CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)		$ (757,744)	$ (447,710)	$ 666,051
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net gain on divestiture activity		(37,074)	(43,031)	(646)
Depletion, depreciation, amortization, and asset retirement obligation liability accretion		790,745	921,009	767,532
Exploratory dry hole expense		(16)	36,612	44,427
Impairment of proved properties		354,614	468,679	84,480
Abandonment and impairment of unproved properties		80,367	78,643	75,638
Impairment of other property and equipment		0	49,369	0
Stock-based compensation expense		26,897	27,467	32,694
Change In Net Profits Plan liability		(7,200)	(19,525)	(29,849)
Net derivative (gain) loss		250,633	(408,831)	(583,264)
Derivative settlement gain		329,478	512,566	12,615
Amortization of discount and deferred financing costs		9,938	7,710	6,146
Non-cash (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt		(15,722)	4,123	0
Deferred income taxes		(448,643)	(276,722)	397,780
Plugging and abandonment		(6,214)	(7,496)	(8,796)
Other, net		3,499	13,761	1,069
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(10,562)	140,200	24,088
Prepaid expenses and other		8,478	2,563	(1,822)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(53,210)	(86,267)	9,466
Accrued derivative settlements		34,540	5,232	(41,034)
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities		552,804	978,352	1,456,575
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net proceeds from the sale of oil and gas properties		946,062	357,938	43,858
Capital expenditures		(629,911)	(1,493,608)	(1,974,798)
Acquisition of proved and unproved oil and gas properties		(2,183,790)	(7,984)	(544,553)
Other, net		(3,000)	(985)	(3,256)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities		(1,870,639)	(1,144,639)	(2,478,749)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from credit facility		947,000	1,872,500	1,285,500
Repayment of credit facility		(1,149,000)	(1,836,500)	(1,119,500)
Debt issuance costs related to credit facility		(3,132)	0	(3,388)
Net proceeds from Senior Notes		491,640	490,951	589,991
Cash paid to repurchase Senior Notes		29,904	350,000	0
Net proceeds from Senior Convertible Notes		166,617	0	0
Cash paid for capped call transactions		(24,195)	0	0
Net proceeds from sale of common stock		938,268	4,844	4,877
Dividends paid		(7,751)	(6,772)	(6,723)
Net share settlement from issuance of stock awards		(2,354)	(8,678)	(10,624)
Other, net		0	(160)	(87)
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities		1,327,189	166,185	740,046
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		9,354	(102)	(282,128)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		18	120	282,248
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		9,372	18	120
Supplemental schedule of additional cash flow information and non-cash activities:
Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest		129,761	126,988	89,145
Net cash (refunded) paid for income taxes		(4,690)	1,630	1,936
Changes in capital expenditure accruals and other		8,044	(210,819)	130,143
Fair value of properties exchanged		733	0	6,164
Value of common stock from issuance of private placement for an asset acquisition	[1]	$ 437,194	$ 0	$ 0

[1] Refer to Note 3 - Acquisitions, Divestitures, and Assets Held for Sale and Note 15 - Equity for additional discussion.