SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - Common Stock - Activity (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions												1 Months Ended	2 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 16, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 23, 2017 $ / shares shares	Apr. 03, 2017 $ / shares shares	Dec. 05, 2016 $ / shares shares	Nov. 11, 2016 $ / shares shares	Aug. 30, 2016 $ / shares shares	Aug. 22, 2016 $ / shares shares	Jul. 22, 2016 $ / shares shares	Jul. 05, 2016 $ / shares shares	May 04, 2016 director $ / shares shares	Apr. 08, 2016 $ / shares shares	Jan. 31, 2016 item $ / shares shares	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares	Jun. 01, 2017 agreement shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) shares	Jan. 30, 2017 $ / shares
Common Stock
Warrants to purchase common stock (in shares)															7,588,800
Stock-based compensation expense | $															$ 1.4	$ 1.1
Restricted Stock
Common Stock
Number of employment agreements | agreement														4
Issuance of restricted shares, Shares														219,700
Common Stock
Common Stock
Issuance of common stock in connection with conversion of convertible notes payable, Shares															4,814,265
Issuance of common stock for loan extension, Shares															250,000
Issuance of restricted shares, Shares															219,700
Issuance of common stock for lease acquisition, Shares			470,555		14,425										470,555	14,425
Issuance of common stock for cash at $1.00 per share (in shares)																95,000
Issuance of common stock in connection with consulting agreements, Shares																141,666
Shares issued for services (in shares)																50,000
Share price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 1.80		$ 1.85
Common Stock | Consultants
Common Stock
Issuance of common stock in connection with consulting agreements, Shares						50,000	8,333	8,333			50,000
Share price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares						$ 1.44	$ 1.40	$ 1.65			$ 0.73
Common Stock | Directors
Common Stock
Issuance of common stock in connection with consulting agreements, Shares									25,000
Shares issued for services (in shares)										50,000
Share price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares									$ 1.60	$ 1.01
Number of directors issued stock | director										2
Common Stock | Private placement
Common Stock
Issuance of common stock for cash at $1.00 per share (in shares)												95,000
Share price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares												$ 1.00
Number of accredited investors in the transaction | item												1
Common Stock | Exchange of interests in oil and gas assets in Buck Peak prospect
Common Stock
Issuance of common stock for property acquisition (in shares)				30,000
Share price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares				$ 1.89
Initial Line of Credit | Providence Energy Operators, LLC
Common Stock
Issuance of common stock for loan extension, Shares		250,000
Share price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 1.55
Original Convertible Notes
Common Stock
Notes conversion price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 1.10																$ 1.50
Debt conversion, shares issued	4,814,265
Principal converted | $	$ 5.2
Series B Notes
Common Stock
Notes conversion price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares													$ 1.50
Convertible notes issued for cash | $													$ 4.5
Convertible Notes
Common Stock
Issuance of common stock in connection with conversion of convertible notes payable, Shares	4,814,265
Notes conversion price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 1.38
Principal converted | $	$ 5.2
Debt conversion, accrued interest amount | $	$ 0.1