VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (Schedule of Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2021		Sep. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020		Sep. 01, 2020	Aug. 31, 2020
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 64,140			$ 12,145		$ 25,482
Accounts receivable, net	87,248			57,846		50,621
Prepaid expenses and other	5,542			11,212		19,084
Total current assets	156,930			82,922		103,495
Property and Equipment:
Gas gathering and processing equipment	274,748			251,404		250,098	$ 833,788
Transportation equipment	4,550			3,130		3,314	$ 15,577
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	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	22,450			21,743		32,875
Operating Lease, Liability, Current	3,791			4,075		3,974
Current portion of other long-term liabilities	5,574			11,168		14,960
Total current liabilities	151,138			80,347		91,919
Long-term debt less debt issuance costs	19,200			98,400		147,600
Long-term operating lease payments	8,677			1,445		2,771
Other long-term liabilities	32,939			39,259		$ 43,764
VIE
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	17,246			11,642
Accounts receivable, net	42,628			27,427
Prepaid expenses and other	1,263			6,746
Total current assets	61,137			45,815
Property and Equipment:
Gas gathering and processing equipment	274,748			251,403
Transportation equipment	2,801			1,748
Property, plant and equipment, gross, total	277,549			253,151
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment	53,792			10,466
Net property and equipment	223,757			242,685
Right of use asset	3,485			2,823
Other assets	2,226			2,309
Total assets	290,605			293,632
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	34,010			17,045
Accrued liabilities	5,292			3,777
Operating Lease, Liability, Current	1,548			1,762
Current portion of other long-term liabilities	1,450			5,799
Total current liabilities	42,300			28,383
Long-term debt less debt issuance costs	19,200			0
Long-term operating lease payments	2,036			1,013
Other long-term liabilities	0			1,589
Total liabilities	$ 63,536			$ 30,985

[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.