Nature of operations and summary of significant accounting policies (Oil and Natural Gas Properties Adjustments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Mar. 21, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Ceiling test impairment	$ 169,694	$ 147,686	$ 63,593	$ 49,722	$ 20,065	$ 0	$ 42,146	$ 430,695	$ 20,065

The expense recorded to reduce the value of oil and gas assets consisting of proved properties and unproved properties as the estimate of future successful production from these properties is reduced.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226691&loc=d3e2921-110230

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 932
-SubTopic 360
-Section 35
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66906256&loc=d3e66150-109466

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