Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual) (USD $)	9 Months Ended								3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2012 Wood River Plant [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Wood River Plant [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Fairmont Plant [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Fairmont Plant [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Cargill [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Cargill [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Cargill [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Cargill [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Cargill [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Sales Revenue, Goods, Net [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Sales Revenue, Goods, Net [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Sales Revenue, Goods, Net [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Sales Revenue, Goods, Net [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Accounts Receivable [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Accounts Receivable [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 10,842,000	$ 15,139,000	$ 9,664,000	$ 7,428,000
Concentration Risk Percentage During Period														74.00%	85.00%	76.00%	90.00%
Accounts receivable	13,939,000	13,591,000							12,100,000		12,100,000		12,000,000
Concentration Risk, Percentage																		87.00%	88.00%
Cost of Purchased Oil and Gas									95,400,000	126,300,000	310,800,000	397,800,000
Accounts payable	13,085,000	9,380,000							11,100,000		11,100,000		5,600,000
Asset Retirement Obligation					148,000	144,000	186,000	181,000
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	20 years
Longterm Debt Anticipated Interest Rate	12.00%
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	$ 155,300,000