Variable Interest Entity Arrangements (Schedule of Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 01, 2020	Aug. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 29,784		$ 32,940	$ 571	$ 612	$ 6,452
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts		52,824			82,656
Prepaid expenses and other		12,531			13,078
Total current assets		105,814			105,051
Property and equipment:
Gas gathering and processing equipment		250,608	$ 250,098	833,788	824,699
Transportation equipment		3,291	$ 3,314	$ 15,577	29,723
Property, plant, and equipment, gross		599,537			8,931,355
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment		20,907			6,978,669
Net property and equipment		578,630			1,952,686
Operating right of use asset		6,488			5,673
Other assets		17,628			26,642
Total assets	[1]	708,560			2,090,052
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		37,307			84,481
Accrued liabilities		28,175			46,562
Current operating lease liability		3,985			3,430
Current portion of other long-term liabilities		12,324			17,376
Total current liabilities		84,190			260,049
Long-term debt		143,600			663,216
Operating lease liability		2,431			2,071
VIE [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		15,320			0
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts		23,562			21,073
Prepaid expenses and other		7,034			7,686
Total current assets		45,916			28,759
Property and equipment:
Gas gathering and processing equipment		250,608			824,699
Transportation equipment		1,888			3,390
Property, plant, and equipment, gross		252,496			828,089
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment		2,658			407,144
Net property and equipment		249,838			420,945
Operating right of use asset		3,259			3,948
Other assets		3,928			9,442
Total assets		302,941			463,094
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		11,894			18,511
Accrued liabilities		5,849			4,198
Current operating lease liability		1,752			2,407
Current portion of other long-term liabilities		7,051			7,060
Total current liabilities		26,546			32,176
Long-term debt		12,000			16,500
Operating lease liability		1,457			1,404
Other long-term liabilities		2,119			8,126
Total liabilities		$ 42,122			$ 58,206

[1] Unit Corporation's consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2020 include total current and long-term assets of its variable interest entity (VIE) (Superior Pipeline Company, L.L.C.) of $45.9 million and $257.0 million, respectively, which can only settle obligations of the VIE. Unit Corporation's consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2020 include total current and long-term liabilities of the VIE of $26.5 million and $15.6 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 17 – Variable Interest Entity Arrangements.