OIL AND NATURAL GAS OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - Capitalized Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Extractive Industries [Abstract]
Proved	$ 8,466,708	$ 7,543,464
Unproved	453,028	196,888
Total capitalized costs	8,919,736	7,740,352
Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization	4,200,797	3,723,669
Capitalized costs, net	$ 4,718,939	$ 4,016,683

Amount of accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization and valuation allowance relating to oil and gas producing activities.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 932
-SubTopic 235
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68064819&loc=d3e61901-109447

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- Definition

The sum of capitalized costs relating to oil and gas producing activities before accounting for accumulated depreciation.

+ References

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Net amount of capitalized costs relating to oil and gas producing activities.

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- Definition

Capitalized costs of proved properties incurred for any combination mineral interests acquisitions; wells and related equipment; support equipment and facilities; and uncompleted wells and equipment and other costs not previously disclosed within this table.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 932
-SubTopic 360
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2145654

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 932
-SubTopic 235
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68064819&loc=d3e61901-109447

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Capitalized costs of unproved properties incurred for any combination mineral interests acquisitions and other costs not previously disclosed within this table.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 932
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2145477

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 932
-SubTopic 235
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68064819&loc=d3e61901-109447

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No definition available.

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