Accrued Liabilities Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Accrued oil and gas sales Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Additional paid-in capital Loan fee amortization Amortization of Deferred Loan Origination Fees, Net Asset retirement obligations settled Asset Retirement Obligation, Cash Paid to Settle Asset Retirement Obligation Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Text Block] Accretion expense Asset retirement obligation Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents at end of year Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Certificates of deposit Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Inventory Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Receivables Increase (Decrease) in Receivables Increase (decrease) from changes in working capital items: Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Common stock, shares authorized (in shares) Common stock, shares issued (in shares) Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares) Balance (in shares) Balance (in shares) Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2011 and 2010; 52,787,350 and 45,284,527 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively Exploration costs Asset retirement obligation gain Cumulative translation adjustment Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current Current liabilities: Notes Payable Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Effect of exchange rate changes on cash Stock compensation Stock compensation Share-based Compensation (Gain) loss on property dispositions Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property General and administrative costs (G&A) Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract] Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Interest expense Interest Expense Inventory Inventory, Net Lease operating expenses Total liabilities Liabilities Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Liabilities and Equity LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Cash flows from financing activities: Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Cash flows from investing activities: Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss Net loss Net loss for year Net increase (decrease) in cash Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Total other income (expense) Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other income (expense): Total other assets Assets, Noncurrent Other assets: Total long-term liabilities Liabilities, Noncurrent Long-term liabilities: Notes Payable [Abstract] Notes payable Supplemental Information [Abstract] Impairment of oil and gas properties Oil and gas properties (successful efforts method): Operating income (loss) Operating Income (Loss) Foreign currency translation adjustment Other comprehensive income (loss) Other comprehensive income Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Other current assets Other Assets, Current Additions to other property and equipment Payments to Acquire Other Property, Plant, and Equipment Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares) Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares) Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of offering costs Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities Proceeds from notes payable, net of deferred loan fees Proceeds from sale of assets Gross property and equipment Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross Net property and equipment Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Proved Additions to marketable securities Payments to Acquire Marketable Securities Additions to oil and gas properties Payments to Acquire Oil and Gas Property Receivables: Payments of notes payable Repayments of Notes Payable Accumulated deficit Total revenues Revenue, Net Revenues: Oil and gas sales Oilfield services Business Segments Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) [Abstract] Stockholders' equity: Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Total current assets Assets, Current Current assets: Unproved Common Stock [Member] Preferred Stock [Member] Total assets Assets Other Assets [Abstract] Other Assets, Noncurrent [Abstract] Loan fees Stock Options, Warrants, and Restricted Stock Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Property and equipment, at cost: Statement [Table] ASSETS Statement [Line Items] Supplemental Information Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Industries Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Value Measurements and Marketable Securities Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) Quarterly Financial Information [Text Block] Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) [Abstract] Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Total stockholders' equity Balance Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Foreign exchange gain (loss) Foreign exchange (gains) losses Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), Unrealized Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2011 and 2010; no shares outstanding Other property and equipment Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Retained Earnings [Member] Accumulated Deficit [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Equity Component [Domain] Issuance of common stock Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues Exercise of stock options and warrants Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Issuance of common stock (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues Exercise of stock options and warrants (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period Operating costs and expenses: Total operating costs and expenses Costs and Expenses Depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A) Depreciation, depletion and amortization Comprehensive income (loss) VAT receivable Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Accounts payable Accrued liabilities Accrued Liabilities [Abstract] Accrued Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Interest and other income Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Common stock issued for services and other Stock Issued During Period, Value, Other Common stock issued for services and other (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Other Asset Retirement Obligation [Abstract] Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract] Income Taxes [Abstract] Fair Value Measurements and Marketable Securities [Abstract] Oilfield services costs Stock Options, Warrants, and Restricted Stock [Abstract] Stock compensation Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Requisite Service Period Recognition Other Assets Other Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Business Segments [Abstract] Joint interest and other receivables Other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Assets Basic and diluted net loss per common share (in dollars per share) Basic and diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding (in shares) Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Entity [Text Block] Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Type Payments on loan related to auction-rate securities The cash outflow associated with debt related to auction-rate securities. Payments on loan related to auction-rate securities Proceeds from exercise of stock options and warrants The cash inflow associated with the amount received from holders exercising their stock options and stock warrants. Common stock issued for services general and administrative The remuneration to non-employees in common stock for services rendered during the period. Common stock issued for services (G&A)