2.4.0.82415402 - Disclosure - Restructuring and Exit Activities - Additional Information (Detail)truefalsefalse1false 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$3false USDtruefalse$I2013Q2_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_pva_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000077159instant2013-06-30T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseAccounts Payable and Accrued Liabilitiesus-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldipva_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesMemberus-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxisexplicitMemberusdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4false USDtruefalse$I2013Q2_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_pva_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000077159instant2013-06-30T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseOther Noncurrent Liabilitiesus-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldipva_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMemberus-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxisexplicitMemberusdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$5false truefalseD2012Q4YTD_us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis_pva_CanonsburgPennsylvaniaMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000077159duration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseCanonsburg, Pennsylvaniaus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldipva_CanonsburgPennsylvaniaMemberus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisexplicitMemberPersonStandardhttp://www.pennvirginia.com/20130630Personpva01true 3us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveLineItemsus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]2false 4us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostNumberOfPositionsEliminatedus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5truefalsefalse3030falsefalsefalsexbrli:integerItemTypeintegerThe number of positions eliminated during the period as a result of restructuring activities.No definition available.false256Organization restructuring, termination of employees3false 4us-gaap_RestructuringReserveCurrentus-gaap_truecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse27000002700000USD$falsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount as of the balance sheet date of known and estimated obligations associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, which are expected to be paid in the next twelve months or in the normal operating cycle if longer. Costs of such activities include those for one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, relocating employees, and costs associated with an ongoing benefit arrangement, but excludes costs associated with the retirement of a long-lived asset.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section P -Subsection 4 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 146 -Paragraph 20 -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. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 95-3 -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. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 false2Restructuring reserve, current4false 4us-gaap_RestructuringReserveNoncurrentus-gaap_truecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse1380600013806000USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse1433300014333000USD$falsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse1390000013900000USD$falsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount as of the balance sheet date of known and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, which are expected to be paid after one year or beyond the next operating cycle, if longer. Costs of such activities include those for one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, and relocating employees, and costs associated with an ongoing benefit arrangement, but excludes costs associated with the retirement of a long-lived asset.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 146 -Paragraph 20 -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. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 95-3 -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. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section P -Paragraph Question 4 false2Restructuring reserve, noncurrentfalseRestructuring and Exit Activities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)NoRoundingUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.pennvirginia.com/role/RestructuringAndExitActivitiesAdditionalInformationDetail54