CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Reconciliation of net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Net loss	$ (11,005,038)	$ (20,225,150)	$ (33,050,103)
Goodwill write-off	$ 5,349,988
Increase in fair value of preferred stock derivative liability		$ 15,676,842	$ 26,258,559
Depreciation, depletion and amortization of property and equipment	$ 13,651,207	19,664,991	12,077,368
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	604,538	604,511	668,497
Stock-based compensation net of capitalized cost	2,289,311	3,388,321	452,058
Amortization of other assets and liabilities	286,010	188,669	166,608
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	(7,951,850)	(2,553,854)	3,080,272
Bad debt expense	$ 839,171	97,068	$ 193,601
Write off deferred offering costs		$ 1,257,160
Write off credit financing costs			$ 313,652
Amortization of benefit from commodity derivatives (sold) and purchased, net		$ (93,750)	(72,600)
Unrealized (gains) losses on commodity derivatives	$ 949,967	(4,724,985)	231,886
Other	(342,835)	5,448	(21,328)
Changes in current operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	6,877,906	976,093	(5,589,741)
Other current assets	77,711	(267,386)	869,550
Accounts payable	(13,688,145)	10,690,790	9,115,792
Other current liabilities	$ 691,915	$ (218,468)	148,834
Other non-current liability			69,998
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$ (1,370,144)	$ 24,466,300	14,912,903
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures on property and equipment	(13,540,582)	(25,526,887)	(28,152,714)
Proceeds from sale of property	$ 58,557	667,267	$ 902,166
Cash received from merger		4,550,082
Decrease in short-term investments	$ 1,170,868	2,125,541
Decrease (increase) in noncurrent receivable from affiliate		95,634	$ (2,493)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	$ (12,311,157)	(18,088,363)	(27,253,041)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Change in borrowing on line of credit	6,900,000	(8,315,000)	13,340,000
Proceeds from insurance note	813,562	901,257	872,754
Payments on insurance note	(832,770)	(796,441)	(878,328)
Line of credit financing costs	(250,141)	$ (92,909)	$ (681,739)
Net proceeds from sale of common stock	1,363,160
Net proceeds from sales of perpetual preferred stock	870,386	$ 9,958,217
Deferred offering costs	(38,104)		$ (1,257,160)
Cash dividends to preferred stockholders	(1,047,191)	$ (669,250)	$ (145,900)
Common stock purchased from employees	(300,732)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	7,478,170	$ 985,874	$ 11,249,627
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(6,203,131)	7,363,811	(1,090,511)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD	11,558,322	4,194,511	5,285,022
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	5,355,191	11,558,322	4,194,511
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest payments (net of interest capitalized)	131,521	175,009	22,210
Interest capitalized	$ 983,472	1,059,350	1,031,816
Supplemental disclosure of significant non-cash activity:
Preferred dividends paid in kind (Series A and Series B)		4,133,380	5,412,281
Change in capital expenditures financed by accounts payable	$ 3,382,555	$ 1,310,037	$ 1,904,581