Chapter 11 Reorganization - Narrative (Detail)
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Mar. 21, 2017
USD ($)
Member
Director
$ / shares
shares
Mar. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Mar. 21, 2017
USD ($)
Member
$ / shares
shares
Mar. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Liabilities subject to compromise $ 0   $ 0          
Professional fees 620,000              
Total reorganization items $ 620,000              
Predecessor                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Senior Notes and associated accrued interest   $ 1,267,410,000   $ 1,267,410,000   $ 1,267,410,000    
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   6,687,000   6,687,000   9,212,000    
Accrued payroll and benefits payable   3,949,000   3,949,000   4,048,000    
Revenue distribution payable   3,050,000   3,050,000   3,474,000    
Liabilities subject to compromise   1,281,096,000   1,281,096,000   1,284,144,000    
Professional fees       18,790,000   15,484,000    
Claims for non-performance of executory contract           1,236,000    
Total reorganization items       (988,727,000) $ 0 $ 16,720,000 $ 0 $ 0
Predecessor | Midpoint                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Reorganization plan, enterprise value of the post emergence   1,200,000,000   1,200,000,000        
Minimum | Predecessor                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Reorganization plan, enterprise value of the post emergence   $ 1,050,000,000   $ 1,050,000,000        
Maximum                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Fresh start voting share percentage of existing shareholders in emerging entity   50.00%   50.00%        
Maximum | Predecessor                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Reorganization plan, enterprise value of the post emergence   $ 1,350,000,000   $ 1,350,000,000        
Fresh start voting share percentage of existing shareholders in emerging entity   50.00%   50.00%        
Common Stock | Predecessor                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Common stock shares issued | shares   45,000,000            
Plan of Reorganization                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Senior Notes and associated accrued interest   $ 1,267,410,000   $ 1,267,410,000        
General unsecured claims   2,439,000   2,439,000        
Professional fees   6,954,000            
Segregated account for professional fees attributable to our advisors   $ 11,000,000   $ 11,000,000        
Number of directors | Director   7            
Number of non-employee members | Member   6   6        
Plan of Reorganization | Midpoint                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Reorganization plan, enterprise value of the post emergence   $ 1,200,000,000   $ 1,200,000,000        
Plan of Reorganization | Predecessor                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Senior Notes and associated accrued interest   1,267,410,000   1,267,410,000        
General unsecured claims   2,981,000   2,981,000        
Professional fees   6,953,000            
Segregated account for professional fees attributable to our advisors   $ 11,000,000   11,000,000        
Number of directors | Director   7            
Number of members | Member   6            
Plan of Reorganization | Minimum                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Reorganization plan, enterprise value of the post emergence   $ 1,050,000,000   1,050,000,000        
Plan of Reorganization | Maximum                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Reorganization plan, enterprise value of the post emergence   1,350,000,000   1,350,000,000        
Plan of Reorganization | Prior Credit Facility                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Amount of repayments on prior credit facility   444,440,000            
Plan of Reorganization | Existing Credit Facility | Predecessor                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Amount of repayments on prior credit facility   444,440,000            
Plan of Reorganization | New Revolver                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
New credit facility, opening balance   120,000,000   120,000,000        
Plan of Reorganization | New Revolver | Predecessor                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
New credit facility, opening balance   120,000,000   120,000,000        
Plan of Reorganization | New Term Loan                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
New credit facility, opening balance   150,000,000   150,000,000        
Plan of Reorganization | New Term Loan | Predecessor                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
New credit facility, opening balance   150,000,000   $ 150,000,000        
Plan of Reorganization | Backstop Parties                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Gross proceeds from rights offering   50,031,000            
Plan of Reorganization | Backstop Parties | Predecessor                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Gross proceeds from rights offering   $ 50,000,000            
Plan of Reorganization | Common Stock                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Common stock shares issued | shares   44,982,142            
Percentage of common stock outstanding on conversion of debt   90.00%            
Plan of Reorganization | Common Stock | Predecessor                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Common stock shares issued | shares   45,000,000            
Percentage of common stock outstanding on conversion of debt   90.00%            
Plan of Reorganization | Common Stock | Mr. Mark Fischer, Founder and Former Chief Executive Officer                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Warrants issued for purchase of common stock | shares   140,023   140,023        
Exercise price of warrants per share | $ / shares   $ 36.78   $ 36.78        
Warrants expiry date   Jun. 30, 2018            
Plan of Reorganization | Common Stock | Mr. Mark Fischer, Founder and Former Chief Executive Officer | Predecessor                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Warrants issued for purchase of common stock | shares   140,023   140,023        
Exercise price of warrants per share | $ / shares   $ 36.78   $ 36.78        
Warrants expiry date   Jun. 30, 2018            
Plan of Reorganization | Common Stock | Management Incentive Plan                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Additional shares authorized for issuance   7.00%            
Plan of Reorganization | Common Stock | Management Incentive Plan | Predecessor                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Additional shares authorized for issuance   7.00%            
Plan of Reorganization | Common Stock | Backstop Parties                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Percentage of rights issued on common stock outstanding   9.00%            
Percentage of outstanding stock received as fee   1.00%            
Plan of Reorganization | Common Stock | Backstop Parties | Predecessor                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Percentage of rights issued on common stock outstanding   9.00%            
Percentage of outstanding stock received as fee   1.00%            
Chaparral Energy Inc and Subsidiaries                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Date of bankruptcy petition filed     May 09, 2016          
Place of bankruptcy petition filed     United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware          
Reorganization plan confirmation date     Mar. 10, 2017          
Reorganization plan effective date     Mar. 21, 2017          
Chaparral Energy Inc and Subsidiaries | Predecessor                
Chapter Eleven Reorganization [Line Item]                
Date of bankruptcy petition filed           May 09, 2016    
Place of bankruptcy petition filed           United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware    
Reorganization plan confirmation date           Mar. 10, 2017    
Reorganization plan effective date           Mar. 21, 2017