Organization and basis of presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of presentation	b. Basis of presentation The 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 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 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, 2019 is derived from audited consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, the unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all necessary adjustments to present fairly the Company's financial position as of March 31, 2020, results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019. Certain disclosures have been condensed or omitted from the unaudited consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, the unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the 2019 Annual Report.
Use of estimates in the preparation of interim unaudited consolidated financial statements	Use of estimates in the preparation of interim unaudited consolidated financial statements The preparation of the 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 use of estimates and assumptions, see Note 2.b in the 2019 Annual Report and Note 8 pertaining to the Company's 2020 performance unit awards and phantom unit awards.
Reclassifications	Reclassifications Certain amounts in the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2020 presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on previously reported total assets, total liabilities, net income (loss), stockholders' equity or total operating, investing or financing cash flows.
Recently issued or adopted accounting pronouncements	The Company considers the applicability and impact of all accounting standard updates ("ASU") issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") to the Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") and has determined there are no ASUs that are not yet adopted and meaningful to disclose as of March 31, 2020. On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13 to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses, that requires an allowance for expected credit losses to be recorded against newly recognized financial assets measured at an amortized cost basis. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. The Company has included these factors in its analysis and determined there was minimal impact to the unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
Full cost	The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for its oil and natural gas properties. Under this method, all acquisition, exploration and development costs, including certain employee-related costs, incurred for the purpose of acquiring, exploring for or developing oil and natural gas properties, are capitalized and, once evaluated, depleted on a composite unit-of-production method based on estimates of proved oil, NGL and natural gas reserves. The depletion base includes estimated future development costs and dismantlement, restoration and abandonment costs, net of estimated salvage values. Capitalized costs include the cost of drilling and equipping productive wells, dry hole costs, lease acquisition costs, delay rentals and other costs related to such activities. Costs, including employee-related costs, associated with production and general corporate activities are expensed in the period incurred. The Company excludes unevaluated property acquisition costs and exploration costs from the depletion calculation until it is determined whether or not proved reserves can be assigned to the properties. The Company capitalizes a portion of its interest costs to its unevaluated properties and such costs become subject to depletion when proved reserves can be assigned to the associated properties. All items classified as unevaluated properties are assessed on a quarterly basis for possible impairment. The assessment includes consideration of the following factors, among others: intent to drill, remaining lease term, geological and geophysical evaluations, drilling results and activity, the assignment of proved reserves and the economic viability of development if proved reserves are assigned. During any period in which these factors indicate an impairment, the cumulative drilling costs incurred to date for such property and all or a portion of the associated leasehold costs are transferred to the full cost pool and are then subject to depletion. Sales of oil and natural gas properties, whether or not being depleted currently, are accounted for as adjustments of capitalized costs, with no gain or loss recognized, unless such adjustments would significantly alter the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves of oil, NGL and natural gas. The following table presents costs incurred in the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties, with asset retirement obligations included in evaluated property acquisition costs and development costs, for the periods presented: The full cost ceiling is based principally on the estimated future net revenues from proved oil, NGL and natural gas reserves, which exclude the effect of the Company's commodity derivative transactions, discounted at 10%. The SEC guidelines require companies to use the unweighted arithmetic average first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the 12-month period prior to the end of the reporting period before differentials ("Benchmark Prices"). The Benchmark Prices are then adjusted for quality, transportation fees, geographical differentials, marketing bonuses or deductions and other factors affecting the price received at the wellhead ("Realized Prices") without giving effect to the Company's commodity derivative transactions. The Realized Prices are utilized to calculate the discounted future net revenues in the full cost ceiling calculation. Significant inputs included in the calculation of discounted cash flows used in the impairment analysis include the Company's estimate of operating and development costs, anticipated production of proved reserves and other relevant data. In the event the unamortized cost of evaluated oil and natural gas properties being depleted exceeds the full cost ceiling, as defined by the SEC, the excess is expensed in the period such excess occurs. Once incurred, a write-down of oil and natural gas properties is not reversible.
Treasury stock	Treasury stock is recorded at cost, which includes incremental direct transaction costs, and is retired upon acquisition as a result of (i) stock exchanged to satisfy tax withholding that arises upon the lapse of restrictions on share-settled equity-based awards at the awardee's election or (ii) stock exchanged for the cost of exercise of stock options at the awardee's election.
Equity Incentive Plan	The Laredo Petroleum, Inc. Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated as of May 16, 2019 (the "Equity Incentive Plan"), provides for the granting of incentive awards in the form of restricted stock awards, stock option awards, performance share awards, outperformance share awards, performance unit awards, phantom unit awards and other awards. The Equity Incentive Plan allows for the issuance of up to 29,850,000 shares. The Company recognizes the fair value of equity-based compensation awards, expected to vest over the requisite service period, as a charge against earnings, net of amounts capitalized. The Company's restricted stock awards, stock option awards, performance share awards and outperformance share award are accounted for as equity awards and the Company's performance unit awards and phantom unit awards are accounted for as liability awards. Equity-based compensation expense is included in "General and administrative" on the unaudited consolidated statements of operations. The Company capitalizes a portion of equity-based compensation for employees who are directly involved in the acquisition, exploration or development of oil and natural gas properties into the full cost pool. Capitalized equity-based compensation is included in "Evaluated properties" on the unaudited consolidated balance sheets.
Net income (loss) per common share	Net income (loss) per common share Basic net income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income (loss) per common share reflects the potential dilution of non-vested restricted stock awards, outstanding stock option awards, non-vested performance share awards and the non-vested outperformance share award. See Note 8 for additional discussion of these awards. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the dilutive effects of these awards were calculated utilizing the treasury stock method. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, all of these awards were anti-dilutive due to the Company's net loss and, therefore, were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per common share
Revenue recognition	Oil, NGL and natural gas revenues are generally recognized at the point in time that control of the product is transferred to the customer. Midstream service revenues are generated through fees for products and services that need to be delivered by midstream infrastructure, including oil and liquids-rich natural gas gathering services as well as fuel for drilling and completions activities, natural gas lift and water delivery, recycling and takeaway and are recognized over time as the customer benefits from these services when provided.

Organization and basis of presentation (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

b. Basis of presentation

The 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 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 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, 2019 is derived from audited consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, the unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all necessary adjustments to present fairly the Company's financial position as of March 31, 2020, results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.

Certain disclosures have been condensed or omitted from the unaudited consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, the unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the 2019 Annual Report.

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

The preparation of the 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 use of estimates and assumptions, see Note 2.b in the 2019 Annual Report and Note 8 pertaining to the Company's 2020 performance unit awards and phantom unit awards.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2020 presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on previously reported total assets, total liabilities, net income (loss), stockholders' equity or total operating, investing or financing cash flows.

Recently issued or adopted accounting pronouncements

The Company considers the applicability and impact of all accounting standard updates ("ASU") issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") to the Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") and has determined there are no ASUs that are not yet adopted and meaningful to disclose as of March 31, 2020.

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13 to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses, that requires an allowance for expected credit losses to be recorded against newly recognized financial assets measured at an amortized cost

basis. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. The Company has included these factors in its analysis and determined there was minimal impact to the unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Full cost

The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for its oil and natural gas properties. Under this method, all acquisition, exploration and development costs, including certain employee-related costs, incurred for the purpose of acquiring, exploring for or developing oil and natural gas properties, are capitalized and, once evaluated, depleted on a composite unit-of-production method based on estimates of proved oil, NGL and natural gas reserves. The depletion base includes estimated future development costs and dismantlement, restoration and abandonment costs, net of estimated salvage values.

Capitalized costs include the cost of drilling and equipping productive wells, dry hole costs, lease acquisition costs, delay rentals and other costs related to such activities. Costs, including employee-related costs, associated with production and general corporate activities are expensed in the period incurred.

The Company excludes unevaluated property acquisition costs and exploration costs from the depletion calculation until it is determined whether or not proved reserves can be assigned to the properties. The Company capitalizes a portion of its interest costs to its unevaluated properties and such costs become subject to depletion when proved reserves can be assigned to the associated properties. All items classified as unevaluated properties are assessed on a quarterly basis for possible impairment. The assessment includes consideration of the following factors, among others: intent to drill, remaining lease term, geological and geophysical evaluations, drilling results and activity, the assignment of proved reserves and the economic viability of development if proved reserves are assigned. During any period in which these factors indicate an impairment, the cumulative drilling costs incurred to date for such property and all or a portion of the associated leasehold costs are transferred to the full cost pool and are then subject to depletion.

Sales of oil and natural gas properties, whether or not being depleted currently, are accounted for as adjustments of capitalized costs, with no gain or loss recognized, unless such adjustments would significantly alter the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves of oil, NGL and natural gas.

The following table presents costs incurred in the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties, with asset retirement obligations included in evaluated property acquisition costs and development costs, for the periods presented:

The full cost ceiling is based principally on the estimated future net revenues from proved oil, NGL and natural gas reserves, which exclude the effect of the Company's commodity derivative transactions, discounted at 10%. The SEC guidelines require companies to use the unweighted arithmetic average first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the 12-month period prior to the end of the reporting period before differentials ("Benchmark Prices"). The Benchmark Prices are then adjusted for quality, transportation fees, geographical differentials, marketing bonuses or deductions and other factors affecting the price received at the wellhead ("Realized Prices") without giving effect to the Company's commodity derivative transactions. The

Realized Prices are utilized to calculate the discounted future net revenues in the full cost ceiling calculation. Significant inputs included in the calculation of discounted cash flows used in the impairment analysis include the Company's estimate of operating and development costs, anticipated production of proved reserves and other relevant data. In the event the unamortized cost of evaluated oil and natural gas properties being depleted exceeds the full cost ceiling, as defined by the SEC, the excess is expensed in the period such excess occurs. Once incurred, a write-down of oil and natural gas properties is not reversible.

Treasury stock

Treasury stock is recorded at cost, which includes incremental direct transaction costs, and is retired upon acquisition as a result of (i) stock exchanged to satisfy tax withholding that arises upon the lapse of restrictions on share-settled equity-based awards at the awardee's election or (ii) stock exchanged for the cost of exercise of stock options at the awardee's election.

Equity Incentive Plan

The Laredo Petroleum, Inc. Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated as of May 16, 2019 (the "Equity Incentive Plan"), provides for the granting of incentive awards in the form of restricted stock awards, stock option awards, performance share awards, outperformance share awards, performance unit awards, phantom unit awards and other awards. The Equity Incentive Plan allows for the issuance of up to 29,850,000 shares.

The Company recognizes the fair value of equity-based compensation awards, expected to vest over the requisite service period, as a charge against earnings, net of amounts capitalized. The Company's restricted stock awards, stock option awards, performance share awards and outperformance share award are accounted for as equity awards and the Company's performance unit awards and phantom unit awards are accounted for as liability awards. Equity-based compensation expense is included in "General and administrative" on the unaudited consolidated statements of operations. The Company capitalizes a portion of equity-based compensation for employees who are directly involved in the acquisition, exploration or development of oil and natural gas properties into the full cost pool. Capitalized equity-based compensation is included in "Evaluated properties" on the unaudited consolidated balance sheets.

Net income (loss) per common share

Net income (loss) per common share Basic net income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income (loss) per common share reflects the potential dilution of non-vested restricted stock awards, outstanding stock option awards, non-vested performance share awards and the non-vested outperformance share award. See Note 8 for additional discussion of these awards. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the dilutive effects of these awards were calculated utilizing the treasury stock method. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, all of these awards were anti-dilutive due to the Company's net loss and, therefore, were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per common share

Revenue recognition

Oil, NGL and natural gas revenues are generally recognized at the point in time that control of the product is transferred to the customer. Midstream service revenues are generated through fees for products and services that need to be delivered by midstream infrastructure, including oil and liquids-rich natural gas gathering services as well as fuel for drilling and completions activities, natural gas lift and water delivery, recycling and takeaway and are recognized over time as the customer benefits from these services when provided.