CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Operating activities
Net income (loss)	$ 22,357	$ (245,672)	$ (79,747)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depletion, depreciation and amortization	156,662	31,250	4,403
Deferred income taxes	56,457	(77,614)	99
Unsuccessful well costs	91,254	59,401	74
Derivative related activity	1,811	34,545
Equity-based compensation	50,966	13,791	3,468
Doubtful accounts expense	(39,782)	39,782
Loss on extinguishment of debt	59,643
Other	2,953	721	2,287
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Increase in receivables	(122,859)	(100,605)	(34,531)
(Increase) decrease in inventories	4,176	(12,699)	(14,465)
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other	(635)	(12,429)	61
Increase in accounts payable	89,214	65,800	80,883
Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities	(7,308)	11,929	9,877
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	364,909	(191,800)	(27,591)
Investing activities
Oil and gas assets	(478,943)	(444,712)	(411,939)
Other property	(4,303)	(1,452)	(6,376)
Notes receivable	13,653	(61,811)	(52,078)
Restricted cash	84,453	(82,000)	(30,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(385,140)	(589,975)	(500,393)
Financing activities
Borrowings under long-term debt	1,503,000	760,000	285,000
Payments on long-term debt	(1,438,000)
Net proceeds from the initial public offering	580,374
Net proceeds from issuance of units			325,344
Deferred financing costs	(52,466)	(17,315)	(90,649)
Net cash provided by financing activities	592,908	742,685	519,695
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	572,677	(39,090)	(8,289)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	100,415	139,505	147,794
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	673,092	100,415	139,505
Cash paid for:
Interest	56,845	52,472	6,765
Income taxes	15,550	762	(65)
Non-cash activities:
Notes receivable applied to FPSO purchase	(102,783)
Deemed payment and termination of notes receivable		$ 90,197