Oil and natural gas properties, net of accumulated impairment (under successful efforts accounting) - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Extractive Industries [Abstract]
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization expense	$ 48,019	$ 75,199
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties	$ 0	$ 5,496

The expense recorded to reduce the value of oil and gas assets consisting of proved properties and unproved properties as the estimate of future successful production from these properties is reduced.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51719941&loc=d3e2921-110230

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 932
-SubTopic 360
-Section 35
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28370743&loc=d3e66150-109466

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration