CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
OPERATING REVENUES
Crude oil sales	$ 78,591,313	$ 36,760,014	$ 22,021,906
Natural gas sales	26,459,983	56,666,485	59,861,551
Natural gas liquids sales	10,852,720	20,209,534	14,048,766
Total operating revenues	115,904,016	113,636,033	95,932,223
OPERATING EXPENSES
Lease operating expenses	15,270,587	13,273,760	15,001,954
Production and ad valorem taxes	2,492,117	6,732,545	6,061,033
Exploration expenses	292,651	995,412	967,322
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	58,764,443	56,920,515	45,022,272
Impairment and abandonment of oil and gas properties	117,890,239	14,954,633	22,254,059
General and administrative	19,653,468	18,420,570	19,901,784
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	(8,900)		1,069,616
Total operating expenses	214,354,605	111,297,435	110,278,040
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS	(98,450,589)	2,338,598	(14,345,817)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest expense	(25,327,411)	(25,104,073)	(22,324,535)
Other income (expense) and financing costs	(644,755)	(1,633,170)	(4,280,859)
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments	(2,288,189)	454,906	(6,500,825)
Total other expense	(28,260,355)	(26,282,337)	(33,106,219)
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(126,710,944)	(23,943,739)	(47,452,036)
Income tax benefit	34,719,589	8,098,357	16,607,139
NET LOSS	$ (91,991,355)	$ (15,845,382)	$ (30,844,897)
NET LOSS PER SHARE
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (2.08)	$ (0.35)	$ (0.78)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (2.08)	$ (0.35)	$ (0.78)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING
Basic (in shares)	44,147,787	44,788,551	39,397,486
Diluted (in shares)	44,147,787	44,788,551	39,397,486