Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 6,415	$ 13,360
Accounts receivable	56,116	57,442
Due from affiliates	4,380	3,915
Derivative instruments	15,065	27,485
Prepaid and other current assets	4,122	1,859
Total current assets	86,098	104,061
Noncurrent assets:
Gross oil and natural gas properties	2,031,538	1,909,430
Other property, plant and equipment	15,033	14,114
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization	(379,083)	(318,561)
Total oil and natural gas properties and other property, plant and equipment, net	1,667,488	1,604,983
Derivative instruments	14,265	62,131
Other assets	57,894	44,752
Total noncurrent assets	1,739,647	1,711,866
Total assets	1,825,745	1,815,927
Current liabilities:
Current portion of asset retirement obligations	4,356	4,310
Derivative instruments	26,009	11,233
Accrued and other liabilities	78,619	79,045
Total current liabilities	108,984	94,588
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt	1,011,852	911,593
Deferred Class B unit obligation	153,749
Derivative instruments	19,471	6,251
Asset retirement obligations	156,447	151,011
Deferred taxes	2,352	2,114
Other liabilities	11,857	12,911
Total noncurrent liabilities	1,355,728	1,083,880
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 12)
Partners' capital:
Class C convertible preferred unitholders (16,666,667 issued and outstanding as June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013)	396,639	388,621
General partner (zero and 51,036 units issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013)		614
Class B convertible unitholders (6,133,558 units issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	2,912	2,744
Total QR Energy, LP partners' capital	351,701	628,910
Noncontrolling interest	9,332	8,549
Total partners' capital	361,033	637,459
Total liabilities and partners' capital	1,825,745	1,815,927
Evaluated [Member]
Noncurrent assets:
Gross oil and natural gas properties	2,027,758	1,905,110
Unevaluated [Member]
Noncurrent assets:
Gross oil and natural gas properties	3,780	4,320
Limited Partners-Public Common [Member]
Partners' capital:
Limited partners' capital account	63,438	313,302
Total partners' capital	63,438	313,302
Limited Partners-Affiliated - Common [Member]
Partners' capital:
Limited partners' capital account	(111,288)	(76,371)
Total partners' capital	$ (111,288)	$ (76,371)