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Suspended Well Costs (Details) (USD $)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
project
Dec. 31, 2011
project
Suspended Well Costs    
Capitalized exploratory well costs subsequently expensed in the same period $ 16,700,000  
Reconciliation of capitalized exploratory well costs on completed wells    
Balance at the beginning of the period 267,592,000  
Additions to capitalized exploratory well costs pending the determination of proved reserves 104,255,000  
Capitalized exploratory well costs charged to expense (2,627,000)  
Balance at the end of the period 369,220,000  
Aging of capitalized exploratory well costs and number of projects for which exploratory well costs were capitalized for more than one year    
Exploratory well costs capitalized for a period of one year or less 129,389,000 132,838,000
Exploratory well costs capitalized for a period one to three years 239,831,000 134,754,000
Ending balance $ 369,220,000  
Number of projects with exploratory well costs that were capitalized for more than one year 7 3
Mahogany East Area | Minimum
   
Projects with exploratory well costs capitalized for more than one year    
Period of negotiation and consultation of notice of dispute issued to Ministry of Energy by the entity 30 days  
Teak-1 Discovery
   
Projects with exploratory well costs capitalized for more than one year    
Number of appraisal wells which were drilled 2  
Teak-1 Discovery | Maximum
   
Projects with exploratory well costs capitalized for more than one year    
Submission of PoD to Ghana's Ministry of Energy, period 6 months  
Teak-2 Discovery | Maximum
   
Projects with exploratory well costs capitalized for more than one year    
Submission of PoD to Ghana's Ministry of Energy, period 6 months  
Akasa Discovery | Maximum
   
Projects with exploratory well costs capitalized for more than one year    
Submission of PoD to Ghana's Ministry of Energy, period 6 months  
Ntomme Discovery
   
Projects with exploratory well costs capitalized for more than one year    
Number of appraisal wells which were drilled 1  
Ntomme Discovery | Maximum
   
Projects with exploratory well costs capitalized for more than one year    
Submission of PoD to Ghana's Ministry of Energy, period 6 months  
Tweneboa Discovery
   
Projects with exploratory well costs capitalized for more than one year    
Number of appraisal wells which were drilled 3  
Tweneboa Discovery | Maximum
   
Projects with exploratory well costs capitalized for more than one year    
Submission of PoD to Ghana's Ministry of Energy, period 6 months  
Enyenra Discovery
   
Projects with exploratory well costs capitalized for more than one year    
Number of appraisal wells which were drilled 4  
Enyenra Discovery | Maximum
   
Projects with exploratory well costs capitalized for more than one year    
Submission of PoD to Ghana's Ministry of Energy, period 6 months