Document and Entity Information |
3 Months Ended |
|---|---|
Mar. 31, 2017 | |
| Document And Entity Information [Abstract] | |
| Document Type | S-1 |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Document Period End Date | Mar. 31, 2017 |
| Trading Symbol | CHPE |
| Entity Registrant Name | Chaparral Energy, Inc. |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0001346980 |
| Entity Filer Category | Non-accelerated Filer |