Fresh Start Accounting (Schedule of Fresh-Start Adjustments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	8 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2020	Aug. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 01, 2020
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]
Predecessor, Cash and cash equivalents			$ 32,280
Predecessor, Restricted cash			0
Predecessor, Accounts receivable, net			50,621
Predecessor, Materials and supplies			64
Predecessor, Current income tax receivable			850
Predecessor, Prepaid expenses and other			13,692
Predecessor, Total current assets			97,507
Predecessor, Proved properties			6,539,816
Predecessor, Unproved properties not being amortized			30,205
Predecessor, Drilling equipment			1,285,024
Predecessor, Gas gathering and processing equipment			833,788
Predecessor, Saltwater disposal systems			43,541
Predecessor, Land and building			59,080
Predecessor, Transportation equipment			15,577
Predecessor, Other			57,427
Predecessor, Property, plant and equipment, gross			8,864,458
Predecessor, Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment			7,923,868
Predecessor, Net property and equipment			940,590
Predecessor, Right of use asset			7,476
Predecessor, Other assets			24,666
Predecessor, Total assets			1,070,239
Predecessor, Accounts Payable			27,354
Predecessor, Accrued Liabilities			36,990
Predecessor, Current operating lease liability			4,643
Predecessor, Current portion of long-term debt			124,000
Predecessor Current derivative liabilities			5,089
Predecessor Warrant liability			0
Predecessor, Current portion of other long-term liabilities			11,201
Predecessor, Total current liabilities			209,277
Predecessor, Long-term Debt			16,000
Predecessor, Non-current derivative liabilities			766
Predecessor, Operating lease liability			2,760
Predecessor, Other long-term liabilities			61,393
Predecessor, Liabilities Subject to Compromise			762,215
Predecessor, Deferred income taxes			4,466
Predecessor, Preferred Stock			0
Predecessor, Common Stock			10,704
Predecessor, capital in excess of par value			650,153
Predecessor, Retained Earnings (Deficit)			(818,679)
Predecessor, Total shareholders' equity attributable to Unit Corporation			(157,822)
Predecessor, Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries			171,184
Predecessor, Total shareholders' equity			13,362
Predecessor, Total liabilities and shareholders' equity			$ 1,070,239
Successor, Cash and cash equivalents					$ 25,482
Successor, Restricted cash					7,458
Successor, Accounts receivables, net					50,621
Successor, Materials and supplies					0
Successor, Current income tax receivable					850
Successor, Prepaid expenses and other					19,084
Successor, Total current assets					103,495
Successor, Proved properties					238,284
Successor, Unproved Properties					0
Successor, Drilling equipment					63,458
Successor, Gas gathering and processing equipment					250,098
Successor, Saltwater disposal systems					0
Successor, Land and building					32,635
Successor, Transportation equipment					3,314
Successor, Other					9,958
Successor, Property, plant, and equipment, gross					597,747
Successor, Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment					0
Successor, Net Property and Equipment					597,747
Successor, Right-of-use asset					6,817
Successor, Other Assets					18,284
Successor, Total assets					726,343
Successor, Accounts Payable					33,736
Successor, Accrued Liabilities					32,875
Successor, Current operating lease liability					3,974
Successor, current portion of long-term debt					400
Successor, Current derivative liabilities					5,089
Successor, Warrant liability					885
Successor, Current portion of other long-term liabilities					14,960
Successor, Total current liabilities					91,919
Successor, Long-term debt					147,600
Successor, Non-current derivative liability					766
Successor, Operating lease liability					2,771
Successor, Other long-term liabilities					43,764
Successor, Liabilities Subject to Compromise					0
Successor, Deferred income taxes					0
Successor, Preferred Stock					0
Successor, Common Stock					120
Successor capital in excess of par value					197,203
Successor, Retained Earnings (Deficit)					0
Successor, Total shareholders' equity attributable to Unit Corporation					197,323
Successor, Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries					242,200
Successor, Total shareholders' equity					439,523
Successor, Total liabilities and shareholders' equity					726,343
Operating Loss Carryforwards					726,400
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Subject to Expiration					584,200
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Not Subject to Expiration					142,200
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent		0.00%	1.62%	19.57%
Reorganization Adjustments [Member]
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]
Predecessor, Preferred Stock					0
Predecessor, Common Stock	[1]				(10,704)
Predecessor, capital in excess of par value	[1]				(650,153)
Increase (Decrease), Cash and cash equivalents	[2]				(6,798)
Increase (Decrease), Restricted Cash	[3]				7,458
Increase (Decrease), Accounts receivable, net					0
Increase (Decrease), Materials and supplies					0
Increase (Decrease), Current income tax receivable					0
Increase (Decrease), Prepaid expenses and other	[4]				6,382
Increase (Decrease), Total current assets					7,042
Increase (Decrease), Proved properties					0
Increase (Decrease) Unproved Properties					0
Increase (Decrease) Drilling equipment					0
Increase (Decrease) Gas gathering and processing equipment					0
Increase (Decrease) Saltwater disposal systems					0
Increase (Decrease), Land and building					0
Increase (Decrease), Transportation equipment					0
Increase (Decrease), Other					0
Increase (Decrease) Property, plant, and equipment, gross					0
Increase (Decrease), Accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment					0
Increase (Decrease), Net Property and equipment					0
Increase (Decrease) Right of use asset					0
Increase (Decrease), Other Assets	[4]				(6,382)
Increase (Decrease), Total assets					660
Increase (Decrease), Accounts Payable	[4]				6,382
Increase (Decrease), Accrued Liabilities	[5]				(4,115)
Increase/(Decrease), Current operating lease liability					0
Increase (Decrease), Current portion of long-term debt	[6]				(123,600)
Increase (Decrease), Current derivative liability					0
Increase (Decrease) Warrant liability					0
Increase (Decrease), Current portion of other long-term liabilities	[7]				3,743
Increase (Decrease), Total current liabilities					(117,590)
Increase (Decrease), Long-term debt	[6]				131,600
Increase (Decrease), Non-current derivative liabilities					0
Increase (Decrease) Operating lease liability					0
Increase (Decrease), Other long-term liabilities	[4],[7]				(3,220)
Increase (Decrease), Liabilities Subject to Compromise	[8]				(762,215)
Increase (Decrease), Deferred income taxes					0
Increase (Decrease), Preferred Stock					0
Increase (Decrease), Common Stock	[8]				120
Increase (Decrease), Capital in excess of par value	[8]				197,203
Increase (Decrease), Retained Earnings (Deficit)	[9]				1,215,619
Increase (Decrease) Total shareholders' equity attributable to Unit Corporation					752,085
Increase (Decrease)Non-Controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries					0
Increase (Decrease), Total shareholders' equity					752,085
Increase (Decrease), Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity					660
Fresh start adjustments [Member]
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]
Predecessor, Preferred Stock					0
Predecessor, Common Stock					0
Predecessor, capital in excess of par value					0
Increase (Decrease), Cash and cash equivalents					0
Increase (Decrease), Restricted Cash					0
Increase (Decrease), Accounts receivable, net					0
Increase (Decrease), Materials and supplies	[10]				(64)
Increase (Decrease), Current income tax receivable					0
Increase (Decrease), Prepaid expenses and other	[11]				(990)
Increase (Decrease), Total current assets					(1,054)
Increase (Decrease), Proved properties	[12]				(6,301,532)
Increase (Decrease) Unproved Properties	[12]				(30,205)
Increase (Decrease) Drilling equipment	[13]				(1,221,566)
Increase (Decrease) Gas gathering and processing equipment	[13]				(583,690)
Increase (Decrease) Saltwater disposal systems	[13]				(43,541)
Increase (Decrease), Land and building	[13]				(26,445)
Increase (Decrease), Transportation equipment	[13]				(12,263)
Increase (Decrease), Other	[13]				(47,469)
Increase (Decrease) Property, plant, and equipment, gross					(8,266,711)
Increase (Decrease), Accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment	[12],[13]				(7,923,868)
Increase (Decrease), Net Property and equipment					(342,843)
Increase (Decrease) Right of use asset	[14]				(659)
Increase (Decrease), Other Assets					0
Increase (Decrease), Total assets					(344,556)
Increase (Decrease), Accounts Payable					0
Increase (Decrease), Accrued Liabilities					0
Increase/(Decrease), Current operating lease liability	[14]				(669)
Increase (Decrease), Current portion of long-term debt					0
Increase (Decrease), Current derivative liability					0
Increase (Decrease) Warrant liability	[15]				885
Increase (Decrease), Current portion of other long-term liabilities	[16]				16
Increase (Decrease), Total current liabilities					232
Increase (Decrease), Long-term debt					0
Increase (Decrease), Non-current derivative liabilities					0
Increase (Decrease) Operating lease liability	[14]				11
Increase (Decrease), Other long-term liabilities	[16]				(14,409)
Increase (Decrease), Liabilities Subject to Compromise					0
Increase (Decrease), Deferred income taxes	[17]				(4,466)
Increase (Decrease), Preferred Stock					0
Increase (Decrease), Common Stock					0
Increase (Decrease), Capital in excess of par value	[18]				0
Increase (Decrease), Retained Earnings (Deficit)	[18]				(396,940)
Increase (Decrease) Total shareholders' equity attributable to Unit Corporation					(396,940)
Increase (Decrease)Non-Controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	[19]				71,016
Increase (Decrease), Total shareholders' equity					(325,924)
Increase (Decrease), Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity					$ (344,556)

[1] Represents the cancellation of Predecessor Common Stock.

[2] The table below details the company’s uses of cash, under the terms of the Plan described in Note 2 – Emergence From Voluntary Reorganization Under Chapter 11 (in thousands): Funding of the professional fees escrow account$(7,458)Proceeds from Exit credit facility8,000 Payment of debt issuance costs on the Exit credit facility(3,225)Payment of professional fees(3,943)Payment of accrued interest payable under the Predecessor credit facility(172)Changes in cash and cash equivalents$(6,798)

[3] Represents the reserve for Professional Fee Escrow of $7.5 million.

[4] Represents the reclassification of other long-term assets related to deferred compensation to prepaid expenses and other assets as the deferred compensation payout is required to be paid within 12 months from the date of emergence in accordance with the Plan. Simultaneously, the current portion of deferred compensation liability was reclassified from other long-term liabilities to accounts payable.

[5] Represents the payment of the DIP Facility interest of $0.2 million and professional fees for $3.9 million.

[6] Represents the transition of the DIP credit agreement and the Predecessor credit agreement of $124.0 million into the Exit Facility and the issuance of an additional $8.0 million under the Exit Facility.

[7] Represents the reclassification of the short-term portion of the separation benefit liabilities from non-current to current liabilities which was offset by the increase in non-current portion of liabilities.

[8] Settlement of liabilities subject to compromise and the resulting net gain were determined as follows (in thousands): Liabilities subject to compromise before the Effective Date:6.625% senior subordinated notes due 2021 (including accrued interest as of the Petition Date)$672,369 Accounts payable1,179 Employee separation benefit plan obligations23,394 Litigation settlements45,000 Royalty suspense accounts payable20,273 Total liabilities subject to compromise762,215 Separation settlement treatment(6,905) Successor Common Stock and APIC(1) issued to allowed claim holders (175,521)Successor Common Stock and APIC for disputed claims reserve(11,936)Gain on settlement of liabilities subject to compromise$567,853  (1)    Balance excludes the Successor Common Stock and APIC of $9.9 million to the 5% Equity Facility which was not a liability subject to compromise.

[9] Represents the cumulative impact to Predecessor retained earnings of the reorganization adjustments described above.

[10] Represents the reclassification of materials and supplies to proved properties.

[11] Represents the write off of the Predecessor's unamortized debt fees related to the DIP Facility.

[12] Reflects a decrease of oil and natural gas properties, net, based on the methodology discussed above, and the elimination of accumulated depletion and amortization. The following table summarizes the components of oil and natural gas properties as of the Effective Date: SuccessorPredecessorFair ValueHistorical Book Value(In thousands)Proved properties$238,284 $6,539,816 Unproved properties— 30,205 238,284 6,570,021 Less accumulated depletion, amortization, and impairment— (6,305,113)$238,284 $264,908 

[13] Reflects a decrease in fair value of drilling equipment, gas gathering and processing equipment, saltwater disposal systems, land and building, transportation equipment and other property and equipment and the elimination of accumulated depreciation, based upon the methodologies discussed above. The following table summarizes the components of other property and equipment as of the Effective Date: SuccessorPredecessorFair ValueHistorical Book Value(In thousands)Drilling equipment$63,458 $1,285,024 Gas gathering and processing equipment250,098 833,788 Saltwater disposal systems— 43,541 Land and building32,635 59,080 Transportation equipment3,314 15,577 Other9,958 57,427 359,463 2,294,437 Less accumulated depreciation and impairment— (1,618,754)$359,463 $675,683 

[14] Reflects the valuation adjustments to the company’s ROU assets, current operating lease liability, and operating lease liability, adjusted for fair value of favorable and unfavorable lease terms, and the revised incremental borrowing rates of the Successor. (17)Represents the liability for the warrants estimated using a Black-Scholes-Merton model which utilizes various market-based inputs including: stock prices, strike price, time to maturity, risk-free rate, annual volatility rate, and annual dividend yield.

[15] Represents the liability for the warrants estimated using a Black-Scholes-Merton model which utilizes various market-based inputs including: stock prices, strike price, time to maturity, risk-free rate, annual volatility rate, and annual dividend yield.

[16] Represents the reclassification of the short-term portion of Asset Retirement Obligation from non-current liabilities to current as well as the fair value adjustment, which was determined using our fresh start updates to these obligations, including the application of the Successor's credit adjusted risk free rate, which now incorporates a term structure based on the estimated timing of well plugging activity, and resetting all Asset Retirement Obligations to a single layer.

[17] Represents the adjustments to deferred tax liability as a result of the cumulative tax impact of the fresh start adjustments. The significant revisions to the carrying value of our assets and liabilities as a result of applying fresh start accounting has resulted in the company increasing its overall net deferred tax asset position upon emergence from bankruptcy. In addition to the changes in book value, the company has approximately $726.4 million of net operating losses (NOLs) carried forward to offset taxable income in future years as of the Effective Date of emergence. Approximately $584.2 million of this NOL will expire commencing in fiscal 2021 through 2037. The NOLs of approximately $142.2 million from years ended subsequent to December 31, 2017 have an indefinite carryforward period. The amount of these NOLs which is actually available to offset future income may be severely limited due to change-in-control tax provisions. Due to our history of operating losses and the uncertainty surrounding the realization of the deferred tax assets in future years, our management has determined that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized in future periods. Accordingly, the company has recorded a 100% valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets. Our blended effective tax rate was 1.62% for the Predecessor period ending August 31, 2020 and 0.00% for the Successor period ending September 30, 2020 compared to 19.57% for the first nine months of 2019. The rate change was primarily due to the increase in the valuation allowance against our income tax benefit.

[18] Represents the cumulative impact of the fresh-start accounting adjustments discussed above.

[19] The valuation of the non-controlling interest was calculated by taking an income-based approach in valuing Superior as a whole. The value of the non-controlling interest was then determined based on a market-based approach for similar type investments, given the contractual rights of the related parties.