NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION [Abstract]
Nature of Operations [Text Block]	NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION PDC Energy, Inc. ("PDC", the "Company," "we," "us," or "our") is a domestic independent exploration and production company that acquires, explores and develops properties for the production of crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs, with primary operations in the Wattenberg Field in Colorado and the Delaware Basin in Texas. Our operations in the Wattenberg Field are focused in the horizontal Niobrara and Codell plays and our Delaware Basin operations are currently focused in the Wolfcamp zones. We also have operations in the Utica Shale in Southeastern Ohio; however, in 2017, we began actively marketing the Utica Shale properties for sale; therefore, these properties are classified as held-for-sale as they met the criteria for such classification during the third quarter of 2017. In February 2018, we entered into a PSA for the sale of these properties for net cash proceeds of approximately $40.0 million, subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement. As of December 31, 2017, we owned an interest in approximately 2,800 productive gross wells. We are engaged in two operating segments: our oil and gas exploration and production segment and our gas marketing segment. Beginning in 2017, our gas marketing segment does not meet the quantitative thresholds to require disclosure as a separate reportable segment. All of our material operations are attributable to our exploration and production business; therefore, all of our operations are presented as a single segment for all periods presented. The audited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of PDC, our wholly-owned subsidiaries, and our proportionate share of our two affiliated partnerships. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates which are particularly significant to our consolidated financial statements include estimates of crude oil, natural gas and NGLs sales revenue; crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs reserves; estimates of unpaid revenues and unbilled costs; future cash flows from crude oil and natural gas properties; valuation of commodity derivative instruments; exploratory dry hole costs; impairment of proved and unproved properties; impairment of goodwill; valuation and allocations of purchased businesses and assets; estimates of fair value of our fixed rate debt instruments; and valuation of deferred income tax assets. Certain immaterial reclassifications have been made to our prior period balance sheet and statement of operations to conform to the current period presentation. The reclassifications had no impact on previously reported cash flows, net earnings, earnings per share, or stockholders' equity.

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

PDC Energy, Inc. ("PDC", the "Company," "we," "us," or "our") is a domestic independent exploration and production company that acquires, explores and develops properties for the production of crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs, with primary operations in the Wattenberg Field in Colorado and the Delaware Basin in Texas. Our operations in the Wattenberg Field are focused in the horizontal Niobrara and Codell plays and our Delaware Basin operations are currently focused in the Wolfcamp zones. We also have operations in the Utica Shale in Southeastern Ohio; however, in 2017, we began actively marketing the Utica Shale properties for sale; therefore, these properties are classified as held-for-sale as they met the criteria for such classification during the third quarter of 2017. In February 2018, we entered into a PSA for the sale of these properties for net cash proceeds of approximately $40.0 million, subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement. As of December 31, 2017, we owned an interest in approximately 2,800 productive gross wells. We are engaged in two operating segments: our oil and gas exploration and production segment and our gas marketing segment. Beginning in 2017, our gas marketing segment does not meet the quantitative thresholds to require disclosure as a separate reportable segment. All of our material operations are attributable to our exploration and production business; therefore, all of our operations are presented as a single segment for all periods presented.

The audited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of PDC, our wholly-owned subsidiaries, and our proportionate share of our two affiliated partnerships. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates which are particularly significant to our consolidated financial statements include estimates of crude oil, natural gas and NGLs sales revenue; crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs reserves; estimates of unpaid revenues and unbilled costs; future cash flows from crude oil and natural gas properties; valuation of commodity derivative instruments; exploratory dry hole costs; impairment of proved and unproved properties; impairment of goodwill; valuation and allocations of purchased businesses and assets; estimates of fair value of our fixed rate debt instruments; and valuation of deferred income tax assets.

Certain immaterial reclassifications have been made to our prior period balance sheet and statement of operations to conform to the current period presentation. The reclassifications had no impact on previously reported cash flows, net earnings, earnings per share, or stockholders' equity.