Common Stock, Subscriptions, Price Per Share

No definition available.

Name:	cwei_CommonStockSubscriptionsPricePerShare
Namespace Prefix:	cwei_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage, Cash

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cwei_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageCash
Namespace Prefix:	cwei_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage, In-Kind

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cwei_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageInKind
Namespace Prefix:	cwei_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the percentage of adjusted engineered value of the entity's oil and gas interests evaluated in determining the borrowing base by which revolving credit facility is collateralized.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cwei_LineOfCreditFacilityCollateralPercentageOfAdjustedEngineeredValue
Namespace Prefix:	cwei_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Terms, Assets To Secured Debt Coverage Ratio

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cwei_LineofCreditFacilityCovenantTermsAssetsToSecuredDebtCoverageRatio
Namespace Prefix:	cwei_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Warrant Liability, Noncurrent

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cwei_WarrantLiabilityNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	cwei_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Exercise price per share or per unit of warrants or rights outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(i)(4))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of securities into which the class of warrant or right may be converted. For example, but not limited to, 500,000 warrants may be converted into 1,000,000 shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(i)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfSecuritiesCalledByWarrantsOrRights
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of common stock allocated to investors to buy shares of a new issue of common stock before they are offered to the public. When stock is sold on a subscription basis, the issuer does not initially receive the total proceeds. In general, the issuer does not issue the shares to the investor until it receives the entire proceeds.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockSharesSubscribedButUnissued
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Monetary value of common stock allocated to investors to buy shares of a new issue of common stock before they are offered to the public. When stock is sold on a subscription basis, the issuer does not initially receive the total proceeds. In general, the issuer does not issue the shares to the investor until it receives the entire proceeds.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockSharesSubscriptions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt discount.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28541-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Gross amount of debt extinguished.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of expense (income) related to adjustment to fair value of warrant liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6939902&loc=d3e20148-110875

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAdjustmentOfWarrants
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow from contractual arrangement with the lender, including but not limited to, letter of credit, standby letter of credit and revolving credit arrangements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3255-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(f))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=cwei_TermLoanCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis=us-gaap_CommonStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Long-Term Debt Term Loan Credit Facility (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 08, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jul. 22, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fair value of common stock warrants		$ 246,743	$ 0
Loss on change in fair value of common stock warrants		229,980	0	$ 0
Term Loan Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of term loan	$ 350,000
Unamortized original issue discount	16,800	14,961	$ 0
Proceeds from line of credit	340,000
Fair value of common stock warrants	$ 16,800	$ 246,700
Interest rate, stated percentage	12.50%
Interest rate, stated percentage, in-kind	15.00%
Common stock, shares subscribed but unissued (in shares) \| shares					5,051,100
Cash proceeds of common stock					$ 150,000
Common stock price per share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares					$ 29.70
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding balance repaid, plus interest and fees	$ 160,000
Minimum \| Term Loan Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of adjusted engineered value of oil and gas interests serving as collateral	90.00%
Asset to secured debt coverage ratio	1.2
Minimum \| Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of adjusted engineered value of oil and gas interests serving as collateral	90.00%
Common Stock
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Warrants issued (in shares) \| shares	2,251,364
Exercise price of warrant (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 22.00