- Definition

Exploration expenses (including prospecting) related to oil and gas producing entities and would be included in operating expenses of that entity. Costs incurred in identifying areas that may warrant examination and in examining specific areas that are considered to have prospects of containing oil and gas reserves, including costs of drilling exploratory wells and exploratory-type stratigraphic test wells. Exploration costs may be incurred both before acquiring the related property (sometimes referred to in part as prospecting costs) and after acquiring the property. Principal types of exploration costs, which include depreciation and applicable operating costs of support equipment and facilities and other costs of exploration activities, are: (i) Costs of topographical, geographical and geophysical studies, rights of access to properties to conduct those studies, and salaries and other expenses of geologists, geophysical crews, and others conducting those studies. Collectively, these are sometimes referred to as geological and geophysical or "G&G" costs. (ii) Costs of carrying and retaining undeveloped properties, such as delay rentals, ad valorem taxes on properties, legal costs for title defense, and the maintenance of land and lease records. (iii) Dry hole contributions and bottom hole contributions. (iv) Costs of drilling and equipping exploratory wells. (v) Costs of drilling exploratory-type stratigraphic test wells.

+ References+ Details

TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES AND OTHER RELATED PARTIES Transactions with Affiliates and Other Related Parties (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Production costs	$ 22,299,000	$ 19,057,000	$ 16,176,000	$ 15,858,000	$ 13,594,000	$ 15,797,000	$ 12,373,000	$ 12,936,000	$ 73,390,000	$ 54,700,000	$ 44,832,000
Exploration expense	1,883,000	2,030,000	1,437,000	1,689,000	14,875,000	1,773,000	2,374,000	1,872,000	7,039,000	20,894,000	5,734,000
General and administrative expense	16,991,000	16,080,000	15,783,000	15,115,000	16,019,000	13,710,000	14,378,000	14,708,000	63,969,000	58,815,000	61,454,000
PDCM
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party transactions included in cost of natural gas marketing									18,100,000	10,900,000	9,500,000
Well operating and administrative services on behalf of PDCM									14,500,000	12,100,000	10,400,000
Affiliated Partnerships
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party transactions included in cost of natural gas marketing									1,300,000	500,000	1,300,000
PDCE proportionate share
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Production costs									4,097,000	3,945,000	3,441,000
Exploration expense									502,000	492,000	430,000
General and administrative expense									2,649,000	1,630,000	1,543,000
Former Executive Officer
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
General and administrative expense											6,700,000
Separation Compensation											4,100,000
Non-qualified supplemental retirement benefit											$ 30,000