Note 14 - Guarantor Subsidiaries (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 106,629	$ 81,871	$ 268,409	$ 240,043
Cost of sales	(66,937)	(32,961)	(163,770)	(99,423)
Depreciation, depletion, amortization	(19,006)	(11,601)	(53,224)	(31,141)
General and administrative	(7,720)	(5,695)	(22,141)	(15,723)
Exploration and pre-development	(9,241)	(17,131)	(31,258)	(36,725)
Gain on derivative contracts		(9,053)
Closed operations		4,413
Gain/(loss) on derivative contracts	(4,564)	(9,053)	23,516	(8,113)
Aurizon acquisition costs	(768)		(26,368)
Other expense		(10,714)
Other (expense) income	(9,393)		(19,308)	(26,685)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(11,000)	(871)	(24,144)	22,233
(Provision) benefit from income taxes	2,542	(14)	1,922	(8,022)
Net income (loss)	(8,458)	(885)	(22,222)	14,211
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)	2,489	3,085	(2,286)	2,280
Comprehensive income (loss)	(5,969)	2,200	(24,508)	16,491
Preferred stock dividends	(138)	(138)	(414)	(414)
Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders	(8,596)	(1,023)	(22,636)	13,797
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	(82,896)	(4,619)	(68,198)	(18,466)
Other expense		(9,794)
Other (expense) income	87,701		87,701	(17,566)
Income (loss) before income taxes	4,805	(14,413)	19,503	(36,032)
(Provision) benefit from income taxes	(86,014)	9,794	(87,701)	17,566
Net income (loss)	(81,209)	(4,619)	(68,198)	(18,466)
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)	6,157	(3,085)	6,157	(1,820)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(75,052)	(7,704)	(62,041)	(20,286)
Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders	(81,209)	(4,619)	(68,198)	(18,466)
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	(2,447)	(1,758)	338	(1,880)
General and administrative	(3,550)	(2,968)	(11,015)	(8,632)
Exploration and pre-development	(42)	(727)	(459)	(1,128)
Gain on derivative contracts		(9,053)
Gain/(loss) on derivative contracts	(4,564)		23,516	(8,113)
Aurizon acquisition costs	(268)		(14,416)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	82,896	4,619	68,198	18,466
Other expense		9,002
Other (expense) income	(80,483)		(88,384)	15,498
Income (loss) before income taxes	(8,458)	(885)	(22,222)	14,211
Net income (loss)	(8,458)	(885)	(22,222)	14,211
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)	2,489	3,085	(2,286)	2,280
Comprehensive income (loss)	(5,969)	2,200	(24,508)	16,491
Preferred stock dividends	(138)	(138)	(414)	(414)
Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders	(8,596)	(1,023)	(22,636)	13,797
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	81,687	83,629	230,562	241,923
Cost of sales	(45,342)	(32,961)	(133,944)	(99,423)
Depreciation, depletion, amortization	(15,736)	(11,601)	(46,630)	(31,141)
General and administrative	(3,636)	(2,658)	(10,183)	(6,906)
Exploration and pre-development	(6,551)	(14,081)	(23,299)	(29,123)
Closed operations		2,692
Other expense		(7,187)
Other (expense) income	(811)		1,132	(20,456)
Income (loss) before income taxes	9,611	17,833	17,638	54,874
(Provision) benefit from income taxes	(3,795)	(9,808)	(9,049)	(25,588)
Net income (loss)	5,816	8,025	8,589	29,286
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)	(5,078)	226	(1,248)	(909)
Comprehensive income (loss)	738	8,251	7,341	28,377
Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders	5,816	8,025	8,589	29,286
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	27,389		37,509
Cost of sales	(21,595)		(29,826)
Depreciation, depletion, amortization	(3,270)		(6,594)
General and administrative	(534)	(69)	(943)	(185)
Exploration and pre-development	(2,648)	(2,323)	(7,500)	(6,474)
Closed operations		1,721
Aurizon acquisition costs	(500)		(11,952)
Other expense		(2,735)
Other (expense) income	(15,800)		(19,757)	(4,161)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(16,958)	(3,406)	(39,063)	(10,820)
(Provision) benefit from income taxes	92,351		98,672
Net income (loss)	75,393	(3,406)	59,609	(10,820)
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)	(1,079)	2,859	(4,909)	2,729
Comprehensive income (loss)	74,314	(547)	54,700	(8,091)
Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders	$ 75,393	$ (3,406)	$ 59,609	$ (10,820)