties and other property, plant and equipment, net	1,604,983	1,464,269
Derivative instruments	62,131	76,621
Other assets	44,752	23,575
Total noncurrent assets	1,711,866	1,564,465
Total assets	1,815,927	1,686,527
Current liabilities:
Current portion of asset retirement obligations	4,310	1,426
Derivative instruments	11,233	8,727
Accrued and other liabilities	79,045	46,284
Total current liabilities	94,588	56,437
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt	911,593	766,076
Derivative instruments	6,251	16,993
Asset retirement obligations	151,011	125,565
Deferred taxes	2,114	102
Other liabilities	12,911	6,790
Total noncurrent liabilities	1,083,880	915,526
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 11)
Partners' capital:
Class C convertible preferred unitholders (16,666,667 issued and outstanding as December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012)	388,621	373,068
General partner (51,036 units issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012)	614	710
Accumulated other comprehensive income	2,744
Total QR Energy, LP partners' capital	628,910	714,564
Noncontrolling interest	8,549
Total partners' capital	637,459	714,564
Total liabilities and partners' capital	1,815,927	1,686,527
Evaluated [Member]
Noncurrent assets:
Gross oil and natural gas properties	1,905,110	1,656,146
Unevaluated [Member]
Noncurrent assets:
Gross oil and natural gas properties	4,320	11,500
Limited Partners-Public Common [Member]
Partners' capital:
Limited partners' capital account	313,302	403,757
Total partners' capital	313,302	403,757
Limited Partners-Affiliated - Common [Member]
Partners' capital:
Limited partners' capital account	(76,371)	(62,971)
Total partners' capital	$ (76,371)	$ (62,971)