Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Other (Narrative) (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Other (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
contract
Operating Leases And Other Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]  
Early rig contract termination payment 3,641us-gaap_LiabilitiesSubjectToCompromiseEarlyContractTerminationFees
Horizontal Drilling [Member]  
Operating Leases And Other Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]  
Number of Contracts 2cpe_NumberOfContracts
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= cpe_HorizontalDrillingMember
Extended contract expiration terms The horizontal rigs were initially contracted for a term of two years in April 2012, the terms of which were subsequently renewed in March 2014. In March 2015, the Company extended the terms of its Cactus 1 Rig and Cactus 2 Rig to end in July 2018 and August 2018, respectively.
Operating leases, term of contract 2 years
Vertical Drilling [Member]  
Operating Leases And Other Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]  
Number of Contracts 1cpe_NumberOfContracts
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= cpe_VerticalDrillingMember
Operating leases, term of contract 1 year