2.4.0.82404402 - Disclosure - Summary of Accounts Receivable (Detail)truefalseIn Thousands, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1false USDfalsefalse$I2013Q2http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000077159instant2013-06-30T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false USDfalsefalse$I2012Q4http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000077159instant2012-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1true 1us-gaap_ReceivablesAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Receivables [Abstract]2false 2pva_AccountsReceivableCustomersGrossCurrentpva_falsedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse6679100066791USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse4396700043967USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAccounts Receivable, Customers, Gross, CurrentNo definition available.false2Customers3false 2us-gaap_OilAndGasJointInterestBillingReceivablesCurrentus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse6320100063201falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1615400016154falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCurrent portion of accounts receivable attributable to joint interest partners in oil and gas properties. These are billings to the non-operators associated with the operation of wells and are based on those owners' working interests in the wells. For classified balance sheets, represents the current amount receivable, that is amounts expected to be collected within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG) -Number AAG-OGP -Paragraph 22 -Chapter 1 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. false2Joint interest partners4false 2us-gaap_OtherReceivablesGrossCurrentus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse27860002786falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse45230004523falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmounts of other receivables due within one year of the balance sheet date (or one operating cycle, if longer) from third parties or arising from transactions not separately disclosed.No definition available.false2Other5false 2us-gaap_AccountsReceivableGrossCurrentus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotalLabel1truefalsefalse132778000132778falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse6464400064644falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmounts due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph a, b -Article 5 true2Accounts Receivable, Gross, Current, Total6false 2us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrentus-gaap_truecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabel1truefalsefalse-261000-261falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-1666000-1666falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryA valuation allowance for trade and other receivables due to an Entity within one year (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) that are expected to be uncollectible.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5074-111524 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 4 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 false2Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts7false 2us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrentus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotalLabel1truefalsefalse132517000132517USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse6297800062978USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3-4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph a(1) -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 4 -Article 5 true2Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accountsfalseSummary of Accounts Receivable (Detail) (USD $)ThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.pennvirginia.com/role/SummaryOfAccountsReceivableDetail27