FRESH START ACCOUNTING (Schedule of Fresh Start Adjustments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2021		Sep. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020		Sep. 01, 2020	Aug. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 64,140			$ 12,145		$ 25,482
Restricted cash		0			569		7,458
Accounts receivable, net		87,248			57,846		50,621
Materials and supplies							0
Current income tax receivable							850
Prepaid expenses and other		5,542			11,212		19,084
Total current assets		156,930			82,922		103,495
Oil and natural gas properties, on the full cost method:
Proved properties		225,014			238,581		238,284	$ 6,539,816
Unproved properties not being amortized		422			1,591		0	30,205
Drilling equipment		66,058			63,687		63,458	1,285,024
Gas gathering and processing equipment		274,748			251,404		250,098	833,788
Saltwater disposal systems							0
Land and building		0			32,635		32,635	59,080
Transportation equipment		4,550			3,130		3,314	15,577
Other		8,631			9,961		9,958	57,427
Property, plant and equipment, gross, total		579,423			600,989		597,747
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment		128,880			54,189		0
Net property and equipment		450,543			546,800		597,747
Right of use asset (Note 19)		12,445		$ 8,400	5,592		6,817
Other assets		9,559			14,389		18,284
Total assets		629,477	[1]		649,703	[1]	726,343
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		58,625			40,829		33,736
Accrued liabilities (Note 9)		22,450			21,743		32,875
Current operating lease liability (Note 19)		3,791			4,075		3,974
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 10)		0			600		400
Current derivative liabilities (Note 17)		40,876			1,047		5,089
Warrant liability (Note 17)		19,822			885		885
Current portion of other long-term liabilities (Note 10)		5,574			11,168		14,960
Total current liabilities		151,138			80,347		91,919
Long-term debt (Note 10)		19,200			98,400		147,600
Non-current derivative liabilities (Note 17)		17,855			4,659		766
Operating lease liability		8,677			1,445		2,771
Other long-term liabilities (Note 10)		32,939			39,259		43,764
Deferred income taxes		0			0		0
Commitments and contingencies (Note 21)
Total liabilities subject to compromise							0
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred Stock, Value, Issued							0
Predecessor common stock, $0.20 par value, 175,000,000 shares authorized, 55,443,393 shares issued as of December 31, 2019		120			120
Capital in excess of par value		198,171			197,242
Retained earnings (deficit)		41,071			(18,140)		0
Total shareholders' equity attributable to Unit Corporation		187,397			179,222		197,323
Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		212,271			246,371		242,200
Total shareholders' equity		399,668			425,593		439,523	$ 171,180	$ 1,055,635
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		$ 629,477	[2]		$ 649,703	[2]	726,343
Predecessor Preferred Stock
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred Stock, Value, Issued							0
Predecessor Common Stock
Shareholders' equity:
Predecessor common stock, $0.20 par value, 175,000,000 shares authorized, 55,443,393 shares issued as of December 31, 2019							0
Successor Common Stock
Shareholders' equity:
Predecessor common stock, $0.20 par value, 175,000,000 shares authorized, 55,443,393 shares issued as of December 31, 2019							120
Predecessor Capital
Shareholders' equity:
Capital in excess of par value							0
Successor Capital
Shareholders' equity:
Capital in excess of par value							197,203
Predecessor
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents							32,280
Restricted cash							0
Accounts receivable, net							50,621
Materials and supplies							64
Current income tax receivable							850
Prepaid expenses and other							13,692
Total current assets							97,507
Oil and natural gas properties, on the full cost method:
Proved properties							6,539,816
Unproved properties not being amortized							30,205
Drilling equipment							1,285,024
Gas gathering and processing equipment							833,788
Saltwater disposal systems							43,541
Land and building							59,080
Transportation equipment							15,577
Other							57,427
Property, plant and equipment, gross, total							8,864,458
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment							7,923,868
Net property and equipment							940,590
Right of use asset (Note 19)							7,476
Other assets							24,666
Total assets							1,070,239
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable							27,354
Accrued liabilities (Note 9)							36,990
Current operating lease liability (Note 19)							4,643
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 10)							124,000
Current derivative liabilities (Note 17)							5,089
Warrant liability (Note 17)							0
Current portion of other long-term liabilities (Note 10)							11,201
Total current liabilities							209,277
Long-term debt (Note 10)							16,000
Non-current derivative liabilities (Note 17)							766
Operating lease liability							2,760
Other long-term liabilities (Note 10)							61,393
Deferred income taxes							4,466
Commitments and contingencies (Note 21)
Total liabilities subject to compromise							762,215
Shareholders' equity:
Retained earnings (deficit)							(818,679)
Total shareholders' equity attributable to Unit Corporation							(157,822)
Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries							171,184
Total shareholders' equity							13,362
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity							1,070,239
Predecessor | Predecessor Preferred Stock
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred Stock, Value, Issued							0
Predecessor | Predecessor Common Stock
Shareholders' equity:
Predecessor common stock, $0.20 par value, 175,000,000 shares authorized, 55,443,393 shares issued as of December 31, 2019							10,704
Predecessor | Successor Common Stock
Shareholders' equity:
Predecessor common stock, $0.20 par value, 175,000,000 shares authorized, 55,443,393 shares issued as of December 31, 2019							0
Predecessor | Predecessor Capital
Shareholders' equity:
Capital in excess of par value							650,153
Predecessor | Successor Capital
Shareholders' equity:
Capital in excess of par value							0
Reorganization Adjustments
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	[3],[4]						(6,798)
Restricted cash	[3],[5]						7,458
Accounts receivable, net	[3]						0
Materials and supplies	[3]						0
Current income tax receivable	[3]						0
Prepaid expenses and other	[3],[6]						6,382
Total current assets	[3]						7,042
Oil and natural gas properties, on the full cost method:
Proved properties	[3]						0
Unproved properties not being amortized	[3]						0
Drilling equipment	[3]						0
Gas gathering and processing equipment	[3]						0
Saltwater disposal systems	[3]						0
Land and building	[3]						0
Transportation equipment	[3]						0
Other	[3]						0
Property, plant and equipment, gross, total	[3]						0
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment	[3]						0
Net property and equipment	[3]						0
Right of use asset (Note 19)	[3]						0
Other assets	[3],[6]						(6,382)
Total assets	[3]						660
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	[3],[6]						6,382
Accrued liabilities (Note 9)	[3],[7]						(4,115)
Current operating lease liability (Note 19)	[3]						0
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 10)	[3],[8]						(123,600)
Current derivative liabilities (Note 17)	[3]						0
Warrant liability (Note 17)	[3]						0
Current portion of other long-term liabilities (Note 10)	[3],[9]						3,743
Total current liabilities	[3]						(117,590)
Long-term debt (Note 10)	[3],[8]						131,600
Non-current derivative liabilities (Note 17)	[3]						0
Operating lease liability	[3]						0
Other long-term liabilities (Note 10)	[3],[6],[9]						(3,220)
Deferred income taxes	[3]						0
Commitments and contingencies (Note 21)
Total liabilities subject to compromise	[3],[10]						(762,215)
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred Stock, Value, Issued	[3]						0
Retained earnings (deficit)	[3],[11]						1,215,619
Total shareholders' equity attributable to Unit Corporation	[3]						752,085
Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	[3]						0
Total shareholders' equity	[3]						752,085
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	[3]						660
Reorganization Adjustments | Predecessor Preferred Stock
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred Stock, Value, Issued	[3]						0
Reorganization Adjustments | Predecessor Common Stock
Shareholders' equity:
Predecessor common stock, $0.20 par value, 175,000,000 shares authorized, 55,443,393 shares issued as of December 31, 2019	[3],[12]						(10,704)
Reorganization Adjustments | Successor Common Stock
Shareholders' equity:
Predecessor common stock, $0.20 par value, 175,000,000 shares authorized, 55,443,393 shares issued as of December 31, 2019	[3],[10]						120
Reorganization Adjustments | Predecessor Capital
Shareholders' equity:
Capital in excess of par value	[3],[12]						(650,153)
Reorganization Adjustments | Successor Capital
Shareholders' equity:
Capital in excess of par value	[3],[10]						197,203
Fresh Start Adjustments
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents							0
Restricted cash							0
Accounts receivable, net							0
Materials and supplies	[13]						(64)
Current income tax receivable							0
Prepaid expenses and other	[14]						(990)
Total current assets							(1,054)
Oil and natural gas properties, on the full cost method:
Proved properties	[15]						(6,301,532)
Unproved properties not being amortized	[15]						(30,205)
Drilling equipment	[16]						(1,221,566)
Gas gathering and processing equipment	[16]						(583,690)
Saltwater disposal systems	[16]						(43,541)
Land and building	[16]						(26,445)
Transportation equipment	[16]						(12,263)
Other	[16]						(47,469)
Property, plant and equipment, gross, total							(8,266,711)
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment	[15],[16]						(7,923,868)
Net property and equipment							(342,843)
Right of use asset (Note 19)	[17]						(659)
Other assets							0
Total assets							(344,556)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	[18]						0
Accrued liabilities (Note 9)	[18]						0
Current operating lease liability (Note 19)	[17],[18]						(669)
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 10)	[18]						0
Current derivative liabilities (Note 17)	[18]						0
Warrant liability (Note 17)	[18],[19]						885
Current portion of other long-term liabilities (Note 10)	[18],[20]						16
Total current liabilities	[18]						232
Long-term debt (Note 10)	[18]						0
Non-current derivative liabilities (Note 17)	[18]						0
Operating lease liability	[17],[18]						11
Other long-term liabilities (Note 10)	[18],[20]						(14,409)
Deferred income taxes	[18],[21]						(4,466)
Commitments and contingencies (Note 21)
Total liabilities subject to compromise	[18]						0
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred Stock, Value, Issued							0
Retained earnings (deficit)	[22]						(396,940)
Total shareholders' equity attributable to Unit Corporation							(396,940)
Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	[23]						71,016
Total shareholders' equity							(325,924)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity							(344,556)
Fresh Start Adjustments | Predecessor Preferred Stock
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred Stock, Value, Issued							0
Fresh Start Adjustments | Predecessor Common Stock
Shareholders' equity:
Predecessor common stock, $0.20 par value, 175,000,000 shares authorized, 55,443,393 shares issued as of December 31, 2019							0
Fresh Start Adjustments | Successor Common Stock
Shareholders' equity:
Predecessor common stock, $0.20 par value, 175,000,000 shares authorized, 55,443,393 shares issued as of December 31, 2019							0
Fresh Start Adjustments | Predecessor Capital
Shareholders' equity:
Capital in excess of par value							0
Fresh Start Adjustments | Successor Capital
Shareholders' equity:
Capital in excess of par value							$ 0

[1] Unit Corporation's consolidated total assets as of December 31, 2021 include current and long-term assets of its variable interest entity (VIE) (Superior) of $61.1 million and $229.5 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle obligations of the VIE. Unit Corporation's consolidated cash and cash equivalents of $64.1 million as of December 31, 2021 includes $17.2 million held by Superior. Unit Corporation's consolidated total assets as of December 31, 2020 include current and long-term assets of its variable interest entity (VIE) (Superior) of $45.8 million and $247.8 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle obligations of the VIE. Unit Corporation's consolidated cash and cash equivalents of $12.1 million as of December 31, 2020 includes $11.6 million held by Superior.

[2] Unit Corporation's consolidated total liabilities as of December 31, 2021 include current and long-term liabilities of Superior of $42.3 million and $21.2 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIE have no recourse to Unit Corporation. All of Unit Corporation's consolidated long-term debt of $19.2 million as of December 31, 2021 was held by Superior. Unit Corporation's consolidated total liabilities as of December 31, 2020 include current and long-term liabilities of the VIE of $28.4 million and $2.6 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIE have no recourse to Unit Corporation. None of Unit Corporation's consolidated long-term debt of $98.4 million as of December 31, 2020 was held by Superior.

[3] Reflects accounts recorded as of the Effective Date, including among other items, settlement of the Predecessor's liabilities subject to compromise, cancellation of the Predecessor's equity, issuance of the New Common Stock and the Warrants, repayment of certain of Predecessor's liabilities and settlement with holders of the Notes.

[4] The table below details the company’s uses of cash, under the terms of the Plan (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)

[5] Represents the reserve for professional fee escrow of $7.5 million.

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

[7] Represents the payment of the DIP facility interest of $0.2 million and professional fees for $3.9 million

[8] Represents the transition of the DIP Credit Agreement and the Predecessor Credit Agreement of $124.0 million into the Exit Facility and issuing an additional $8.0 million of borrowings under the Exit Credit Agreement.

[9] 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.

[10] 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.

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

[12] Represents the cancellation of Old Common Stock.

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

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

[15] 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 

[16] 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 on 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 

[17] Reflects the valuation adjustments to the company’s right of use 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.

[18] Reflects accounts recorded as of the Effective Date for the fresh start adjustments based on the methodologies noted below.

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

[20] Represents the reclassification of the short-term portion of ARO from non-current liabilities to current and 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 ARO to a single layer.

[21] 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 because of applying fresh start accounting resulted in the company increasing its overall net deferred tax asset position on emergence from bankruptcy. Besides the changes in book value, the company has as of the Effective Date, approximately $726.4 million of net operating losses (NOLs) carried forward to offset taxable income in the future years. 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 after December 31, 2017 have an indefinite carryforward period. The amount of these NOLs which is available to offset future income may be severely limited due to change-in-control tax provisions.Because of our history of operating losses and the uncertainty surrounding the realization of the deferred tax assets in future years, we have determined that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized in future periods. Accordingly, we recorded a 100% valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets.

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

[23] The valuation of the non-controlling interest was calculated by taking an income-based approach in valuing Superior. 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.