Chapter 11 Proceeds, Liquidity, and Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (DIP Condensed Combined Balance Sheets (Unaudited)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 36,994		$ 571	$ 669		$ 6,452
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts		54,146		82,656
Materials and supplies		110		449
Current income taxes receivable		850		1,756
Prepaid expenses and other		16,659		13,078
Total current assets		108,759		105,051
Net property and equipment		1,001,420		1,952,686
Operating right of use asset		7,828		5,673
Other assets		22,371		26,642
Total assets	[1]	1,140,378		2,090,052
Accounts payable		26,808		84,481
Accrued liabilities		31,384		46,562
Current operating lease liability		4,666		3,430
Current portion of long-term debt		124,000		108,200
Debtor-in-possession financing (Note 8)		8,000		0
Current derivative liability		5,011		0
Current portion of other long-term liabilities		13,628		17,376
Total current liabilities		213,497		260,049
Non-current derivative liability		145		27
Operating lease liability		3,012		2,071
Total other long-term liabilities		84,722		95,341
Liabilities subject to compromise (Note 2)		759,720		0
Deferred income taxes		4,750		13,713
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent		(128,176)		853,878
Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		168,708		201,757
Total shareholders' equity		40,532	$ 254,486	1,055,635	$ 1,593,232	$ 1,595,859	$ 1,593,444
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	[1]	1,140,378		2,090,052
Debtor-in-possession [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents		13,214		$ 571
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts		33,628
Intercompany accounts receivable		5,290
Materials and supplies		110
Current income taxes receivable		850
Prepaid expenses and other		9,338
Total current assets		62,430
Intercompany investment		338,809
Net property and equipment		658,041
Operating right of use asset		3,337
Other assets		16,626
Total assets		1,079,243
Accounts payable		16,828
Intercompany accounts payable		4,364
Accrued liabilities		25,355
Current operating lease liability		5,011
Current portion of long-term debt		2,154
Debtor-in-possession financing (Note 8)		124,000
Current derivative liability		8,000
Current portion of other long-term liabilities		5,615
Total current liabilities		191,327
Non-current derivative liability		145
Operating lease liability		1,146
Total other long-term liabilities		81,623
Liabilities subject to compromise (Note 2)		759,720
Deferred income taxes		4,750
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent		(128,176)
Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		168,708
Total shareholders' equity		40,532
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		$ 1,079,243

[1] Unit Corporation's consolidated total assets as of June 30, 2020 include total current and long-term assets of its variable interest entity (VIE) (Superior Pipeline Company, L.L.C.) of $49.8 million and $354.0 million, respectively, which can only settle obligations of the VIE. Unit Corporation's consolidated total liabilities as of June 30, 2020 include total current and long-term liabilities of the VIE of $25.2 million and $39.7 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, 2019 include total current and long-term assets of the VIE of $28.8 million and $434.3 million, respectively, which can only settle obligations of the VIE. Unit Corporation's consolidated total liabilities as of December 31, 2019 include total 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. See Note 16 – Variable Interest Entity Arrangements.