Industry Segment Information (Industry Segment Information) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenues:
Oil and natural gas	$ 157,320	$ 135,435		$ 475,728	$ 402,366
Contract drilling	119,105	145,561		357,118	458,945
Elimination of inter-segment revenue	(18,458)	(12,141)		(43,938)	(37,747)
Contract drilling net of inter-segment revenue	100,647	133,420		313,180	421,198
Gas gathering and processing	99,007	70,394		272,073	210,550
Elimination of inter-segment revenue	(23,198)	(17,459)		(68,252)	(50,573)
Gas gathering and processing net of inter-segment revenue	75,809	52,935		203,821	159,977
Total revenues	333,776	321,790		992,729	983,541
Operating income:
Oil and natural gas	(50,887)	(54,799)		(173,945)	(27,618)	[1]
Contract drilling	(24,257)	(40,338)		(72,030)	(134,558)
Gas gathering and processing	(3,938)	(784)		(7,613)	(7,404)
Total operating income (1)	79,082	95,921	[2]	253,588	169,580	[2]
General and administrative	(9,936)	(8,434)		(28,288)	(23,814)
Gain on disposition of assets	4,345	44		7,744	1,283
Loss on derivatives not designated as hedges and hedge ineffectiveness, net	(13,760)	(4,015)		(3,340)	(4,621)
Interest expense, net	(3,625)	(7,087)		(11,777)	(11,455)
Other	(14)	(59)		(171)	(123)
Income before income taxes	$ 56,092	$ 76,370		$ 217,756	$ 130,850

[1] In June 2012, we had a non-cash ceiling test write-down of $115.9 million pre-tax ($72.1 million, net of tax).

[2] Total operating income is total operating revenues less operating expenses, depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment and does not include non-operating revenues, general corporate expenses, gain on disposition of assets, interest expense, or income taxes.