Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments
Cash and cash equivalents, fair value	$ 471,562	$ 398,575
Short-term investments:
Trading equity securities, fair value	23,242	11,600
Trading equity securities, gross unrealized holding gains	17,517	5,876
Available-for-sale debt securities:
Total available-for-sale debt securities, fair value	35,070	57,881
Available-for-sale equities securities
Available-for-sale equity securities - energy industry	124,759	129,314
Available-for-sale equity securities, gross unrealized holding gains	64,651	55,592
Available-for-sale equity securities, gross unrealized holding losses	(4,530)	(2,348)
Total short-term investments	148,001	140,914
Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, fair value	619,563	539,489
Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, gross unrealized gains	82,168	61,468
Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, gross unrealized losses	(4,530)	(2,348)
Equity Securities
Available-for-sale equities securities
Available-for-sale equity securities - energy industry	89,689	71,433
Available-for-sale equity securities, gross unrealized holding gains	53,798	33,075
Available-for-sale equity securities, gross unrealized holding losses	(2,467)
Debt Securities
Available-for-sale debt securities:
Total available-for-sale debt securities, fair value	35,070	57,881
Available-for-sale equities securities
Available-for-sale equity securities, gross unrealized holding gains	10,853	22,517
Available-for-sale equity securities, gross unrealized holding losses	(2,063)	(2,348)
Commercial paper and CDs
Available-for-sale debt securities:
Total available-for-sale debt securities, fair value	180	1,230
Corporate debt securities
Available-for-sale debt securities:
Total available-for-sale debt securities, fair value	31,680	51,300
Available-for-sale equities securities
Available-for-sale equity securities, gross unrealized holding gains	10,826	22,494
Available-for-sale equity securities, gross unrealized holding losses	(1,919)	(2,095)
Mortgage-backed debt securities
Available-for-sale debt securities:
Total available-for-sale debt securities, fair value	246	309
Available-for-sale equities securities
Available-for-sale equity securities, gross unrealized holding gains	15	10
Mortgage-CMO debt securities
Available-for-sale debt securities:
Total available-for-sale debt securities, fair value	1,078	2,547
Available-for-sale equities securities
Available-for-sale equity securities, gross unrealized holding gains	12	13
Available-for-sale equity securities, gross unrealized holding losses	(4)	(15)
Asset-backed debt securities
Available-for-sale debt securities:
Total available-for-sale debt securities, fair value	1,886	2,495
Available-for-sale equities securities
Available-for-sale equity securities, gross unrealized holding losses	(140)	(238)
Short-term Investments
Available-for-sale equities securities
Total short-term investments	148,001	140,914
Total short-term investments, gross unrealized gains	82,168	61,468
Total short-term investments, gross unrealized holding losses	$ (4,530)	$ (2,348)

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Total of debt securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading which are intended be sold or mature within one year from the balance sheet date or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer.

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This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.

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This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the Company may deposit additional funds at any time and also effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months.

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