Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 Shouyang Production Sharing Contract [Member] sqkm	Sep. 30, 2012 Shouyang Production Sharing Contract [Member] USD ($) acre	Sep. 30, 2012 Shouyang Production Sharing Contract [Member] China United Coalbed Methane Corporation, Ltd. [Member] sqkm	Sep. 30, 2012 Shouyang Production Sharing Contract [Member] China United Coalbed Methane Corporation, Ltd. [Member] acre	Sep. 30, 2012 Shouyang Production Sharing Contract [Member] ConocoPhillips [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Qinnan Production Sharing Contract [Member] USD ($) acre	Sep. 30, 2012 Yunnan Production Sharing Contract [Member] MMcf	Sep. 30, 2012 Yunnan Production Sharing Contract [Member] m3 sqkm	Sep. 30, 2012 Yunnan Production Sharing Contract [Member] USD ($) acre	Sep. 30, 2012 Yunnan Production Sharing Contract [Member] CNY	Sep. 30, 2012 Yunnan Production Sharing Contract [Member] China United Coalbed Methane Corporation, Ltd. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Enhong Area [Member] Yunnan Production Sharing Contract [Member] acre	Sep. 30, 2012 Enhong Area [Member] Yunnan Production Sharing Contract [Member] sqkm	Sep. 30, 2012 Laochang Area [Member] Yunnan Production Sharing Contract [Member] acre	Sep. 30, 2012 Laochang Area [Member] Yunnan Production Sharing Contract [Member] sqkm	Sep. 30, 2012 July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2015 [Member] Shouyang Production Sharing Contract [Member] item	Sep. 30, 2012 Additional wells by June 30, 2013 [Member] Shouyang Production Sharing Contract [Member] item
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Participation interest in properties	100.00%	100.00%				100.00%
Modification agreement, four year extension of exploration period, area	1,203.6	297,415
Modification agreement, two year extension of exploration period, area	490	121,080
Production sharing area	418,500	418,500				573,000	119,340	119,340	119,340	119,340		145,198	587.6	119,340	482.943
Operating area	1,658.5	409,825
Forego area rights			64.7	15,990
Participating interest share	100.00%	100.00%	30.00%	30.00%
Net overriding royalty interest					3.50%
Remaining area rights	1,593.8	393,835
Annual required fees that will count toward the satisfaction of minimum exploration expenditure requirements		$ 500,000							$ 500,000
Annual minimum exploration expenditure requirements		2,900,000				3,700,000			800,000	4,850,000
Additional wells required to be drilled																13	25
Additional wells required to be drilled, minimum spending		15,800,000
Relinquishment area							587.6	587.6	145,198	587.6
Participant interest if CBM field is discovered							60.00%	60.00%	60.00%	60.00%	40.00%
Pilot well daily steady production							20	550	20	20
Pilot well daily peak production							65	1,850	65	65
Annual minimum exploration expenditure requirements before modification									$ 1,200,000