Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 23,260	$ 13,360
Accounts receivable	57,667	57,442
Due from affiliates	3,377	3,915
Derivative instruments	19,603	27,485
Prepaid and other current assets	1,650	1,859
Total current assets	105,557	104,061
Noncurrent assets:
Gross oil and natural gas properties	1,978,413	1,909,430
Other property, plant and equipment	14,840	14,114
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization	(348,396)	(318,561)
Total oil and natural gas properties and other property, plant and equipment, net	1,644,857	1,604,983
Derivative instruments	48,785	62,131
Other assets	40,292	44,752
Total noncurrent assets	1,733,934	1,711,866
Total assets	1,839,491	1,815,927
Current liabilities:
Current portion of asset retirement obligations	4,461	4,310
Derivative instruments	13,874	11,233
Accrued and other liabilities	78,966	79,045
Total current liabilities	97,301	94,588
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt	974,723	911,593
Deferred Class B unit obligation	147,017
Derivative instruments	5,757	6,251
Asset retirement obligations	153,809	151,011
Deferred taxes	2,214	2,114
Other liabilities	12,462	12,911
Total noncurrent liabilities	1,295,982	1,083,880
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 12)
Partners' capital:
Class C convertible preferred unitholders (16,666,667 issued and outstanding as March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013)	392,609	388,621
General partner (zero and 51,036 units issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013)		614
Accumulated other comprehensive income	2,753	2,744
Total QR Energy, LP partners' capital	437,439	628,910
Noncontrolling interest	8,769	8,549
Total partners' capital	446,208	637,459
Total liabilities and partners' capital	1,839,491	1,815,927
Evaluated [Member]
Noncurrent assets:
Gross oil and natural gas properties	1,974,363	1,905,110
Unevaluated [Member]
Noncurrent assets:
Gross oil and natural gas properties	4,050	4,320
Limited Partners-Public Common [Member]
Partners' capital:
Limited partners' capital account	142,361	313,302
Total partners' capital	142,361	313,302
Limited Partners-Affiliated - Common [Member]
Partners' capital:
Limited partners' capital account	(100,284)	(76,371)
Total partners' capital	$ (100,284)	$ (76,371)