Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 435,588	$ 181,253
Accounts receivable, net	127,387	330,077
Derivative contracts	84,349	291,414
Prepaid expenses	6,833	7,981
Other current assets	19,931	21,193
Total current assets	674,088	831,918
Oil and natural gas properties, using full cost method of accounting
Proved (includes development and project costs excluded from amortization of $34.6 million and $53.6 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively)	12,529,681	11,707,147
Unproved	363,149	290,596
Less: accumulated depreciation, depletion and impairment	(11,149,888)	(6,359,149)
Net oil and natural gas properties capitalized costs	1,742,942	5,638,594
Other property, plant and equipment, net	491,760	576,463
Derivative contracts	0	47,003
Other assets	82,365	165,247
Total assets	2,991,155	7,259,225
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	428,417	683,392
Derivative contracts	573	0
Asset retirement obligations	8,399	0
Deferred tax liability	0	95,843
Other current liabilities	0	5,216
Total current liabilities	437,389	784,451
Long-term debt	3,631,506	3,195,436
Asset retirement obligations	95,179	54,402
Other long-term obligations	14,814	15,116
Total liabilities	$ 4,178,888	$ 4,049,405
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 50,000 shares authorized
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 1,800,000 shares authorized, 635,584 issued and 633,471 outstanding at December 31, 2015; 800,000 shares authorized, 485,932 issued and 484,819 outstanding at December 31, 2014	$ 630	$ 477
Additional paid-in capital	5,301,136	5,204,024
Additional paid-in capital—stockholder receivable	(1,250)	(2,500)
Treasury stock, at cost	(5,742)	(6,980)
Accumulated deficit	(6,992,697)	(3,257,202)
Total SandRidge Energy, Inc. stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(1,697,917)	1,937,825
Noncontrolling interest	510,184	1,271,995
Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(1,187,733)	3,209,820
Total liabilities and stockholders’ (deficit) equity	2,991,155	7,259,225
8.5% Convertible perpetual preferred stock; 2,650 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2015 and 2014; aggregate liquidation preference of $265,000
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 50,000 shares authorized
Preferred stock	3	3
7.0% Convertible perpetual preferred stock; 2,770 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2015, aggregate liquidation preference of $277,000; 3,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014, aggregate liquidation preference of $300,000
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 50,000 shares authorized
Preferred stock	$ 3	$ 3

Additional paid-in capital - stockholder receivable

No definition available.

Name:	sd_AdditionalPaidInCapitalStockholderReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	sd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and due within one year (or the operating cycle, if longer), including liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received, taxes, interest, rent and utilities, accrued salaries and bonuses, payroll taxes and fringe benefits.