Basis of Presentation (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements On January 1, 2018, PrimeEnergy adopted ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606),” using the modified retrospective method. The Company elected to evaluate all contracts at the date of initial application. While there was no impact to the opening balance of retained earnings as a result of the adoption, certain items previously netted in revenue are now recognized as lease operating expense in the Company’s statement of consolidated operations. The amounts are immaterial to the financial statements, and prior comparative periods have not been restated and continue to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. Adoption of the new standard is not anticipated to have a material impact on the Company’s net earnings on an ongoing basis. The Company applies the provisions of ASC 606 for revenue recognition to contracts with customers. Sales of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs) are included in revenue when production is sold to a customer in fulfillment of performance obligations under the terms of agreed contracts. Performance obligations primarily comprise delivery of oil, gas, or NGLs at a delivery point, as negotiated within each contract. Each barrel of oil, million Btu (MMBtu) of natural gas, or other unit of measure is separately identifiable and represents a distinct performance obligation to which the transaction price is allocated. Performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time once control of the product has been transferred to the customer. The Company considers a variety of facts and circumstances in assessing the point of control transfer, including but not limited to: whether the purchaser can direct the use of the hydrocarbons, the transfer of significant risks and rewards, the Company’s right to payment, and transfer of legal title. In each case, the term between delivery and when payments are due is not significant. PrimeEnergy records trade accounts receivable for its unconditional rights to consideration arising under sales contracts with customers. The carrying value of such receivables, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts, represents estimated net realizable value. The Company routinely assesses the collectability of all material trade and other receivables. The Company accrues a reserve on a receivable when, based on the judgment of management, it is probable that a receivable will not be collected and the amount of any reserve may be reasonably estimated. PrimeEnergy has concluded that the disaggregation of revenue by product appropriately depicts how the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors. *Practical Expedients and Exemptions* PrimeEnergy does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original expected length of one year or less or contracts for which variable consideration is allocated entirely to a wholly unsatisfied performance obligation. PrimeEnergy will utilize the practical expedient to expense incremental costs of obtaining a contract if the expected amortization period is one year or less. Costs to obtain a contract with expected amortization periods of greater than one year will be recorded as an asset and will be recognized in accordance with ASC 340, “Other Assets and Deferred Costs.” Currently, the Company does not have contract assets related to incremental costs to obtain a contract. New Pronouncements Issued But Not Yet Adopted In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” requiring lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for most leases classified as operating leases under previous GAAP. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted; however, the Company does not intend to early adopt. In January 2018, the FASB issued a proposed ASU update that would add a transition option permitting entities to apply the provisions of the new standard at its adoption date instead of the earliest comparative period presented in the consolidated financial statements. If finalized, comparative reporting would not be required and the provisions of the standard would be applied prospectively to leases in effect at the date of adoption. In the normal course of business, the Company enters into various lease agreements for office space and equipment related to its exploration and development activities that are currently accounted for as operating leases. At this time, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the financial impact this will have on its consolidated financial statements; however, the Company believes adoption and implementation of this ASU will not significantly impact its balance sheet.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

On January 1, 2018, PrimeEnergy adopted ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606),” using the modified retrospective method. The Company elected to evaluate all contracts at the date of initial application. While there was no impact to the opening balance of retained earnings as a result of the adoption, certain items previously netted in revenue are now recognized as lease operating expense in the Company’s statement of consolidated operations. The amounts are immaterial to the financial statements, and prior comparative periods have not been restated and continue to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. Adoption of the new standard is not anticipated to have a material impact on the Company’s net earnings on an ongoing basis.

The Company applies the provisions of ASC 606 for revenue recognition to contracts with customers. Sales of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs) are included in revenue when production is sold to a customer in fulfillment of performance obligations under the terms of agreed contracts. Performance obligations primarily comprise delivery of oil, gas, or NGLs at a delivery point, as negotiated within each contract. Each barrel of oil, million Btu (MMBtu) of natural gas, or other unit of measure is separately identifiable and represents a distinct performance obligation to which the transaction price is allocated. Performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time once control of the product has been transferred to the customer. The Company considers a variety of facts and circumstances in assessing the point of control transfer, including but not limited to: whether the purchaser can direct the use of the hydrocarbons, the transfer of significant risks and rewards, the Company’s right to payment, and transfer of legal title. In each case, the term between delivery and when payments are due is not significant.

PrimeEnergy records trade accounts receivable for its unconditional rights to consideration arising under sales contracts with customers. The carrying value of such receivables, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts, represents estimated net realizable value. The Company routinely assesses the collectability of all material trade and other receivables. The Company accrues a reserve on a receivable when, based on the judgment of management, it is probable that a receivable will not be collected and the amount of any reserve may be reasonably estimated. PrimeEnergy has concluded that the disaggregation of revenue by product appropriately depicts how the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors.

Practical Expedients and Exemptions

PrimeEnergy does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original expected length of one year or less or contracts for which variable consideration is allocated entirely to a wholly unsatisfied performance obligation.

PrimeEnergy will utilize the practical expedient to expense incremental costs of obtaining a contract if the expected amortization period is one year or less. Costs to obtain a contract with expected amortization periods of greater than one year will be recorded as an asset and will be recognized in accordance with ASC 340, “Other Assets and Deferred Costs.” Currently, the Company does not have contract assets related to incremental costs to obtain a contract.

New Pronouncements Issued But Not Yet Adopted

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” requiring lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for most leases classified as operating leases under previous GAAP. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted; however, the Company does not intend to early adopt. In January 2018, the FASB issued a proposed ASU update that would add a transition option permitting entities to apply the provisions of the new standard at its adoption date instead of the earliest comparative period presented in the consolidated financial statements. If finalized, comparative reporting would not be required and the provisions of the standard would be applied prospectively to leases in effect at the date of adoption. In the normal course of business, the Company enters into various lease agreements for office space and equipment related to its exploration and development activities that are currently accounted for as operating leases. At this time, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the financial impact this will have on its consolidated financial statements; however, the Company believes adoption and implementation of this ASU will not significantly impact its balance sheet.