Indebtedness (Narrative) (Details)					3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Indebtedness (Narrative) (Details)	Feb. 16, 2016 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 12, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 03, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Feb. 15, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 11, 2016 $ / shares	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt outstanding					$ 651,462,000	$ 651,462,000									$ 692,823,000
Restricted cash					30,008,000	30,008,000
Gain on early extinguishment of debt					(21,269,000)	(21,269,000)
Carrying value of debt					651,462,000	651,462,000									689,459,000
Subsequent Event [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt outstanding											$ 697,100,000
Share price per share, maximum \| $ / shares												$ 1.00
Parent Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Restricted cash					30,008,000	30,008,000
Gain on early extinguishment of debt					(21,269,000)	$ (21,269,000)
Twelfth Amendment as of November 30, 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, redemption period						180 days
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt outstanding					150,000,000	$ 150,000,000									150,000,000
Debt maturity date						Apr. 09, 2018
Restricted cash					30,000,000	$ 30,000,000
Current borrowing base					150,000,000	150,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| First Lien Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt outstanding					150,000,000	150,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Twelfth Amendment as of November 30, 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt maturity date		Apr. 09, 2018
Debt instrument, change in maturity date		210 days
Applicable commitment fee, percentage		0.50%
Percentage of secured mortgage		85.00%
Threshold requirement for oil and gas properties required to be secured by mortgages		90.00%
Minimum required liquidity		$ 250,000,000
Reduction in borrowing base due to amendment		(5,000,000)
Current borrowing base		500,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Twelfth Amendment as of November 30, 2015 [Member] \| EPL Oil & Gas Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Current borrowing base		$ 150,000,000
Minimum [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Twelfth Amendment as of November 30, 2015 [Member] \| Market Rate Applies [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Applicable margin above LIBOR or the base rate		2.75%
Minimum [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Twelfth Amendment as of November 30, 2015 [Member] \| 8.25% Notes Remain Outstanding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured debt leverage ratio							1.0
Maximum [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Twelfth Amendment as of November 30, 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured debt leverage ratio														3.75
Maximum [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Twelfth Amendment as of November 30, 2015 [Member] \| Market Rate Applies [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Applicable margin above LIBOR or the base rate		3.75%
Maximum [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Twelfth Amendment as of November 30, 2015 [Member] \| 8.25% Notes Remain Outstanding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total leverage ratio		1.25
Secured debt leverage ratio		3.75						5.00	5.25	4.75
Maximum [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Twelfth Amendment as of November 30, 2015 [Member] \| 8.25% Notes No Longer Outstanding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total leverage ratio		1.25
Maximum [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Twelfth Amendment as of November 30, 2015 [Member] \| Scenario, Plan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured debt leverage ratio								5.00	5.25	4.75
8.25% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, repurchase amount													$ 10,000,000
Senior notes, face amount				$ 510,000,000									$ 29,800,000
Senior notes, stated percentage				8.25%
Carrying value of debt					501,500,000	501,500,000
Gain (loss) on repurchase of debt instrument					21,300,000
Total debt outstanding					$ 480,244,000	$ 480,244,000									$ 510,000,000
Debt issuance date				Feb. 14, 2011
Debt maturity date				Feb. 15, 2018
Effective interest rate				5.80%
8.25% Senior Notes [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, repurchase amount											11,400,000
Senior notes, face amount											266,600,000
Carrying value of debt											279,400,000
Accrued interest included in purchase price											$ 10,400,000
Senior notes interest payment, grace period	30 days
Percentage of principal amount of Senior notes due if the interest payment default is not cured	25.00%
Aggregate interest payment due	$ 8,800,000
11.0% Senior Notes Due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, stated percentage			11.00%
Debt maturity date			Mar. 15, 2020
10% Promissory Note Due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, face amount			$ 325,000,000
Senior notes, stated percentage			10.00%
Debt issuance date			Mar. 12, 2015
Debt maturity date			Oct. 09, 2018
Federal Funds Rate [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Twelfth Amendment as of November 30, 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Applicable margin above LIBOR or the base rate		1.75%
Federal Funds Rate [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Twelfth Amendment as of November 30, 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Applicable margin above LIBOR or the base rate		2.75%

EPL OIL & GAS, INC. 10-Q