Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details)		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) MMcf	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) Partnerships contract rig MMcf	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) rig	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Consolidation, Variable Interest Entity, Policy [Policy Text Block]				We consolidate the activities of Superior, a 50/50 joint venture between Unit Corporation and SP Investor Holdings, LLC, which qualifies as a VIE under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). We have concluded that we are the primary beneficiary of the VIE, as defined in the accounting standards, since we have the power, through 50% ownership, to direct those activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of Superior as further described in Note 18 – Variable Interest Entity Arrangements.
Number of contracts, daywork expiring in one year | contract				10
Number of contracts, daywork expiring in two years | contract				4
Bank Overdrafts		$ 8,700,000		$ 8,700,000	$ 5,100,000
Concentration of cash		1,700,000		1,700,000	11,000,000.0
Assets held for sale		5,908,000		5,908,000	22,511,000
Reclassification from held-for-sale back to held and use		10,800,000		10,800,000
Interest Costs Capitalized				16,200,000	16,500,000	$ 15,900,000
Goodwill impairment				62,800,000	0	0
Goodwill, Impairment Loss, Net of Tax				59,800,000
Additions to goodwill				0	0	0
Directly related overhead costs capitalized		16,500,000		16,500,000	15,900,000	14,800,000
Average rates used for depreciation, depletion, and amortization per Boe				9.66	7.50	6.00
Unproved properties not being amortized		252,874,000		$ 252,874,000	330,216,000	296,764,000
Future discounted net cash flows discounted				10.00%
Unproved properties included in amortization		73,900,000		$ 73,900,000	0	10,500,000
Ceiling test wrtie-down		390,100,000	$ 169,300,000	559,400,000	0	0
Non-cash ceiling test write-down net of tax		294,500,000	$ 127,900,000	422,400,000
Revenues from transactions with operating segments of same entity				15,800,000	22,490,000	13,400,000
Eliminated associated operating expense				14,200,000	19,500,000	11,800,000
Eliminated yielding				$ 1,600,000	$ 2,990,000	$ 1,600,000
Number of oil and gas limited partnerships | Partnerships				13
Repurchase of limited units outstanding amount				$ 600,000
Federal statutory income tax rate, percent					21.00%	35.00%
Tax benefit from change in enacted tax rate	[1]			0	$ 0	$ (81,307,000)
Liability recognized to under production		(3,838,000)		$ (3,838,000)	(3,331,000)
Drilling
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of daywork contracts | contract				21
Impairment of Drilling Equipment					147,900,000
Impairment of contract drilling equipment, net of tax					$ 111,700,000
Number of drilling rigs in assets held for sale | rig				7
Minimum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of days for drilling of one well				10 days
Contact duration				2 months
Insurance coverage		0		$ 0
Minimum | Drilling
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of days for drilling of one well				10 days
Contact duration				2 months
Maximum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of days for drilling of one well				90 days
Contact duration				3 years
Insurance coverage		$ 1,000,000.0		$ 1,000,000.0
Maximum | Drilling
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of days for drilling of one well				90 days
Contact duration				3 years
Under-Produced Properties
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Natural gas balancing (MMcf) | MMcf		3,400		3,400
Over-Produced Properties
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Natural gas balancing (MMcf) | MMcf		3,500		3,500
Natural Gas Balancing
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accounts receivable		$ 3,600,000		$ 3,600,000
Drilling Equipment
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Minimum depreciation percentage for idle drilling rigs (if idle under 48 months)				20.00%
Number of drilling rigs removed from service | rig					41
Impairment of Drilling Equipment						$ 0
Drilling Equipment | Minimum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life, years				15 years
Building
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life, years				39 years
Property, Plant and Equipment, Other Types | Minimum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life, years				3 years
Property, Plant and Equipment, Other Types | Maximum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life, years				15 years
Long-term Contract with Customer [Member] | Drilling
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of daywork contracts | contract				14
Long-term Contract with Customer [Member] | Minimum | Drilling
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Contact duration				2 months
Mechanical drilling rigs | Drilling Equipment
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of drilling rigs removed from service | rig					29
SCR diesel-electric drilling rigs | Drilling Equipment
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of drilling rigs removed from service | rig					12
Salvage Value [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Change in Accounting Estimate, Description				During the fourth quarter 2019, we reassessed estimated salvage values associated with our oil and natural gas operations. Based on market conditions for our industry as well as the substantial doubt that exists for our ability to continue as a going concern, we revised these estimates downward for a total adjustment of $39.7 million ($25.6 million discounted for our full cost ceiling test) to salvage value estimates.
Change in estimate for salvage value				$ 39,700,000
Change in estimate for salvage value, discounted				$ 25,600,000

[1] In 2017, the revaluation from the Tax Act.