Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 71,079	$ 102,493
Restricted Cash	4,325	4,325
Short-term investments	2,000	0
Accounts receivable – interest owners	7,904	8,607
Accounts receivable – oil and natural gas revenues, net	5,695	7,082
Derivative instruments	778	0
Inventories	326	326
Prepaid expenses and deposits	2,211	2,655
Assets held for sale	1,910	2,045
Total current assets	96,228	127,533
OIL AND NATURAL GAS PROPERTIES, BASED ON THE FULL COST METHOD
Properties being amortized	1,085,361	1,062,801
Properties not subject to amortization	153,085	147,224
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, and impairment	(906,232)	(871,346)
Oil and Gas Property, Full Cost Method, Net	332,214	338,679
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, AT COST, NET	64,464	65,858
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS	500	0
OTHER ASSETS	8,983	10,131
TOTAL ASSETS	502,389	542,201
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	12,919	13,550
Accrued expenses	14,485	17,835
Accrued interest	12,557	3,256
Revenue distributions payable	5,411	5,980
Current maturities of long-term debt	58,151	26
Total current liabilities	103,523	40,647
LONG-TERM DEBT, LESS CURRENT MATURITIES	356,958	426,805
DEFERRED PREMIUMS ON DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS	312	0
OTHER LIABILITIES	7,684	7,476
Preferred stock, par value $.001 per share, 10,000,000 shares authorized:
Common stock, par value $.001 per share – 100,000,000 shares authorized, 69,272,437 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and 63,085,432 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011	69	63
Additional paid-in capital	702,041	690,986
Accumulated deficit	(689,942)	(649,341)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes	10,517	14,029
Total GMX Resources’ equity	22,688	55,740
Noncontrolling interest	11,224	11,533
Total equity	33,912	67,273
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	502,389	542,201
Junior Participating Preferred Class A [Member]
Preferred stock, par value $.001 per share, 10,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred stock, par value $.0001 per share	0	0
Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, par value $.001 per share, 10,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred stock, par value $.0001 per share	$ 3	$ 3