Supplemental Condensed Consolidated Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operation) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended													12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019		Sep. 30, 2019		Jun. 30, 2019		Mar. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018		Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 164,358	[1]	$ 155,439	[1]	$ 165,146	[1]	$ 189,691	[1]	$ 214,788		$ 220,058	$ 203,303	$ 205,132	$ 674,634	$ 843,281	$ 739,640
Expenses
Operating costs														384,728	430,896	408,872
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization														275,573	243,605	209,257
Impairments														625,716	147,884	0
General and administrative														38,246	38,707	38,087
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets														3,502	(704)	(327)
Total operating expenses														1,327,765	860,388	655,889
Income (loss) from operations														(653,131)	(17,107)	83,751
Interest, net														(37,012)	(33,494)	(38,334)
Gain (loss) on derivatives														4,225	(3,184)	14,732
Other														(236)	22	21
Income (loss) before income taxes														(686,154)	(53,763)	60,170
Income tax benefit														(132,326)	(13,996)	(57,678)
Equity in net earnings from investment in subsidiaries, net of taxes														0	0	0
Net income (loss)														(553,828)	(39,767)	117,848
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interest														51	5,521	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	$ (334,980)	[2]	$ (206,886)	[3]	$ (8,509)		$ (3,504)		$ (77,840)	[4]	$ 18,899	$ 5,788	$ 7,865	(553,879)	(45,288)	117,848
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues														(47,485)	(88,687)	(71,493)
Expenses
Operating costs														(47,485)	(88,687)	(69,873)
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization														0	0	0
Impairments														0	0
General and administrative														0	0	0
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets														0	0	0
Total operating expenses														(47,485)	(88,687)	(69,873)
Income (loss) from operations														0	0	(1,620)
Interest, net														0	0	0
Gain (loss) on derivatives														0	0	0
Other														0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes														0	0	(1,620)
Income tax benefit														0	0	0
Equity in net earnings from investment in subsidiaries, net of taxes														508,439	(8,638)	(134,768)
Net income (loss)														508,439	(8,638)	(136,388)
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interest														(51)	(5,521)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation														508,490	(3,117)	(136,388)
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues														0	0	0
Expenses
Operating costs														0	0	0
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization														7,707	7,679	7,477
Impairments														0	0
General and administrative														0	0	0
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets														(11)	(30)	(850)
Total operating expenses														7,696	7,649	6,627
Income (loss) from operations														(7,696)	(7,649)	(6,627)
Interest, net														(35,466)	(32,280)	(37,645)
Gain (loss) on derivatives														4,225	(3,184)	14,732
Other														786	22	21
Income (loss) before income taxes														(38,151)	(43,091)	(29,519)
Income tax benefit														7,238	(11,962)	(12,599)
Equity in net earnings from investment in subsidiaries, net of taxes														(508,439)	(8,638)	134,768
Net income (loss)														(553,828)	(39,767)	117,848
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interest														51	5,521	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation														(553,879)	(45,288)	117,848
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues														494,180	619,551	534,084
Expenses
Operating costs														256,024	268,255	258,132
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization														220,203	191,092	158,281
Impairments														622,676	147,884
General and administrative														38,246	36,083	29,440
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets														3,673	(564)	548
Total operating expenses														1,140,822	642,750	446,401
Income (loss) from operations														(646,642)	(23,199)	87,683
Interest, net														0	0	0
Gain (loss) on derivatives														0	0	0
Other														(1,086)	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes														(647,728)	(23,199)	87,683
Income tax benefit														(139,564)	(4,064)	(20,881)
Equity in net earnings from investment in subsidiaries, net of taxes														0	0	0
Net income (loss)														(508,164)	(19,135)	108,564
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interest														0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation														(508,164)	(19,135)	108,564
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues														227,939	312,417	277,049
Expenses
Operating costs														176,189	251,328	220,613
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization														47,663	44,834	43,499
Impairments														3,040	0
General and administrative														0	2,624	8,647
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets														(160)	(110)	(25)
Total operating expenses														226,732	298,676	272,734
Income (loss) from operations														1,207	13,741	4,315
Interest, net														(1,546)	(1,214)	(689)
Gain (loss) on derivatives														0	0	0
Other														64	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes														(275)	12,527	3,626
Income tax benefit														0	2,030	(24,198)
Equity in net earnings from investment in subsidiaries, net of taxes														0	0	0
Net income (loss)														(275)	10,497	27,824
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interest														51	5,521	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation														$ (326)	$ 4,976	$ 27,824

[1] In 2019, revenues dropped significantly each quarter due to lower commodity prices, production, and drilling rig utilization.

[2] During the fourth quarter of 2019, we recorded a non-cash ceiling test write-down of $390.1 million pre-tax ($294.5 million, net of tax).

[3] During the third quarter of 2019, we recorded a non-cash ceiling test write-down of $169.3 million pre-tax ($127.9 million, net of tax). We also recognized goodwill impairment charges of $62.8 million, pre-tax ($59.8 million, net of tax).

[4] In the fourth quarter of 2018, we recorded an impairment for contract drilling equipment that included a $147.9 million pre-tax write-down for 41 drilling rigs and other drilling equipment.