Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Assets [Abstract] ASSETS Accounts Receivable: Accounts Receivable, Net, Current [Abstract] LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Common Stock, Value, Issued Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Common stock - $0.50 par, 75,000,000 shares authorized, 47,317,356 and 47,103,770 shares outstanding at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Beginning Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated other comprehensive income Accumulated other comprehensive income Retained earnings Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Reserve For Future Abandonment Costs Reserve for Future Abandonment Costs Reserve for Future Abandonment Costs Reserve for Future Abandonment Costs. Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current, Total Liabilities, Current Deferred Income Taxes Payable Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent Total liabilities Liabilities, Total Liabilities Accounts Payable Accounts Payable, Current, Total Accounts Payable, Current Deferred Tax Liabilities, Current Deferred Income Taxes Payable Accrued Liabilities, Current Accrued Expenses Other Assets Other Assets, Noncurrent Assets Total Assets Property, Plant and Equipment, Other Other property and equipment Unevaluated oil and gas properties Unproved Oil and Gas Property, Successful Effort Method Oil and gas properties, successful efforts method Proved Oil and Gas Property, Successful Effort Method Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Cash and Cash Equivalents Joint interest operations Oil and Gas Joint Interest Billing Receivables, Current Marketable Securities Marketable Securities, Current, Total Marketable Securities, Current Income Taxes Receivable, Current Income Taxes Receivable Other Current Assets Other Assets, Current Total current assets Assets, Current, Total Assets, Current Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares outstanding Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract] Operating expenses: Operating Expenses [Abstract] Other income (expenses): Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Diluted Earnings Per Share, Diluted Total Earnings Per Share, Basic Basic Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Benefit from (provision for) income taxes Benefit from (provision for) income taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest, Total Income (loss) before income taxes Interest Expense Interest expense Interest expense Interest Expense, Total Interest expense Total other income (expenses) Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other income Other Nonoperating Income Interest income Investment Income, Interest Total operating expenses Operating Expenses Exploration Exploration Expense Impairment of oil and gas properties Impairment of Oil and Gas Properties General and administrative, net General and Administrative Expense Operating Income (Loss) Operating Income (Loss), Total Operating income (loss) Oil and gas sales Oil and Gas Sales Revenue Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow [Abstract] Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net income (loss) Net Income (loss) Net income Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Long-term Debt [Text Block] LONG-TERM DEBT Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Commitments And Contingencies. Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Consolidated Statement of Stockholders Equity and Comprehensive Loss (Abstract) Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Total Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Payments of Debt Issuance Costs Debt issuance costs Debt issuance costs Debt issuance costs Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Proceeds from issuance of common stock Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses Depreciation, depletion and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Total Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Stock-based compensation Share-based Compensation, Total Share-based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable (Increase) decrease in accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets (Increase) decrease in other current assets Deferred income taxes Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Commitments and Contingencies Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Parent [Member] Common Stock Additional Paid-in Capital Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Beginning Balance, shares Ending Balance, shares Shares, Issued Total comprehensive income (loss) Total comprehensive loss Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Exercise of stock options Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Stock Options Exercised Exercise of stock options, shares Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Tax Effect from Share-based Compensation Tax benefit from stock-based compensation Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Long-term Debt [Abstract] Oil and gas sales Accounts Receivable, Net, Current, Total Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Long-term Debt Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities, Total Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities Debt issuance costs and discount amortization Amortization of Financing Costs and Discounts, Total Amortization of Financing Costs and Discounts Borrowings Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt, Total Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt Other Comprehensive Income, Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax Net change in unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities, net of income taxes Net change in unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities, net of income taxes Revenues [Abstract] Revenues: Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract] Property and Equipment: Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Ending Balance Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Beginning Balance Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total Net property and equipment Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Production Tax Expense Production taxes Gas Gathering, Transportation, Marketing and Processing Costs Gathering and transportation Oil and Gas Property, Lease Operating Expense Lease operating Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash used for investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Net income (loss) per share: Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Capital expenditures Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Capital expenditures Document and Entity Information. Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract] Weighted average shares outstanding: Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Ending Balance Beginning Balance Total stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity: Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other Non-current Liabilities Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Ending Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Beginning Balance Deferred Income Tax Asset Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets Gain on sale of assets Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets, Total Gain on sale of assets Repayments of Long-term Debt Principal payments on debt Repayments of Long-term Debt, Total Principal payments on debt Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation Stock-based compensation,shares Stock-based compensation Value of stock issued during the period as a result of any share-based compensation plan other than an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) and share-based compensation cost during the period with respect to the award, which will be recognized in income. Stock-based compensation Proceeds from Sale of Other Investments Proceeds from sales of assets Proceeds from sales of assets