Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Total capitalized internal costs		$ 12,700	$ 26,300	$ 31,800
Discount rate for estimated future net revenues from proved properties		10.00%
Write-down of oil and gas properties		$ 1,562,086	445,396	46,948
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, current	$ 100	100	100
Accounts receivable from oil and gas sales	14,900	14,900	34,800
Accounts receivable related to joint interest owners	4,900	4,900	8,400
Severance tax credit receivables	1,200	1,200	3,100
Other receivables	700	$ 700	2,200
Percentage of working interest in wells		100.00%
Total amount of supervision fees charged to wells		$ 9,200	12,700	$ 11,600
Inventories carried at cost	600	600	3,100
Inventory write-down		2,000
Prepaid expenses	4,400	4,400	3,900
Texegy PSA deposit	2,400	2,400
Outstanding checks included in trade accounts payable			13,700
Other payables before reclass to liabilities subject to compromise	5,300	5,300
Other payables reclassed to liabilities subject to compromise	4,800	4,800
Restricted cash and cash equivalents included in other long term assets	1,000	1,000	$ 1,000
Treasury stock reissued at lower than repurchase price		$ 4,900
Shell Oil Company Concentration Risk [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Concentration risk, percentage		16.00%	21.00%	33.00%
Kinder Morgan Concentration Risk [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Concentration risk, percentage		27.00%	20.00%
Plains Marketing Concentration Risk [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Concentration risk, percentage		18.00%	11.00%
Howard Energy Concentration Risk [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Concentration risk, percentage		13.00%
BP America Concentration Risk [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Concentration risk, percentage				21.00%
Minimum [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life		2 years
Maximum [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life			20 years
Line of Credit [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Revolving credit facility debt issuance costs	$ 3,300