Asset Retirement Obligations

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]

Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Text Block]

10. Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company recognizes a liability at discounted fair value for the future retirement of tangible long-lived assets and associated assets retirement cost associated with the petroleum and natural gas properties. The fair value of the liability is capitalized as part of the cost of the related asset and amortized to expense over its useful life. The liability accretes until the date of expected settlement of the retirement obligations. The related accretion expense is recognized in the statement of operations. The provision will be revised for the effect of any changes to timing related to cash flow or undiscounted abandonment costs. Actual expenditures incurred for the purpose of site reclamation are charged to the asset retirement obligations to the extent that the liability exists on the balance sheet. Differences between the actual costs incurred and the fair value of the liability recorded are recognized in income in the period the actual costs are incurred.

There are no legally restricted assets for the settlement of asset retirement obligations. The Company has recognized deferred tax benefits of approximately $500,100 for the asset retirement obligations as of December 31, 2011.

A reconciliation of the Company's asset retirement obligations from the periods presented, are as follows:

	December 31,
	2011			2010		2009
Beginning balance	$	1,235,193		$	1,193,324	$	1,151,706
Incurred during the period		(13,397	)		—		—
Additions for new wells		11,779			6,942		—
Accretion expense		45,314			34,927		41,618
Ending balance	$	1,278,889		$	1,235,193	$	1,193,324