CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 694,042	$ 435,588
Accounts receivable, net	72,774	127,387
Derivative contracts	61,403	84,349
Prepaid expenses	10,427	6,833
Other current assets	15,239	19,931
Total current assets	853,885	674,088
Oil and natural gas properties, using full cost method of accounting
Proved	11,961,413	12,529,681
Unproved	350,646	363,149
Less: accumulated depreciation, depletion and impairment	(11,035,575)	(11,149,888)
Net oil and natural gas properties capitalized costs	1,276,484	1,742,942
Other property, plant and equipment, net	426,537	491,760
Other assets	17,153	13,237
Total assets	2,574,059	2,922,027
Current liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt	3,981,371	0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	263,665	428,417
Derivative contracts	355	573
Asset retirement obligations	8,440	8,399
Total current liabilities	4,253,831	437,389
Long-term debt	0	3,562,378
Asset retirement obligations	62,279	95,179
Other long-term obligations	11,147	14,814
Total liabilities	$ 4,327,257	$ 4,109,760
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 50,000 shares authorized
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 1,800,000 shares authorized; 721,256 issued and 719,288 outstanding at March 31, 2016 and 635,584 issued and 633,471 outstanding at December 31, 2015	$ 718	$ 630
Additional paid-in capital	5,312,363	5,301,136
Additional paid-in capital—stockholder receivable	(1,250)	(1,250)
Treasury stock, at cost	(5,291)	(5,742)
Accumulated deficit	(7,059,723)	(6,992,697)
Total SandRidge Energy, Inc. stockholders’ deficit	(1,753,177)	(1,697,917)
Noncontrolling interest	(21)	510,184
Total stockholders’ deficit	(1,753,198)	(1,187,733)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	2,574,059	2,922,027
8.5% Convertible perpetual preferred stock; 2,650 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015; 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; 2,597 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2016; aggregate liquidation preference of $259,700; 2,770 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2015; aggregate liquidation preference of $277,000
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.