Asset Retirement Obligation (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012 offshore_field	Dec. 31, 2011
Changes to the Company's asset retirement obligation liability
Asset retirement obligation, beginning of period	$ 30,427	$ 24,592
Liabilities incurred	892	220
Liabilities settled	(2,627)	(905)
Accretion expense	(2,078)	(2,049)
Revisions in estimated cash flows	(3,510)	4,471
Asset retirement obligation, end of period	27,260	30,427
Less: current portion of asset retirement obligation	(2,351)	(3,110)
Long-term asset retirement obligation	$ 24,909	$ 27,317
decommisioned wells	2
Decomissioned onshore fields	1
Sold Onshore Fields	3

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The carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

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Amount of accretion expense recognized during the period that is associated with an asset retirement obligation. Accretion expense measures and incorporates changes due to the passage of time into the carrying amount of the liability.

+ References

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Current portion of the carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

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Amount of asset retirement obligations incurred during the period.

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Amount of asset retirement obligations settled, or otherwise disposed of, during the period. This may include asset retirement obligations transferred to third parties associated with the sale of a long-lived asset.

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Amount of the Increase or Decrease in the amount of the asset retirement obligation during the current period for changes in the amount or timing of the estimated cash flows associated with the settlement of the obligation.

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Noncurrent portion of the carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

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