Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	SWIFT ENERGY CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000351817
Document Type	10-Q
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2014
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		43,807,946