CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	$ (91,991,355)	$ (15,845,382)	$ (30,844,897)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	58,764,443	56,920,515	45,022,272
Asset retirement obligations	(385,942)	(392,861)	(162,668)
Stock compensation expense	2,486,492	1,935,886	1,789,031
Amortization of financing costs and discounts	1,590,692	2,321,158	4,192,875
Deferred income taxes	(35,062,841)	(8,098,357)	(16,378,441)
Impairment and abandonment of oil and gas properties	117,540,239	14,954,633	22,254,059
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	(8,900)		1,069,616
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments	2,288,189	(454,906)	6,500,825
Provision for bad debts	(28,495)	445	167,819
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, net	4,362,084	(1,534,180)	379,494
Increase in prepaid expenses	(370,879)	(304,849)	(168,766)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(27,911,424)	22,148,113	14,188,815
Net cash provided by operating activities	31,272,303	71,650,215	48,010,034
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(79,334,481)	(87,511,475)	(54,745,840)
Acquisition of oil and gas properties		(954,687)
Sale of assets	400,900		(224,776)
Deposits			69,954
Net cash used in investing activities	(78,933,581)	(88,466,162)	(54,900,662)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Payments on debt	(210,301,303)	(139,975,774)	(286,802,034)
Proceeds from debt	258,425,527	156,953,711	265,783,020
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	37,557	60,562	29,967,579
Debt issuance expenditures	(304,225)	(46,214)	(1,946,307)
Purchase of treasury stock	(196,278)	(176,338)	(111,630)
Net cash provided by financing activities	47,661,278	16,815,947	6,890,628
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, Beginning of year	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, End of year	0	0
Cash paid for interest	24,077,674	24,618,488	25,982,510
Cash paid for income taxes	$ 210,000		$ 22,233