ESCROW RECEIVABLE (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Escrow receivables relating to oil and gas properties [Abstract]
Escrow receivable - Current	$ 1,899,307	$ 1,863,332
Escrow receivable - Noncurrent	1,664,581	1,664,581
Total	3,563,888	3,527,913
Changes in escrow receivables	15,947	151,048
Escrow receivables, percentage (in hundredths)	13.30%
Caracara Escrow [Member]
Escrow receivables relating to oil and gas properties [Abstract]
Escrow receivable - Current		131,021
Escrow receivable - Noncurrent		0
Total		131,021
Settlements and releases relating to escrow receivables	147,581
Tambaqui Escrow [Member]
Escrow receivables relating to oil and gas properties [Abstract]
Escrow receivable - Current	31,500	31,500
Escrow receivable - Noncurrent		0
Total	31,500	31,500
HDC LLC & HL LLC 15% Escrow [Member]
Escrow receivables relating to oil and gas properties [Abstract]
Escrow receivable - Current	1,664,581	1,664,581
Escrow receivable - Noncurrent	1,664,581	1,664,581
Total	3,329,162	3,329,162
Escrow receivables, percentage (in hundredths)	15.00%
HDC LLC & HL LLC 5% Contingency [Member]
Escrow receivables relating to oil and gas properties [Abstract]
Escrow receivable - Current	36,231	36,230
Escrow receivable - Noncurrent		0
Total	36,231	36,230
Escrow receivables, percentage (in hundredths)	5.00%
HC LLC 5% Contingency [Member]
Escrow receivables relating to oil and gas properties [Abstract]
Escrow receivable - Current	15,947
Total	15,947
Escrow receivables, percentage (in hundredths)	5.00%
HC LLC 14.66% Escrow [Member]
Escrow receivables relating to oil and gas properties [Abstract]
Escrow receivable - Current	151,048
Total	$ 151,048
Escrow receivables, percentage (in hundredths)	14.66%