ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS Asset Retirement Obligations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Reconciliation Of Changes In Asset Retirement Obligations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Liabilities	$ (499)	$ 0
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward]
Balance beginning of year, January 1	92,387	89,492
Revisions in estimated cash flows	(2,860)	0
Change in asset retirement obligation, with a corresponding change to crude oil and natural gas properties, net of disposal	3,638	4,894
Accretion of asset retirement obligations	6,306	7,080	$ 6,293
Obligations discharged with disposal of properties and asset retirements	(12,165)	(9,079)
Balance end of year, December 31	87,306	92,387	$ 89,492
Less: Current portion	$ (15,801)	$ (9,775)

Reconciliation of Changes in Asset Retirement Obligations (ARO) [Line Items]

No definition available.

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The carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

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- Definition

Amount of accretion expense recognized during the period that is associated with an asset retirement obligation. Accretion expense measures and incorporates changes due to the passage of time into the carrying amount of the liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392676&loc=d3e7480-110848

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- Definition

Current portion of the carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

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Amount of asset retirement obligations incurred during the period.

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Amount of asset retirement obligations settled, or otherwise disposed of, during the period. This may include asset retirement obligations transferred to third parties associated with the sale of a long-lived asset.

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Amount of increase (decrease) in the asset retirement obligation from changes in the amount or timing of the estimated cash flows associated with the settlement of the obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(4)
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A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

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Amount classified as other liabilities attributable to disposal group held for sale or disposed of.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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