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Property and Equipment
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Property and Equipment [Abstract]  
Property and Equipment
6.         Property and Equipment
The amounts capitalized as oil and natural gas properties were incurred for the purchase, exploration and ongoing development of various properties.
 
   
December 31, 2011
$
  
December 31, 2010
$
 
        
Oil and natural gas properties (using the full-cost method)
      
Unproved properties
  43,540,400   47,715,032 
Proved properties
  30,348,218   17,702,000 
Total oil and natural gas properties
  73,888,618   65,417,032 
Building
  889,609   889,609 
Computer, office and other equipment
  625,277   602,917 
Total property and equipment
  75,403,504   66,909,558 
Accumulated impairment of oil and gas properties
  (30,757,015)  (23,887,015)
Accumulated depletion of oil and gas properties
  (1,394,200)  (1,060,700)
Accumulated depreciation of equipment
  (672,184)  (586,163)
Total property and equipment, net
  42,580,105   41,375,680 
 
The oil and natural gas properties consist of contract interests in 10 exploration blocks in India, 3 exploration licenses held in Israel and 2 exploration licenses held in Colombia.
 
The Company has capitalized $604,917 (2010 - $599,234) of general and administrative costs directly related to exploration activities, including $234,568 (2010 - $252,335) of stock-based compensation expense.  In addition, the Company has capitalized $40,088 (2010 - $56,943) of support equipment depreciation.
 
Impairment of Oil and Gas Properties
The Company performed a ceiling test calculation at December 31, 2011, to assess the ceiling limitation of its proved oil and natural gas properties.  At December 31, 2011, the Company's net capitalized cost proved oil and natural gas properties did exceed the ceiling test.  Accordingly, for the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company charged $6,870,000 (December 31, 2010 - $13,789,000 and December 31, 2009 - $nil) to the statement of operations for impairment charges.   The impairment charge of $6,870,000 was recognized in the fourth quarter of 2011 as a result of ceiling limitation as at December 31, 2011.