Basis of Presentation (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Nature of Business	Nature of Business. SandRidge Energy, Inc. is an oil and natural gas exploration and production company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with its principal focus on developing high-return, growth-oriented projects in the U.S. Mid-Continent and North Park Basin of Colorado.
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned or majority owned subsidiaries, including its proportionate share of the Royalty Trusts. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Interim Financial Statements	Interim Financial Statements. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2016, have been derived from and should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes contained in the Company’s 2016 Form 10-K. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were also prepared in accordance with the accounting policies stated in the 2016 Form 10-K. Certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted, although the Company believes that the disclosures contained herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. In the opinion of management, the financial statements include all adjustments, which consist of normal recurring adjustments unless otherwise disclosed, necessary to fairly state the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
Fresh Start Accounting	Fresh Start Accounting. Upon emergence from bankruptcy, the Company applied fresh start accounting to its financial statements because (i) the holders of existing voting shares of the Company prior to its emergence received less than 50% of the voting shares of the Company outstanding following its emergence from bankruptcy and (ii) the reorganization value of the Company’s assets immediately prior to confirmation of the plan of reorganization was less than the post-petition liabilities and allowed claims. The Company elected to apply fresh start accounting effective October 1, 2016, to coincide with the timing of its normal fourth quarter reporting period, which resulted in SandRidge becoming a new entity for financial reporting purposes. The Company evaluated and concluded that events between October 1, 2016, and October 4, 2016, were immaterial and use of an accounting convenience date of October 1, 2016, was appropriate. As a result of the application of fresh start accounting and the effects of the implementation of the Plan, the financial statements for the period after October 1, 2016, are not comparable with the financial statements prior to that date. References to the “Successor” or the “Successor Company” relate to SandRidge subsequent to October 1, 2016. References to the “Predecessor” or “Predecessor Company” refer to SandRidge on and prior to October 1, 2016.
Significant Accounting Policies	Significant Accounting Policies. For a description of the Company’s significant accounting policies, see Note 3 of the consolidated financial statements included in the 2016 Form 10-K as well as the items noted below.
Reclassifications	Reclassifications. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period financial statements to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications have no effect on the Company’s previously reported results of operations.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates. The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The more significant areas requiring the use of assumptions, judgments and estimates include: oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (“NGL”) reserves; impairment tests of long-lived assets; depreciation, depletion and amortization; asset retirement obligations; determinations of significant alterations to the full cost pool and related estimates of fair value used to allocate the full cost pool net book value to divested properties, as necessary; income taxes; valuation of derivative instruments; contingencies; and accrued revenue and related receivables. Although management believes these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ significantly.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements. The Financial Accounting Standards Board “FASB” issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments” with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice of classification on certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. The guidance requires adoption by application of a retrospective method to each period presented. The amendments are effective for the Company on January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted the ASU on April 1, 2017. The guidance had no impact on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The FASB Issued ASU 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business,” which provides a new framework for determining whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or as a business. The ASU is effective for the Company on January 1, 2018, and amendments should be applied prospectively on and after January 1, 2018. The Company early adopted this ASU for transactions effective after April 1, 2017. The guidance had no impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted. The FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. Its objective is to increase the usefulness of information in the financial statements regarding the nature, timing and uncertainty of revenues. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date," which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 to January 1, 2018, for the Company, with early adoption permitted in 2017. The ASU must be adopted using either the retrospective transition method, which requires restating previously reported results or the cumulative effect (modified retrospective) transition method, which utilizes a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings in the period of adoption to account for prior period effects rather than restating previously reported results. The Company plans to adopt the ASU on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the updated standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” which requires companies to recognize assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by long-term leases of assets on the balance sheet. The guidance requires adoption by application of a modified retrospective transition approach for existing long-term leases and is effective for the Company on January 1, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not plan to early adopt and is currently evaluating the effect that the guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The FASB issued ASU 2016-16, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory” which removes the prohibition in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740 against the immediate recognition of current and deferred income tax effects of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The amendments in this ASU are effective for the Company on January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted on January 1, 2017. The ASU should be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The Company does not plan to early adopt and is currently evaluating the effect that the guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements. The FASB issued ASU 2017-05, “Other Income - Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic: 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and the Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets,” which helps filers determine the guidance applicable for gain/loss recognition subsequent to the adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The amendments also clarify that the derecognition of all businesses except those related to conveyances of oil and gas rights or contracts with customers should be accounted for in accordance with the derecognition and deconsolidation guidance in Topic 810, Consolidation. The Company plans to adopt the ASU on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the updated standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The FASB issued ASU 2017-09, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting,” which provides guidance on determining which changes to the terms and conditions of share-based payment awards require an entity to apply modification accounting. The amendments in this ASU are effective for the Company on January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted in any interim period. The ASU should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The Company plans to early adopt this ASU on July 1, 2017. The guidance will have no impact on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Fair Value Transfer	The Company recognizes transfers between fair value hierarchy levels as of the end of the reporting period in which the event or change in circumstances causing the transfer occurred

Basis of Presentation (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Nature of Business. SandRidge Energy, Inc. is an oil and natural gas exploration and production company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with its principal focus on developing high-return, growth-oriented projects in the U.S. Mid-Continent and North Park Basin of Colorado.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned or majority owned subsidiaries, including its proportionate share of the Royalty Trusts. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Interim Financial Statements

Interim Financial Statements. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2016, have been derived from and should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes contained in the Company’s 2016 Form 10-K. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were also prepared in accordance with the accounting policies stated in the 2016 Form 10-K. Certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted, although the Company believes that the disclosures contained herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. In the opinion of management, the financial statements include all adjustments, which consist of normal recurring adjustments unless otherwise disclosed, necessary to fairly state the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Fresh Start Accounting

Fresh Start Accounting. Upon emergence from bankruptcy, the Company applied fresh start accounting to its financial statements because (i) the holders of existing voting shares of the Company prior to its emergence received less than 50% of the voting shares of the Company outstanding following its emergence from bankruptcy and (ii) the reorganization value of the Company’s assets immediately prior to confirmation of the plan of reorganization was less than the post-petition liabilities and allowed claims.

The Company elected to apply fresh start accounting effective October 1, 2016, to coincide with the timing of its normal fourth quarter reporting period, which resulted in SandRidge becoming a new entity for financial reporting purposes. The Company evaluated and concluded that events between October 1, 2016, and October 4, 2016, were immaterial and use of an accounting convenience date of October 1, 2016, was appropriate. As a result of the application of fresh start accounting and the effects of the implementation of the Plan, the financial statements for the period after October 1, 2016, are not comparable with the financial statements prior to that date. References to the “Successor” or the “Successor Company” relate to SandRidge subsequent to October 1, 2016. References to the “Predecessor” or “Predecessor Company” refer to SandRidge on and prior to October 1, 2016.

Significant Accounting Policies

Significant Accounting Policies. For a description of the Company’s significant accounting policies, see Note 3 of the consolidated financial statements included in the 2016 Form 10-K as well as the items noted below.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period financial statements to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications have no effect on the Company’s previously reported results of operations.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates. The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

The more significant areas requiring the use of assumptions, judgments and estimates include: oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (“NGL”) reserves; impairment tests of long-lived assets; depreciation, depletion and amortization; asset retirement obligations; determinations of significant alterations to the full cost pool and related estimates of fair value used to allocate the full cost pool net book value to divested properties, as necessary; income taxes; valuation of derivative instruments; contingencies;

and accrued revenue and related receivables. Although management believes these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ significantly.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements. The Financial Accounting Standards Board “FASB” issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments” with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice of classification on certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. The guidance requires adoption by application of a retrospective method to each period presented. The amendments are effective for the Company on January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted the ASU on April 1, 2017. The guidance had no impact on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

The FASB Issued ASU 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business,” which provides a new framework for determining whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or as a business. The ASU is effective for the Company on January 1, 2018, and amendments should be applied prospectively on and after January 1, 2018. The Company early adopted this ASU for transactions effective after April 1, 2017. The guidance had no impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted. The FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. Its objective is to increase the usefulness of information in the financial statements regarding the nature, timing and uncertainty of revenues. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date," which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 to January 1, 2018, for the Company, with early adoption permitted in 2017. The ASU must be adopted using either the retrospective transition method, which requires restating previously reported results or the cumulative effect (modified retrospective) transition method, which utilizes a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings in the period of adoption to account for prior period effects rather than restating previously reported results. The Company plans to adopt the ASU on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the updated standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

The FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” which requires companies to recognize assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by long-term leases of assets on the balance sheet. The guidance requires adoption by application of a modified retrospective transition approach for existing long-term leases and is effective for the Company on January 1, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not plan to early adopt and is currently evaluating the effect that the guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

The FASB issued ASU 2016-16, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory” which removes the prohibition in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740 against the immediate recognition of current and deferred income tax effects of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The amendments in this ASU are effective for the Company on January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted on January 1, 2017. The ASU should be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The Company does not plan to early adopt and is currently evaluating the effect that the guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

The FASB issued ASU 2017-05, “Other Income - Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic: 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and the Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets,” which helps filers determine the guidance applicable for gain/loss recognition subsequent to the adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The amendments also clarify that the derecognition of all businesses except those related to conveyances of oil and gas rights or contracts with customers should be accounted for in accordance with the derecognition and deconsolidation guidance in Topic 810, Consolidation. The Company plans to adopt the ASU on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the updated standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

The FASB issued ASU 2017-09, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting,” which provides guidance on determining which changes to the terms and conditions of share-based payment awards require an entity to apply modification accounting. The amendments in this ASU are effective for the Company on January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted in any interim period. The ASU should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The Company plans to early adopt this ASU on July 1, 2017. The guidance will have no impact on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Fair Value Transfer

The Company recognizes transfers between fair value hierarchy levels as of the end of the reporting period in which the event or change in circumstances causing the transfer occurred