Variable Interest Entity Arrangements (Schedule of Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 571		$ 6,452		$ 701	$ 893
Accounts receivable	82,656		119,397
Prepaid expenses and other	13,078		6,602
Total current assets	105,051		170,359
Property and Equipment:
Gas gathering and processing equipment	824,699		767,388
Transportation equipment	29,723		29,524
Property, plant and equipment, gross, total	8,931,355		8,615,042
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment	6,978,669		6,182,726
Net property and equipment	1,952,686		2,432,316
Right of use asset	5,673		0
Other assets	26,642		32,570
Total assets	2,090,052	[1]	2,698,053	[1]	$ 2,581,452
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	84,481		151,686
Accrued liabilities	46,562		47,923
Current operating lease liabilities	3,430		0
Current portion of other long-term liabilities	17,376		14,250
Total current liabilities	260,049		213,859
Long-term debt less debt issuance costs	663,216		644,475
Long-term operating lease payments	2,071		0
Other long-term liabilities	95,341		101,234
VIE
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0		5,841
Accounts receivable	21,073		33,207
Prepaid expenses and other	7,686		1,049
Total current assets	28,759		40,097
Property and Equipment:
Gas gathering and processing equipment	824,699		767,388
Transportation equipment	3,390		3,086
Property, plant and equipment, gross, total	828,089		770,474
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment	407,144		364,740
Net property and equipment	420,945		405,734
Right of use asset	3,948		0
Other assets	9,442		17,551
Total assets	463,094		463,382
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	18,511		32,214
Accrued liabilities	4,198		3,688
Current operating lease liabilities	2,407		0
Current portion of other long-term liabilities	7,060		6,875
Total current liabilities	32,176		42,777
Long-term debt less debt issuance costs	16,500		0
Long-term operating lease payments	1,404		0
Other long-term liabilities	8,126		14,687
Total liabilities	$ 58,206		$ 57,464

[1] Unit Corporation's consolidated total assets as of December 31, 2019 include current and long-term assets of its variable interest entity (VIE) (Superior) of $28.8 million and $434.3 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle obligations of the VIE. Unit Corporation's consolidated total liabilities as of December 31, 2019 include current and long-term liabilities of the VIE of $32.2 million and $26.0 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 current and long-term assets of its variable interest entity (VIE) (Superior) 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 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 18 – Variable Interest Entity Arrangements.