Organization	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Organization [Abstract]
Organization	NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, references in this report to "Unit", "company", "we", "our" "us" or like terms refer to Unit Corporation and its subsidiaries. We are primarily engaged in the land contract drilling of natural gas and oil wells, the exploration, development, acquisition and production of oil and natural gas properties and the buying, selling, gathering, processing and treating of natural gas. Our operations are located principally in the United States and are organized in the following three reporting segments: (1) Contract Drilling, (2) Oil and Natural Gas and (3) Mid-Stream. Contract Drilling. Carried out by our subsidiary, Unit Drilling Company and its subsidiary, we contract to drill onshore oil and natural gas wells for our own account and for others. Our current contract drilling operations are conducted in the oil and natural gas producing provinces of Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Montana and North Dakota. We provide land contract drilling services for a wide range of customers. Oil and Natural Gas. Carried out by our subsidiary, Unit Petroleum Company, we explore, develop, acquire and produce oil and natural gas properties for our own account. Our producing oil and natural gas properties, undeveloped leaseholds and related assets are located mainly in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, North Dakota and, to a lesser extent, in Arkansas, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Alabama, Kansas, Mississippi, Michigan, Colorado and Pennsylvania and a small portion in Canada. Historically, our contract drilling segment has experienced a greater demand for natural gas drilling as opposed to drilling for oil and NGLs. With the current weakened natural gas market, operators are focusing on drilling for oil and NGLs. Mid-Stream. Carried out by our subsidiary, Superior Pipeline Company, L.L.C. and its subsidiary, we buy, sell, gather, process and treat natural gas for our own account and for third parties. Mid-stream operations are performed in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Organization

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION

Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, references in this report to "Unit", "company", "we", "our" "us" or like terms refer to Unit Corporation and its subsidiaries.

We are primarily engaged in the land contract drilling of natural gas and oil wells, the exploration, development, acquisition and production of oil and natural gas properties and the buying, selling, gathering, processing and treating of natural gas. Our operations are located principally in the United States and are organized in the following three reporting segments: (1) Contract Drilling, (2) Oil and Natural Gas and (3) Mid-Stream.

Contract Drilling. Carried out by our subsidiary, Unit Drilling Company and its subsidiary, we contract to drill onshore oil and natural gas wells for our own account and for others. Our current contract drilling operations are conducted in the oil and natural gas producing provinces of Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Montana and North Dakota. We provide land contract drilling services for a wide range of customers.

Oil and Natural Gas. Carried out by our subsidiary, Unit Petroleum Company, we explore, develop, acquire and produce oil and natural gas properties for our own account. Our producing oil and natural gas properties, undeveloped leaseholds and related assets are located mainly in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, North Dakota and, to a lesser extent, in Arkansas, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Alabama, Kansas, Mississippi, Michigan, Colorado and Pennsylvania and a small portion in Canada. Historically, our contract drilling segment has experienced a greater demand for natural gas drilling as opposed to drilling for oil and NGLs. With the current weakened natural gas market, operators are focusing on drilling for oil and NGLs.

Mid-Stream. Carried out by our subsidiary, Superior Pipeline Company, L.L.C. and its subsidiary, we buy, sell, gather, process and treat natural gas for our own account and for third parties. Mid-stream operations are performed in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.