Organization and basis of presentation	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Organization and basis of presentation	Organization and basis of presentation a. Organization Laredo Petroleum, Inc. ("Laredo"), together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Laredo Midstream Services, LLC ("LMS") and Garden City Minerals, LLC ("GCM"), is an independent energy company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties, and midstream and marketing services, primarily in the Permian Basin of West Texas. LMS and GCM (together, the "Guarantors") guarantee all of Laredo's debt instruments. In these notes, the "Company" refers to Laredo, LMS and GCM collectively, unless the context indicates otherwise. All amounts, dollars and percentages presented in these unaudited consolidated financial statements and the related notes are rounded and, therefore, approximate. b. Basis of presentation The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements were derived from the historical accounting records of the Company and reflect the historical financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods described herein. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). All material intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated in the consolidation of accounts. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have not been audited by the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, except that the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 is derived from audited consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all necessary adjustments to present fairly the Company's financial position as of March 31, 2018 and results of operations and cash flows for each of the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. Certain disclosures have been condensed or omitted from these unaudited consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, these unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the 2017 Annual Report. Significant accounting policies See Note 2 "Basis of presentation and significant accounting policies" in the 2017 Annual Report for discussion of significant accounting policies. Use of estimates in the preparation of interim unaudited consolidated financial statements The preparation of the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Although management believes these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ. For further information regarding the estimates and assumptions, see Note 2.b "Use of estimates in the preparation of consolidated financial statements" in the 2017 Annual Report. Furthermore, see Note 7.c for a discussion of estimates pertaining to the Company's 2018 performance share awards. Reclassifications Certain amounts in the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2018 presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on previously reported total assets, total liabilities, net income, stockholders' equity or total operating, investing or financing cash flows.

Organization and basis of presentation

a. Organization

Laredo Petroleum, Inc. ("Laredo"), together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Laredo Midstream Services, LLC ("LMS") and Garden City Minerals, LLC ("GCM"), is an independent energy company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties, and midstream and marketing services, primarily in the Permian Basin of West Texas. LMS and GCM (together, the "Guarantors") guarantee all of Laredo's debt instruments. In these notes, the "Company" refers to Laredo, LMS and GCM collectively, unless the context indicates otherwise. All amounts, dollars and percentages presented in these unaudited consolidated financial statements and the related notes are rounded and, therefore, approximate.

b. Basis of presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements were derived from the historical accounting records of the Company and reflect the historical financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods described herein. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). All material intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated in the consolidation of accounts.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have not been audited by the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, except that the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 is derived from audited consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all necessary adjustments to present fairly the Company's financial position as of March 31, 2018 and results of operations and cash flows for each of the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

Certain disclosures have been condensed or omitted from these unaudited consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, these unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the 2017 Annual Report.

Significant accounting policies

See Note 2 "Basis of presentation and significant accounting policies" in the 2017 Annual Report for discussion of significant accounting policies.

Use of estimates in the preparation of interim unaudited consolidated financial statements

The preparation of the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Although management believes these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ.

For further information regarding the estimates and assumptions, see Note 2.b "Use of estimates in the preparation of consolidated financial statements" in the 2017 Annual Report. Furthermore, see Note 7.c for a discussion of estimates pertaining to the Company's 2018 performance share awards.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2018 presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on previously reported total assets, total liabilities, net income, stockholders' equity or total operating, investing or financing cash flows.