Stockholders' Equity (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Stockholder's Equity [Abstract]

Weighted-average assumptions for options issued during the indicated periods

	Years Ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
Dividend yield		0	%		0	%		0	%
Expected volatility		58.8	%		62.8	%		50.5	%
Risk-free interest rate		1.9	%		2.1	%		1.8	%
Expected life of options (in years)		3.8			4.3			4.5
Weighted-average grant-date fair value	$	19.17		$	12.60		$	6.32

Stock option activity

	2011					2010					2009
	Shares			Wtd Avg. Exer. Price		Shares			Wtd, Avg Exer. Price		Shares			Wtd. Avg Exer. Price
Options outstanding, beginning of period		1,361,779		$	29.67		1,289,194		$	29.72		1,119,469		$	33.22
Options granted		307,394		$	42.56		273,463		$	25.28		273,400		$	14.66
Options canceled		(67,529	)	$	55.19		(36,983	)	$	44.65		(77,619	)	$	33.26
Options exercised 1		(226,363	)	$	22.61		(163,895	)	$	18.11		(26,056	)	$	12.52
Options outstanding, end of period		1,375,281		$	32.46		1,361,779		$	29.67		1,289,194		$	29.72
Options exercisable, end of period		734,985		$	31.07		749,447		$	32.04		790,394		$	31.00

¹ The plans allow for the use of a “stock swap” in lieu of a cash exercise for options, under certain circumstances. The delivery of Swift Energy common stock, held by the optionee for a minimum of six months, which are considered mature shares, with a fair market value equal to the required purchase price of the shares to which the exercise relates, constitutes a valid “stock swap.” Options issued under a “stock swap” also include a reload feature where additional options are granted at the then current market price when mature shares of Swift stock are used to satisfy the exercise price of an existing stock option grant. The terms of the plans provide that the mature shares delivered, as full or partial payment in a “stock swap”, shall again be available for awards under the plans. In 2011 and 2010, 79,194 and 27,463 mature shares were delivered in “stock swap” transactions, respectively, which resulted in the issuance of an equal number of reload option grants. None were issued in 2009.

Stock options outstanding

	Options Outstanding						Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices	Number Outstanding at 12/31/11		Wtd. Avg. Remaining Contractual Life		Wtd. Avg. Exercise Price		Number Exercisable at 12/31/11		Wtd. Avg. Exercise Price
$ 8.00 to $24.99		557,530		5.9	$	18.65		302,388	$	16.67
$25.00 to $44.99		762,350		6.0	$	41.38		393,055	$	40.28
$45.00 to $65.00		55,401		1.1	$	48.64		39,542	$	49.55
$ 8.00 to $65.00		1,375,281		5.8	$	32.46		734,985	$	31.07

Restricted stock activity

	2011					2010					2009
	Shares			Wtd. Avg. Grant Price		Shares			Wtd. Avg. Grant Price		Shares			Wtd. Avg. Grant Price
Restricted shares outstanding, beginning of period		734,286		$	22.87		703,856		$	24.15		586,325		$	42.78
Restricted shares granted		499,050		$	40.28		388,650		$	25.41		433,210		$	12.48
Restricted shares canceled		(49,661	)	$	32.29		(46,029	)	$	24.45		(51,750	)	$	41.86
Restricted shares vested		(348,972	)	$	24.84		(312,191	)	$	28.75		(263,929	)	$	42.92
Restricted shares outstanding, end of period		834,703		$	31.89		734,286		$	22.87		703,856		$	24.15