ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS Asset Retirement Obligations (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Change in Asset Retirement Obligation [Table Text Block]

The following table presents the changes in carrying amounts of the asset retirement obligations associated with our working interest in natural gas and crude oil properties:

	2012			2011
	(in thousands)
Balance beginning of year, January 1	$	46,566		$	28,047
Obligations incurred with development activities and assumed with acquisitions	14,169			9,625
Accretion expense	4,060			1,897
Obligations discharged with disposal of properties and asset retirements	(2,232		)	(990		)
Deconsolidation of PDCM and change in ownership interest	—			(916		)
Revisions in estimated cash flows	—			8,903
Balance end of year, December 31 (1)	62,563			46,566
Less current portion	(1,000		)	(250		)
Long-term portion	$	61,563		$	46,316

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(1) Includes $2 million as of December 31, 2011 related to assets held for sale.