| Component: (Network and Table) | |
|---|---|
| Network | 2407402 - Disclosure - Asset Retirement Obligations (Details) (http://www.claytonwilliams.com/role/AssetRetirementObligationsDetails)  | 
| Table | (Implied) | 
| Reporting Entity [Axis] | 0000880115 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) | 
| Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract] | Period [Axis] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
2016-01-01 - 2016-12-31  | 2015-01-01 - 2015-12-31  | 2014-01-01 - 2014-12-31  | |
Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]  | |||
Changes in asset retirement obligations  | |||
Beginning of period  | |||
Additional ARO from new properties  | |||
Sales or abandonments of properties  | (  | (  | |
Accretion of asset retirement obligations  | 4,364,000    | 3,945,000    | 3,662,000    | 
Revisions of previous estimates  | |||
End of period  | 48,728,000    | 45,697,000    | |