Accounting Policies And Disclosures Accounting Policies And Disclosures (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Reorganizations [Abstract]

schedule of liabilities subject to compromise [Table Text Block]

	September 30, 2015
	(in thousands)
Accounts payable	$	1,215
Accrued liabilities	116,515
Debt	1,766,398
Liabilities subject to compromise	$	1,884,128

Schedule of Reorganization Items, Net [Table Text Block]

	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2015			For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
	(in thousands)
Professional fees	$	8,352		$	22,895
Deferred financing costs and unamortized discounts	—			59,983
Deferred interest rate swap gains	—			(2,314		)
Terminated contracts	(469		)	68,004
Reorganization items, net	$	7,883		$	148,568

Schedule of Error Correction - Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]

	As of September 30, 2015
	Previously Reported			Adjustments		As Restated
	(in thousands)
Oil and natural gas properties, full cost method	$	403,248		(61,760	)	$	341,488
Property, plant and equipment - net	502,580			(61,760	)	440,820
Total assets	730,224			(61,760	)	668,464
Retained deficit	(2,349,419		)	(61,760	)	(2,411,179		)
Total stockholders' equity	(1,566,342		)	(61,760	)	(1,628,102		)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	730,224			(61,760	)	668,464

Schedule of Error Correction - Income Statement [Table Text Block]

	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2015									For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
	Previously Reported			Adjustments			As Restated			Previously Reported			Adjustments			As Restated
	(in thousands), except for per share data
Impairment	$	102,758		$	61,760		$	164,518		$	180,169		$	61,760		$	241,929
Total expense	164,274			61,760			226,034			403,153			61,760			464,913
Operating income (loss)	(105,287		)	(61,760		)	(167,047		)	(176,034		)	(61,760		)	(237,794		)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(120,300		)	(61,760		)	(182,060		)	(404,122		)	(61,760		)	(465,882		)
Net income (loss)	(122,452		)	(61,760		)	(184,212		)	(409,958		)	(61,760		)	(471,718		)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(128,111		)	(61,760		)	(189,871		)	(433,507		)	(61,760		)	(495,267		)
Earnings (loss) per common share - basic	$	(0.69	)	$	(0.36	)	$	(1.05	)	$	(2.33	)	$	(0.35	)	$	(2.68	)
Earnings (loss) per common share - diluted	$	(0.69	)	$	(0.36	)	$	(1.05	)	$	(2.33	)	$	(0.35	)	$	(2.68	)

Schedule of Error Correction - Cash Flow [Table Text Block]

	For the nine months ended September 30, 2015
	Previously Reported			Adjustments		As Restated
	(in thousands)
Net loss	$	(409,958	)	(61,760	)	$	(471,718	)
Impairment expense	180,169			61,760		241,929