Rendering
| Component: (Network and Table) | 
|---|
| Network | 100300 - Disclosure - Asset retirement obligations (Tables) (http://www.chaparralenergy.com/20161231/taxonomy/role/DisclosureAssetRetirementObligationsTables)  | 
| Table | (Implied) | 
Slicers (applies to each fact value in each table cell)
| Reporting Entity [Axis] | 0001346980 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) | 
| Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract] | Period [Axis] | 
|---|
2016-01-01 - 2016-12-31  | 
|---|
Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]  |    | 
Asset retirement obligations  | 
The following table presents the balance and activity of our asset retirement obligations: 
  
| 
    | 
    | 
 For the year ended December 31,  | 
    | 
 
| 
    | 
    | 
 2016  | 
    | 
    | 
 2015  | 
    | 
 
| 
 Beginning balance  | 
    | 
 $  | 
 48,612  | 
    | 
    | 
 $  | 
 47,424  | 
    | 
 
| 
 Liabilities incurred in current period  | 
    | 
    | 
 3,918  | 
    | 
    | 
    | 
 1,861  | 
    | 
 
| 
 Liabilities settled or disposed in current period  | 
    | 
    | 
 (2,729  | 
 )  | 
    | 
    | 
 (6,472  | 
 )  | 
 
| 
 Revisions in estimated cash flows  | 
    | 
    | 
 18,364  | 
    | 
    | 
    | 
 2,139  | 
    | 
 
| 
 Accretion expense  | 
    | 
    | 
 3,972  | 
    | 
    | 
    | 
 3,660  | 
    | 
 
| 
 Asset retirement obligations at end of period  | 
    | 
    | 
 72,137  | 
    | 
    | 
    | 
 48,612  | 
    | 
 
| 
 Less current portion included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities  | 
    | 
    | 
 6,681  | 
    | 
    | 
    | 
 2,178  | 
    | 
 
| 
 Asset retirement obligations, long-term  | 
    | 
 $  | 
 65,456  | 
    | 
    | 
 $  | 
 46,434  | 
    | 
 
  
      |