Variable Interest Entity Arrangements (Schedule of Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 669	$ 6,452	$ 104,308	$ 701
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts		89,876	119,397
Prepaid expenses and other		9,106	6,602
Total current assets		130,585	170,359
Property and equipment:
Gas gathering and processing equipment		798,503	767,388
Transportation equipment		30,019	29,524
Property, plant, and equipment, gross		8,847,546	8,615,042
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment		6,289,575	6,182,726
Net property and equipment		2,557,971	2,432,316
Operating right of use asset		8,302	0
Other assets		33,863	32,570
Total assets	[1]	2,793,529	2,698,053
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		131,129	149,945
Accrued liabilities		45,175	49,664
Current operating lease liability		4,519	0
Current portion of other long-term liabilities		13,887	14,250
Total current liabilities		194,710	213,859
Long-term debt		756,590	644,475
Operating lease liability		3,556	0
Other long-term liabilities		102,700	101,234
VIE [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		2	5,841
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts		19,500	33,207
Prepaid expenses and other		4,185	1,049
Total current assets		23,687	40,097
Property and equipment:
Gas gathering and processing equipment		798,503	767,388
Transportation equipment		3,152	3,086
Property, plant, and equipment, gross		801,655	770,474
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment		387,845	364,740
Net property and equipment		413,810	405,734
Operating right of use asset		6,221	0
Other assets		15,330	17,551
Total assets		459,048	463,382
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		14,807	32,214
Accrued liabilities		4,296	3,688
Current operating lease liability		3,576	0
Current portion of other long-term liabilities		6,970	6,875
Total current liabilities		29,649	42,777
Long-term debt		7,500	0
Operating lease liability		2,451	0
Other long-term liabilities		11,449	14,687
Total liabilities		$ 51,049	$ 57,464

[1] Unit Corporation's consolidated total assets as of June 30, 2019 include total current and long-term assets of its variable interest entity (VIE) (Superior Pipeline Company, L.L.C.) of $23.7 million and $435.4 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle obligations of the VIE. Unit Corporation's consolidated total liabilities as of June 30, 2019 include total current and long-term liabilities of the VIE of $29.6 million and $21.4 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIE have no recourse to Unit Corporation. Unit Corporation's consolidated total assets as of December 31, 2018 include total current and long-term assets of the VIE of $40.1 million and $423.3 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle obligations of the VIE. Unit Corporation's consolidated total liabilities as of December 31, 2018 include total current and long-term liabilities of the VIE of $42.8 million and $14.7 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIE have no recourse to Unit Corporation. See Note 14 – Variable Interest Entity Arrangements.