Consolidated Statement of Common Stock and Capital in Excess of Par Value (USD $)	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended									455 Months Ended	636 Months Ended	707 Months Ended										12 Months Ended			11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended												455 Months Ended	636 Months Ended	707 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 1953 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 2011 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 2010 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 2009 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 2008 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 2002 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 2000 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 1997 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 1996 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 1990 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 1990 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 2008 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 2011 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 2006 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 2005 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 2004 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 2003 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 1998 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 1994 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 1993 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 1992 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 1991 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 2011 Discount on Common Stock	Dec. 31, 2010 Discount on Common Stock	Dec. 31, 2009 Discount on Common Stock	Dec. 31, 1953 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 2008 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 2003 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 2002 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 2000 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 1997 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 1996 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 1995 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 1994 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 1993 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 1992 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 1991 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 1990 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 1990 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 2008 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 2011 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 2010 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 2009 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 2006 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 2005 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 2004 Capital in Excess of Par Value	Dec. 31, 1998 Capital in Excess of Par Value
Beginning Balance (in shares)	5,790,210	70,661,604	47,936,604	46,261,604	46,211,604	43,468,329	40,056,358	40,046,358	33,363,632		5,790,210		5,790,210	46,211,604	46,211,604	46,211,604	46,211,604	40,056,358	33,363,632	33,363,632	33,363,632	33,363,632
Beginning Balance	$ 579,021	$ 8,479,392	$ 5,752,392	$ 5,551,392	$ 5,545,392	$ 5,216,199	$ 4,806,763	$ 4,805,563	$ 4,003,636		$ 579,021		$ 579,021	$ 5,545,392	$ 5,545,392	$ 5,545,392	$ 5,545,392	$ 4,806,763	$ 4,003,636	$ 4,003,636	$ 4,003,636	$ 4,003,636	$ (1,842,625)	$ (103,475)		$ 1,542,868	$ 32,137,811	$ 32,067,811	$ 31,497,362	$ 28,693,033	$ 28,442,983	$ 22,395,084	$ 21,795,084	$ 21,165,084	$ 20,085,084	$ 19,695,084	$ 19,395,084		$ 1,542,868		$ 1,542,868	$ 32,139,311	$ 32,139,311	$ 32,137,811	$ 32,137,811	$ 32,137,811	$ 28,693,033
Sale of common stock (in shares)	300,000	4,472,220	22,725,000	1,191,333		2,743,275	3,411,971		6,672,726	4,298,966	26,829,486		68,046,011
Sale of common stock	30,000	536,667	2,727,000	142,960		329,193	409,436		800,727	515,876	3,224,014		8,169,997										(341,668)	(1,739,150)	(75,460)	654,000			570,449	2,729,329		5,555,599						26,319	16,818,844		25,674,221
Sale of subsidiary shares																												70,000			240,000	480,000	600,000	630,000	1,080,000	390,000	300,000
Compensation recognized for stock option grant																														75,000
Exercise of stock options (in shares)					50,000			10,000	10,000		510,000	580,000
Exercise of stock options					6,000			1,200	1,200		59,739	68,139															1,500				10,050	12,300							799,760	823,610
Market value ($2.375 per share) of shares issued in 1953 to acquire an investment (in shares)											54,538
Market value ($2.375 per share) of shares issued in 1953 to acquire an investment											5,454																												124,074
Shares issued in 1953 in exchange for 1/3rd of a 1/60th overriding royalty (sold in prior year) in nonproducing leases of Coastal Petroleum (in shares)											84,210
Shares issued in 1953 in exchange for 1/3rd of a 1/60th overriding royalty (sold in prior year) in nonproducing leases of Coastal Petroleum											8,421
Shares issued for services (in shares)				483,667							95,188
Shares issued for services				58,040							9,673														(28,015)														109,827
Net transfers to restate the par value of common stock Outstanding in 1962 and 1970 to $0.12 per share											117,314																												(117,314)
Increase in Company's investment (equity) due to capital transactions of Coastal Petroleum in 1976																																							117,025
Ending Balance (in shares)		75,133,824	70,661,604	47,936,604	46,261,604	46,211,604	43,468,329	40,056,358	40,046,358	33,363,632	33,363,632	46,261,604	75,133,824	46,211,604	46,211,604	46,211,604	46,211,604	40,056,358	33,363,632	33,363,632	33,363,632	33,363,632
Ending Balance		$ 9,016,059	$ 8,479,392	$ 5,752,392	$ 5,551,392	$ 5,545,392	$ 5,216,199	$ 4,806,763	$ 4,805,563	$ 4,003,636	$ 4,003,636	$ 5,551,392	$ 9,016,059	$ 5,545,392	$ 5,545,392	$ 5,545,392	$ 5,545,392	$ 4,806,763	$ 4,003,636	$ 4,003,636	$ 4,003,636	$ 4,003,636	$ (2,184,293)	$ (1,842,625)	$ (103,475)		$ 32,139,311	$ 32,137,811	$ 32,067,811	$ 31,497,362	$ 28,693,033	$ 28,442,983	$ 22,395,084	$ 21,795,084	$ 21,165,084	$ 20,085,084	$ 19,695,084	$ 19,395,084	$ 19,395,084	$ 32,139,311	$ 32,139,311	$ 32,139,311	$ 32,139,311	$ 32,137,811	$ 32,137,811	$ 32,137,811	$ 28,693,033