Callon Petroleum Company Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Other (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Other (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) contract
Operating Leases And Other Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Early rig contract termination payable	$ 3,641
Amount paid for early termination	$ 2,800
Horizontal Drilling [Member]
Operating Leases And Other Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Number of Contracts \| contract	2
Extended contract expiration terms	The Cactus 1 Rig was initially contracted for a term of two years in April 2012. The Cactus 2 Rig was initially contracted for a term of two years in April 2014. The Cactus 2 Rig replaced a previously contracted horizontal drilling rig, which was cancelled 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