Property, Plant and Equipment Joint Participation Agreements (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Acquisition and Financing Fees	$ 0	$ 0	$ 14,907,000
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment	67,480,000	282,006,000	45,673,000
Hess [Member]
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment			54,254
drill carry remaining	230,353,000
Acquisition and Financing Fees			5,719
Drilling Commitment Carry Amount			534,000
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment			53,095
Carry Value of Acres W/ Asserted Title Defects			153,000
Drilling Commitment Carry Amount After Adjustments			335,000
Expense Related to Conceded Title Defects	23,058	3,526
Noble JV[Member] [Member]
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment	327,964	327,964	485,464
Oil and Gas Joint Interest Billing Receivables			16,703
Due to Joint Venture			980
Cash proceeds Related to Receivable			15,598
drill carry remaining	1,873,785,000
Acquisition and Financing Fees			34,998
Drilling Commitment Carry Amount			2,100,000
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment			64,142
Carry Value of Acres W/ Asserted Title Defects			551,000
Maximum Drilling Commitment Carry			400,000
Interest in property sold			50
Acres With Asserted Title Defects	87,851,000
Carry Value of Conceded Acres			$ 216,000