CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
REVENUES	$ 545,436	$ 467,692	$ 1,601,211	$ 1,268,172
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Direct operating costs (excluding items below)	247,642	246,907	757,320	711,854
Depreciation and amortization	104,109	81,503	289,189	230,054
Selling, general and administrative	29,671	33,040	88,415	92,057
Loss on disposals of property and equipment	2,250	58	2,075	1,720
Proceeds from litigation settlement	0	0	0	(20,875)
Material charges and other operating expenses	332,347	0	337,347	8,300
Total costs and expenses	716,019	361,508	1,474,346	1,023,110
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS	(170,583)	106,184	126,865	245,062
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized	(41,344)	(25,656)	(104,930)	(74,308)
Interest income	230	372	820	1,721
Other - net	(1,754)	269	(2,875)	(627)
Total other income (expense) - net	(42,868)	(25,015)	(106,985)	(73,214)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(213,451)	81,169	19,880	171,848
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	25,996	(38,428)	50,923	(36,165)
NET INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(239,447)	119,597	(31,043)	208,013
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX	0	0	0	4,023
NET INCOME (LOSS)	$ (239,447)	$ 119,597	$ (31,043)	$ 212,036
INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - BASIC:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ (1.92)	$ 0.96	$ (0.25)	$ 1.68
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.03
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	(1.92)	0.96	(0.25)	1.71
INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - DILUTED:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(1.92)	0.96	(0.25)	1.67
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.03
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	(1.92)	0.96	(0.25)	1.70
CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ 0.1	$ 0.1	$ 0.3	$ 0.2