| Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($) | 2 Months Ended | 10 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2020 | Oct. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance [Table Text Block] | | | Pay Versus Performance Herbert S. Vogel Javan D. Ottoson Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on: Year (1) Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO Compensation Actually Paid to PEO (2) Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO Compensation Actually Paid to PEO (2) Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs (2) Total Shareholder Return Peer Group Total Shareholder Return (3) Net Income (Loss) Adjusted Free Cash Flow (4) (in thousands) 2022 $ 6,733,036 $ 11,113,208 $ — $ — $ 2,083,619 $ 3,751,637 $ 313.93 $ 161.56 $ 1,111,952 $ 804,025 2021 $ 4,295,321 $ 14,520,242 $ — $ — $ 1,639,759 $ 5,005,015 $ 263.18 $ 105.95 $ 36,229 $ 482,538 2020 $ 2,325,154 $ (320,679) $ 1,879,774 $ (6,639,951) $ 1,132,654 $ (27,157) $ 54.57 $ 63.98 $ (764,614) $ 240,883 | | |
| Company Selected Measure Name | | | adjusted free cash flow | | |
| Named Executive Officers, Footnote [Text Block] | | | Our principal executive officer (“PEO”), Herbert S. Vogel, succeeded Javan D. Ottoson as Chief Executive Officer in November of 2020. The remaining NEOs (“Non-PEO NEOs”) for each year presented above consisted of the following: • 2022 and 2021: A. Wade Pursell, David W. Copeland, Mary Ellen Lutey, Lehman E. Newton, III • 2020: A. Wade Pursell, David W. Copeland, Mary Ellen Lutey, Kenneth J. Knott | | |
| Peer Group Issuers, Footnote [Text Block] | | | The peer group used for comparison of cumulative total shareholder return is the Dow Jones Exploration and Production Index - DJUSOS. | | |
| Adjustment To PEO Compensation, Footnote [Text Block] | | | The following table sets forth the adjustments made during each year presented in the Pay Versus Performance table to arrive at compensation actually paid to our PEO and non-PEO NEOs: Adjustments to Determine Compensation Actually Paid 2022 2021 2020 PEO (Herbert S. Vogel) Average for Non-PEO NEOs PEO (Herbert S. Vogel) Average for Non-PEO NEOs PEO (Herbert S. Vogel) PEO (Javan D. Ottoson) Average for Non-PEO NEOs Total Compensation as reported in SCT $ 6,733,036 $ 2,083,619 $ 4,295,321 $ 1,639,759 $ 2,325,154 $ 1,879,774 $ 1,132,654 Deduction of “Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” reported in SCT (188,143) (23,199) (245,600) (93,022) (170,465) (321,131) (154,328) Service cost for pension plans 107,434 61,727 103,247 59,304 82,313 144,709 63,939 Deduction of “Stock Awards” reported in SCT (4,500,021) (1,174,993) (1,600,013) (537,496) (1,179,998) — (254,687) Fair value of awards granted during year, unvested as of year-end 5,205,221 1,332,750 1,849,015 621,144 1,207,623 — 260,649 Change in fair value of awards granted in prior years that were outstanding and unvested as of year-end 575,601 151,575 7,337,985 2,397,458 (1,360,713) — (581,562) Change in fair value of awards granted in prior years that vested during the year 3,180,080 1,320,158 2,780,287 917,868 (1,224,593) (2,576,757) (493,822) Deduction of fair value as of prior year-end of awards forfeited during the year — — — — — (5,766,546) — Compensation Actually Paid $ 11,113,208 $ 3,751,637 $ 14,520,242 $ 5,005,015 $ (320,679) $ (6,639,951) $ (27,157) Unvested equity awards presented in the table above are computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. | | |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Total Compensation Amount | | | $ 2,083,619 | $ 1,639,759 | $ 1,132,654 |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount | | | $ 3,751,637 | 5,005,015 | (27,157) |
| Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote [Text Block] | | | The following table sets forth the adjustments made during each year presented in the Pay Versus Performance table to arrive at compensation actually paid to our PEO and non-PEO NEOs: Adjustments to Determine Compensation Actually Paid 2022 2021 2020 PEO (Herbert S. Vogel) Average for Non-PEO NEOs PEO (Herbert S. Vogel) Average for Non-PEO NEOs PEO (Herbert S. Vogel) PEO (Javan D. Ottoson) Average for Non-PEO NEOs Total Compensation as reported in SCT $ 6,733,036 $ 2,083,619 $ 4,295,321 $ 1,639,759 $ 2,325,154 $ 1,879,774 $ 1,132,654 Deduction of “Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” reported in SCT (188,143) (23,199) (245,600) (93,022) (170,465) (321,131) (154,328) Service cost for pension plans 107,434 61,727 103,247 59,304 82,313 144,709 63,939 Deduction of “Stock Awards” reported in SCT (4,500,021) (1,174,993) (1,600,013) (537,496) (1,179,998) — (254,687) Fair value of awards granted during year, unvested as of year-end 5,205,221 1,332,750 1,849,015 621,144 1,207,623 — 260,649 Change in fair value of awards granted in prior years that were outstanding and unvested as of year-end 575,601 151,575 7,337,985 2,397,458 (1,360,713) — (581,562) Change in fair value of awards granted in prior years that vested during the year 3,180,080 1,320,158 2,780,287 917,868 (1,224,593) (2,576,757) (493,822) Deduction of fair value as of prior year-end of awards forfeited during the year — — — — — (5,766,546) — Compensation Actually Paid $ 11,113,208 $ 3,751,637 $ 14,520,242 $ 5,005,015 $ (320,679) $ (6,639,951) $ (27,157) Unvested equity awards presented in the table above are computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return [Text Block] | | | | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Net Income [Text Block] | | | | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Company Selected Measure [Text Block] | | | | | |
| Total Shareholder Return Vs Peer Group [Text Block] | | | | | |
| Tabular List [Table Text Block] | | | The following is an unranked list of the most important performance measures that link compensation actually paid to our PEO and non-PEO NEOs to Company performance. See the CD&A section above for additional discussion of why we think these measures are important. Performance Measure Description Adjusted Free Cash Flow Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less capital expenditures, less budgeted stockholder returns actually paid in the period. Relative TSR Measurement of the compounded annual growth rate of the Company’s TSR compared to that of the applicable peer group. Adjusted EBITDAX Adjusted EBITDAX represents net income (loss) before interest expense, interest income, income taxes, depletion, depreciation, amortization and asset retirement obligation liability accretion expense, exploration expense, property abandonment and impairment expense, non-cash stock-based compensation expense, derivative gains and losses net of settlements, gains and losses on divestitures, gains and losses on extinguishment of debt, and certain other items. | | |
| Total Shareholder Return Amount | | | $ 313.93 | 263.18 | 54.57 |
| Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Amount | | | 161.56 | 105.95 | 63.98 |
| Net Income (Loss) | | | $ 1,111,952,000 | $ 36,229,000 | $ (764,614,000) |
| Company Selected Measure Amount | | | 804,025,000 | 482,538,000 | 240,883,000 |
| PEO Name | Herbert S. Vogel | Javan D. Ottoson | Herbert S. Vogel | Herbert S. Vogel | |
| Measure [Axis]: 1 | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Measure Name | | | Adjusted Free Cash Flow | | |
| Non-GAAP Measure Description [Text Block] | | | We deemed adjusted free cash flow to be the most important financial performance measure used to link Company performance to compensation actually paid to our PEO and non-PEO NEOs for all years presented above, see “ Performance Measure” table below for additional detail. | | |
| Measure [Axis]: 2 | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Measure Name | | | Relative TSR | | |
| Measure [Axis]: 3 | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Measure Name | | | Adjusted EBITDAX | | |
| Herbert S Vogel [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | | | $ 6,733,036 | $ 4,295,321 | $ 2,325,154 |
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | | | 11,113,208 | 14,520,242 | (320,679) |
| Javan D Ottoson [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | | | | | 1,879,774 |
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | | | | | (6,639,951) |
| PEO [Member] | Adjustment, Deduction of Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings Reported in SCT [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | (188,143) | (245,600) | |
| PEO [Member] | Adjustment, Service Cost For Pension Plans [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | 107,434 | 103,247 | |
| PEO [Member] | Adjustment, Deduction of Stock Awards Reported in SCT [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | (4,500,021) | (1,600,013) | |
| PEO [Member] | Adjustment, Fair Value Of Awards Granted During Year, Unvested As Of Year-End [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | 5,205,221 | 1,849,015 | |
| PEO [Member] | Adjustment, Change In Fair Value Of Awards Granted In Prior Years That Were Outstanding and Unvested At Year-End [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | 575,601 | 7,337,985 | |
| PEO [Member] | Adjustment, Change In Fair Value Of Awards Granted In Prior Years That Vested During The Year [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | 3,180,080 | 2,780,287 | |
| PEO [Member] | Adjustment, Deduction Of Fair Value As Of Prior Year-End Of Awards Forfeited During The Year [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | 0 | 0 | |
| PEO [Member] | Herbert S Vogel [Member] | Adjustment, Deduction of Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings Reported in SCT [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | | | (170,465) |
| PEO [Member] | Herbert S Vogel [Member] | Adjustment, Service Cost For Pension Plans [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | | | 82,313 |
| PEO [Member] | Herbert S Vogel [Member] | Adjustment, Deduction of Stock Awards Reported in SCT [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | | | (1,179,998) |
| PEO [Member] | Herbert S Vogel [Member] | Adjustment, Fair Value Of Awards Granted During Year, Unvested As Of Year-End [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | | | 1,207,623 |
| PEO [Member] | Herbert S Vogel [Member] | Adjustment, Change In Fair Value Of Awards Granted In Prior Years That Were Outstanding and Unvested At Year-End [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | | | (1,360,713) |
| PEO [Member] | Herbert S Vogel [Member] | Adjustment, Change In Fair Value Of Awards Granted In Prior Years That Vested During The Year [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | | | (1,224,593) |
| PEO [Member] | Herbert S Vogel [Member] | Adjustment, Deduction Of Fair Value As Of Prior Year-End Of Awards Forfeited During The Year [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | | | 0 |
| PEO [Member] | Javan D Ottoson [Member] | Adjustment, Deduction of Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings Reported in SCT [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | | | (321,131) |
| PEO [Member] | Javan D Ottoson [Member] | Adjustment, Service Cost For Pension Plans [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | | | 144,709 |
| PEO [Member] | Javan D Ottoson [Member] | Adjustment, Deduction of Stock Awards Reported in SCT [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | | | 0 |
| PEO [Member] | Javan D Ottoson [Member] | Adjustment, Fair Value Of Awards Granted During Year, Unvested As Of Year-End [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | | | 0 |
| PEO [Member] | Javan D Ottoson [Member] | Adjustment, Change In Fair Value Of Awards Granted In Prior Years That Were Outstanding and Unvested At Year-End [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | | | 0 |
| PEO [Member] | Javan D Ottoson [Member] | Adjustment, Change In Fair Value Of Awards Granted In Prior Years That Vested During The Year [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | | | (2,576,757) |
| PEO [Member] | Javan D Ottoson [Member] | Adjustment, Deduction Of Fair Value As Of Prior Year-End Of Awards Forfeited During The Year [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | | | (5,766,546) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Adjustment, Deduction of Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings Reported in SCT [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | (23,199) | (93,022) | (154,328) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Adjustment, Service Cost For Pension Plans [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | 61,727 | 59,304 | 63,939 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Adjustment, Deduction of Stock Awards Reported in SCT [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | (1,174,993) | (537,496) | (254,687) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Adjustment, Fair Value Of Awards Granted During Year, Unvested As Of Year-End [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | 1,332,750 | 621,144 | 260,649 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Adjustment, Change In Fair Value Of Awards Granted In Prior Years That Were Outstanding and Unvested At Year-End [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | 151,575 | 2,397,458 | (581,562) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Adjustment, Change In Fair Value Of Awards Granted In Prior Years That Vested During The Year [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | 1,320,158 | 917,868 | (493,822) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Adjustment, Deduction Of Fair Value As Of Prior Year-End Of Awards Forfeited During The Year [Member] | | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | | | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
