CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Accounts receivable:
Allowance for doubtful accounts of joint interest billings	$ 174,000	$ 99,000
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	75,000,000	75,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	8,970,936	8,910,175
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	8,043,936	7,983,175
Treasury stock, shares (in shares)	927,000	927,000