Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses [Abstract]

Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Table Text Block]

Accounts receivable are comprised of the following:

	As of December 31,
	2012		2011
	(in thousands)
Accrued oil, gas, and NGL production revenue	$	160,568	$	149,384
Amounts due from joint interest owners	42,740		30,784
Receivable due from Mitsui	19,931		—
State severance tax refunds	17,237		14,979
Other	14,329		15,221
Total accounts receivable	$	254,805	$	210,368

Schedule of Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block]

Accounts payable and accrued expenses are comprised of the following:

	As of December 31,
	2012		2011
	(in thousands)
Accrued drilling costs	$	243,611	$	189,749
Revenue and severance tax payable	65,494		61,613
Accrued lease operating expense	28,037		25,197
Accrued property taxes	9,478		6,994
Joint owner advances	69,639		79,138
Accrued compensation	35,607		43,056
Accrued interest	25,027		14,646
Other	48,734		36,606
Total accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	525,627	$	456,999