CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
OPERATING REVENUES
Crude oil sales	$ 16,093,396	$ 16,892,614
Natural gas sales	6,002,675	7,069,114
Natural gas liquids sales	1,998,863	2,724,851
Total operating revenues	24,094,934	26,686,579
OPERATING EXPENSES
Lease operating expenses	3,262,127	4,637,385
Production and ad valorem taxes	1,688,742	1,408,741
Exploration expenses	117,481	300,696
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	12,839,720	14,462,062
Impairment of oil and gas properties	817,738	676,474
General and administrative	4,314,334	4,771,457
Gain on sale of assets	(6,384)	(8,900)
Total operating expenses	23,033,758	26,247,915
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	1,061,176	438,664
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest expense	(6,283,737)	(6,245,182)
Other income (expense) and financing costs	(119,402)	(242,743)
Unrealized loss on derivative instruments	(1,882,990)	(525,633)
Total other income (expense)	(8,286,129)	(7,013,558)
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(7,224,953)	(6,574,894)
Income tax benefit	2,493,554	2,175,809
NET LOSS	$ (4,731,399)	$ (4,399,085)
NET LOSS PER SHARE
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.11)	$ (0.10)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.11)	$ (0.10)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING
Basic (in shares)	44,389,522	43,976,950
Diluted (in shares)	44,389,522	43,976,950