Basis of Preparation and Presentation	9 Months Ended
Basis of Preparation and Presentation	Sep. 30, 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Preparation and Presentation	BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in this report include the accounts of Unit Corporation and all its subsidiaries and affiliates and have been prepared under the rules and regulations of the SEC. The terms “company,” “Unit,” “we,” “our,” “us,” or like terms refer to Unit Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and one or more of its subsidiaries and affiliates, except as otherwise indicated or as the context otherwise requires. We consolidate the activities of Superior Pipeline Company, L.L.C. (Superior), a 50/50 joint venture between Unit Corporation and SP Investor Holdings, LLC, (SP Investor) which qualifies as a Variable Interest Entity (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 to direct those activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of Superior as further described in Note 17 – Variable Interest Entity Arrangements. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Our financial statements are prepared in conformity with GAAP, which requires us to make certain estimates and assumptions that may affect the amounts reported in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates. The condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and under the rules and regulations of the SEC do not include all the notes in our annual financial statements. This report should be read along with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2020. In the opinion of our management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all normal recurring adjustments (including the elimination of all intercompany transactions) and are fairly stated. Operating results for the eight months ended August 31, 2020 (Predecessor) and one month ended September 30, 2020 (Successor), are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the period from the Effective Date to December 31, 2020 (Successor). Certain amounts in this report for prior periods have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. The reclassification had no impact to consolidated net income (loss) or shareholders' equity. Comparability of Financial Statements to Prior Periods As discussed in further detail in Note 3 – Fresh Start Accounting, the following unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB) ASC Topic 852, Reorganizations. We evaluated the events between September 1, 2020 and September 3, 2020 and concluded that the use of an accounting convenience date of September 1, 2020 (Fresh Start Reporting Date) would not have a material impact to the condensed consolidated financial statements. This was reflected in our condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 1, 2020. Accordingly, our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes after September 1, 2020, are not comparable to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes before that date. To facilitate the financial statement presentations, we refer to the reorganized company in these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes as the "Successor" for periods subsequent to August 31, 2020, and "Predecessor" for periods prior to September 1, 2020. Furthermore, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes have been presented with a "black line" division to delineate the lack of comparability between the Predecessor and Successor. We have applied the relevant guidance provided in U.S. GAAP regarding the accounting and financial statement disclosures for entities that have filed petitions with the bankruptcy court and reorganized as going concerns in preparing the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes through the period ended August 31, 2020, or Predecessor periods. That guidance requires, for periods after our bankruptcy filing on May 22, 2020, or post-petition periods, certain transactions and events that were directly related to our reorganization be distinguished from our normal business operations. Accordingly, certain expenses, realized gains, and losses and provisions that were realized or incurred in the bankruptcy proceedings have been included in "Reorganization items, net" on our condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. In addition, certain liabilities and other obligations incurred before May 22, 2020, or pre-petition periods, have been classified as "Liabilities subject to compromise" on our Predecessor Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet through August 31, 2020. See Note 3 – Fresh Start Accounting for further detail. Changes in Accounting Policies Upon emergence from bankruptcy, the company elected to change the accounting policies related to depreciation of fixed assets of our Contract Drilling segment and the allocation of earnings and losses between Unit and its partners in Superior. Depreciation Prior to emergence from bankruptcy, the company recorded depreciation of drilling equipment using the units-of-production method based on estimated useful lives starting at 15 years, including a minimum provision of 20% of the active rate when the equipment was idle, except when idle for greater than 48 months, then it was depreciated at the full active rate. The company also utilized the composite method of depreciation for drill pipe and collars to calculate the depreciation by footage actually drilled compared to total estimated remaining footage. As of emergence, the company elected to depreciate all drilling assets utilizing the straight-line method over the useful lives of the assets ranging from four to ten years. Earnings/Losses Allocation Historically, the company allocated earnings and losses between Unit and the partners in Superior based on the ownership percentage (50/50) of the joint venture. Upon emergence, the company elected to allocate earnings and losses using the Hypothetical Liquidation at Book Value (HLBV) method of accounting. The HLBV is a balance-sheet approach that calculates the amount we would have received if Superior were liquidated at book value at the end of each measurement period. For additional information on the allocation of earnings, see Note 17 – Variable Interest Entity Arrangements.