Industry Segment Information (Industry Segment Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Revenues:
Oil and natural gas		$ 58,274	$ 106,069
Contract drilling		38,710	104,938
Elimination of inter-segment revenue		0	(9,861)
Contract drilling net of inter-segment revenue		38,710	95,077
Gas gathering and processing		49,045	73,804
Elimination of inter-segment revenue		(9,845)	(19,851)
Gas gathering and processing net of inter-segment revenue		39,200	53,953
Total revenues		136,184	255,099
Operating loss:
Oil and natural gas		(44,733)	(416,853)
Contract drilling		(1,583)	28,318
Gas gathering and processing		(3,325)	(916)
Total operating loss (1)	[1]	(49,641)	(389,451)
General and administrative		(8,715)	(9,370)
Gain on disposition of assets		192	545
Gain on derivatives		10,929	6,586
Interest expense, net		(9,617)	(7,240)
Other		(15)	(2)
Loss before income taxes		$ (56,867)	$ (398,932)

[1] Operating loss is total operating revenues less operating expenses, depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment and does not include general corporate expenses, gain on disposition of assets, gain on derivatives, interest expense, other income (loss), or income taxes.