Variable Interest Entity Arrangements (Schedule of Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 36,994	$ 571	$ 669	$ 6,452
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts		54,146	82,656
Prepaid expenses and other		16,659	13,078
Total current assets		108,759	105,051
Property and equipment:
Gas gathering and processing equipment		833,402	824,699
Transportation equipment		16,780	29,723
Property, plant, and equipment, gross		8,904,471	8,931,355
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment		7,903,051	6,978,669
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
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		26,808	84,481
Accrued liabilities		31,384	46,562
Current operating lease liability		4,666	3,430
Current portion of other long-term liabilities		13,628	17,376
Total current liabilities		213,497	260,049
Long-term debt		34,000	663,216
Operating lease liability		3,012	2,071
VIE [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		23,780	0
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts		18,718	21,073
Prepaid expenses and other		7,321	7,686
Total current assets		49,819	28,759
Property and equipment:
Gas gathering and processing equipment		833,402	824,699
Transportation equipment		3,363	3,390
Property, plant, and equipment, gross		836,765	828,089
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment		493,386	407,144
Net property and equipment		343,379	420,945
Operating right of use asset		4,542	3,948
Other assets		6,054	9,442
Total assets		403,794	463,094
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		9,980	18,511
Accrued liabilities		4,648	4,198
Current operating lease liability		2,518	2,407
Current portion of other long-term liabilities		8,059	7,060
Total current liabilities		25,205	32,176
Long-term debt		34,000	16,500
Operating lease liability		1,911	1,404
Other long-term liabilities		3,811	8,126
Total liabilities		$ 64,927	$ 58,206

[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.