Chapter 11 Proceeds, Liquidity, and Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (DIP Condensed Combined Statements of Operations (Unaudited)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Revenues	$ 89,007	$ 165,146	$ 211,383	$ 354,837
Operating costs	115,103	98,041	198,826	201,511
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	35,960	66,292	97,577	128,418
Impairments	109,318	0	851,242	0
Loss on abandonment of assets	0	0	17,554	0
General and administrative	25,814	10,064	37,367	19,805
Loss on disposition of assets	877	(422)	1,267	1,193
Total operating costs	287,072	173,975	1,203,833	350,927
Loss from operations	(198,065)	(8,829)	(992,450)	3,910
Interest, net	(7,608)	(8,995)	(20,865)	(17,533)
Write off of debt issuance cost	(2,426)	0	(2,426)	0
Gain (loss) on derivatives	(6,937)	7,927	(6,454)	995
Reorganization Items	(7,027)	0	(7,027)	0
Other, net	43	6	103	11
Total other income (expense)	(23,955)	(1,062)	(36,669)	(16,527)
Loss before income taxes	(222,020)	(9,891)	(1,029,119)	(12,617)
Income tax benefit	(6,455)	(1,874)	(9,880)	(2,318)
Net loss	(215,565)	(8,017)	(1,019,239)	(10,299)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	84	492	(33,096)	1,714
Net loss attributable to Unit Corporation	(215,649)	$ (8,509)	(986,143)	$ (12,013)
Debtor-in-possession [Member]
Revenues	56,159		141,315
Operating costs	93,305		150,169
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	25,612		74,956
Impairments	109,318		787,280
Loss on abandonment of assets	0		17,554
General and administrative	25,814		37,367
Loss on disposition of assets	(886)		(1,282)
Total operating costs	254,935		1,068,608
Loss from operations	(198,776)		(927,293)
Interest, net	(7,066)		(19,805)
Write off of debt issuance cost	(2,426)		(2,426)
Gain (loss) on derivatives	(6,937)		(6,454)
Reorganization Items	7,027		7,027
Other, net	22		64
Total other income (expense)	(23,434)		(35,648)
Loss before income taxes	(222,210)		(962,941)
Income tax benefit	(6,455)		(9,880)
Equity in net earnings (losses) from investment	188		(66,178)
Net loss	(215,567)		(1,019,239)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	84		(33,096)
Net loss attributable to Unit Corporation	$ (215,651)		$ (986,143)