Note 17 - Guarantor Subsidiaries (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 382,589	$ 321,143	$ 477,634
Cost of sales	(235,316)	(134,105)	(165,573)
Depreciation, depletion, amortization	(81,127)	(43,522)	(47,066)
General and administrative	(28,925)	(21,253)	(18,540)
Loss on derivative contracts	17,979	(10,457)	37,988
Aurizon acquisition costs	(26,397)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(34,925)	23,833	233,142
(Provision) benefit from income taxes	9,795	(8,879)	(81,978)
Net income (loss)	(25,130)	14,954	151,164
Comprehensive income (loss)	(27,511)	14,534	142,783
Preferred stock dividends	(552)	(552)	(552)
Income (loss) applicable to common stockholders	(25,682)	14,402	150,612
Parent [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	3,044	(1,346)	7,140
General and administrative	(14,441)	(11,519)	(10,355)
Exploration and pre-development	(576)	(1,262)	(407)
Gain on derivative contracts			37,988
Loss on derivative contracts	17,979	(10,457)
Aurizon acquisition costs	(14,444)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(15,807)	21,246	254,902
Other (expense) income	(885)	18,292	(138,104)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(25,130)	14,954	151,164
Net income (loss)	(25,130)	14,954	151,164
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)	(2,381)	(420)	(8,381)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(27,511)	14,534	142,783
Preferred stock dividends	(552)	(552)	(552)
Income (loss) applicable to common stockholders	(25,682)	14,402	150,612
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	304,423	322,489	470,494
Cost of sales	(179,491)	(134,105)	(165,573)
Depreciation, depletion, amortization	(63,097)	(43,522)	(47,066)
General and administrative	(13,174)	(9,519)	(7,909)
Exploration and pre-development	(24,990)	(38,700)	(23,548)
Closed operations		(2,259)	(8,961)
Other (expense) income	1,345	(27,747)	4,920
Income (loss) before income taxes	25,016	66,637	222,357
(Provision) benefit from income taxes	(14,171)	(29,802)	44,448
Net income (loss)	10,845	36,835	266,805
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)	(7)	(911)	(3,089)
Comprehensive income (loss)	10,838	35,924	263,716
Income (loss) applicable to common stockholders	10,845	36,835	266,805
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	75,122
Cost of sales	(55,825)
Depreciation, depletion, amortization	(18,030)
General and administrative	(1,310)	(215)	(276)
Exploration and pre-development	(12,084)	(9,776)	(7,450)
Closed operations		(2,393)	(786)
Aurizon acquisition costs	(11,953)
Other (expense) income	(9,616)	(3,207)	(3,391)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(33,696)	(15,591)	(11,903)
(Provision) benefit from income taxes	7,044
Net income (loss)	(26,652)	(15,591)	(11,903)
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)	(4,587)	1,438	(679)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(31,239)	(14,153)	(12,582)
Income (loss) applicable to common stockholders	(26,652)	(15,591)	(11,903)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	15,807	(21,246)	(254,902)
Other (expense) income	(16,922)	(20,921)	126,426
Income (loss) before income taxes	(1,115)	(42,167)	(128,476)
(Provision) benefit from income taxes	16,922	20,923	(126,426)
Net income (loss)	15,807	(21,244)	(254,902)
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)	4,594	(527)	3,768
Comprehensive income (loss)	20,401	(21,771)	(251,134)
Income (loss) applicable to common stockholders	15,807	(21,244)	(254,902)
Consolidated [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	382,589	321,143	477,634
Cost of sales	(235,316)	(134,105)	(165,573)
Depreciation, depletion, amortization	(81,127)	(43,522)	(47,066)
General and administrative	(28,925)	(21,253)	(18,540)
Exploration and pre-development	(37,650)	(49,738)	(31,405)
Gain on derivative contracts			37,988
Loss on derivative contracts	17,979	(10,457)
Closed operations		(4,652)	(9,747)
Aurizon acquisition costs	(26,397)
Other (expense) income	(26,078)	(33,583)	(10,149)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(34,925)	23,833	233,142
(Provision) benefit from income taxes	9,795	(8,879)	(81,978)
Net income (loss)	(25,130)	14,954	151,164
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)	(2,381)	(420)	(8,381)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(27,511)	14,534	142,783
Preferred stock dividends	(552)	(552)	(552)
Income (loss) applicable to common stockholders	$ (25,682)	$ 14,402	$ 150,612