Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Contingencies [Abstract]
Contingencies	17. Contingencies GSPC Dispute GSPC, the Operator of the KG Offshore Block in which the Company has a net 5% carried interest, has been seeking from the Company, payment of its pro rata portion of the amount by which the sums expended by GSPC under all phases for the minimum work program as set forth in the PSC for the KG Offshore Block in carrying out exploration activities on the block exceeds the amount that GSPC deems to be the Company's pro rata portion of a financial commitment under all phases included in the parties' joint bid for the award of the KG Offshore Block by the Government of India. GSPC contends that this excess amount is not within the terms of the Carried Interest Agreement and asserts that the Company is required to pay 10% of the exploration expenses over and above gross costs of $109.7 million (10% being $10.97 million) (including the net 5% interest of Roy Group (Mauritius) Inc.) plus interest. GSPC advised the Company on November 5, 2008 that the minimum work program for the KG Offshore Block had been completed in September 2008. Further, GSPC elected to undertake an additional work program over and above the minimum work program as either Joint Operations or as Exclusive Operations under the terms of the PSC and advised that the Company must elect whether to participate in these additional exploration activities as a Joint Operation or alternatively, GSPC would conduct these drilling activities as Exclusive Operations, as defined in the PSC. On November 13, 2008 the Company advised GSPC that it exercised its right to participate in the drilling operations proposed in the November 5, 2008 GSPC letter as a Joint Operation under the terms of the PSC and Joint Operating Agreement and pursuant to the terms of our Carried Interest Agreement with GSPC. As such, the Company continues to be of the view that it is carried for 100% of its entire share of any and all costs during the additional exploration phase prior to the start of initial commercial production and that the Carried Interest Agreement extends through the exploration period of the PSC. In August 2010 GSPC advised the Company that it is of the view that the technical and other advice provided by the Company in the preparation of the parties' original bid document submitted to the Government of India in 2002 under NELP-III has proven to be incorrect causing GSPC's costs in the project to exceed its estimate. GSPC asserts that by reason of the foregoing the Carried Interest Agreement between the parties is void and consequently the PSC to which the Government of India is party and the Joint Operating Agreement are also void. The Company has advised GSPC that under the terms of the Carried Interest Agreement (the terms of which are also incorporated into the PSC and the Joint Operating Agreement) they have no right to such payment under the Carried Interest Agreement. The Company has advised GSPC that the Company fulfilled its obligations under the Carried Interest Agreement to provide extensive technical assistance without any further remuneration other than the carried interest, all in accordance with the terms of the Carried Interest Agreement. The Company obtained the opinion of Indian legal counsel who has advised that under the terms of the agreements between the parties, and in particular the Carried Interest Agreement, the Company is not liable to pay any amount to GSPC for costs or expenses incurred or otherwise before reaching the stage of commercial production. The Company disputes these positions of GSPC and the conclusions reached by GSPC and continues to state that the Company holds a gross 10% interest in the KG Offshore Block (including the 5% interest of Roy Group (Mauritius) Inc.). In a KG Offshore Block Management Committee meeting held in October, 2010, the Management Committee (of which the Government of India is a member) advised GSPC to resolve these issues with the Company at the earliest and requested GSPC to maintain the status quo until the issues are resolved. Based upon the audited accounts of the joint venture for the KG Offshore Block, the total costs incurred to March 31, 2010 were $1.447 billion (10% being $144.7 million of which 50% is for the account of Roy Group (Mauritius) Inc.). Further, based upon the budget for the fiscal year April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011 and fiscal year April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012, total costs projected for the period April 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011 were $1.183 billion (10% being $118.33 million). Therefore, management estimates that the amount of GSPC's claim as of December 31, 2011 to be approximately $263.03 million plus interest, if any, of which 50% is for the account of Roy Group (Mauritius) Inc. The Company disputes this assertion of GSPC. The Company believes that the likelihood of an unfavourable outcome of this dispute is remote and accordingly, as at December 31, 2011, no amount has been accrued in the consolidated financial statements. However, the fact of the dispute has been disclosed. The Company intends to vigorously protect its contractual rights in accordance with the dispute resolution process under the Carried Interest Agreement, the PSC and the Joint Operating Agreement as may be appropriate. In September 2007, the Company commenced discussions with GSPC in an effort to reach an amicable resolution. A number of draft settlement proposals have been put forward by the Company to GSPC seeking to settle this dispute amicably. Subsequent to the October 2010 Management Committee meeting the Company's management has again met with senior management of GSPC to continue its effort to reach an amicable resolution. However, no settlement agreement has been reached as of March 29, 2012 and there can be no assurance that this matter will be settled amicably. Export Development Canada In the second quarter of 2011, Export Development Canada (EDC) commenced providing the performance security guarantees on behalf of the Company against the bank guarantees provided to the Government of India for the period of April 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012. These bank guarantees are in the form of irrevocable letters of credit and are provided to the Government of India in the amount of 35% of the participant's share of the minimum work program for a particular phase and serve as guarantees for the performance of such minimum work programs. In consideration of EDC providing the performance security guarantees, the Company has agreed to fully indemnify EDC against all claims and demands made in respect of these performance security guarantees.

17. Contingencies

GSPC Dispute

GSPC, the Operator of the KG Offshore Block in which the Company has a net 5% carried interest, has been seeking from the Company, payment of its pro rata portion of the amount by which the sums expended by GSPC under all phases for the minimum work program as set forth in the PSC for the KG Offshore Block in carrying out exploration activities on the block exceeds the amount that GSPC deems to be the Company's pro rata portion of a financial commitment under all phases included in the parties' joint bid for the award of the KG Offshore Block by the Government of India.

GSPC contends that this excess amount is not within the terms of the Carried Interest Agreement and asserts that the Company is required to pay 10% of the exploration expenses over and above gross costs of $109.7 million (10% being $10.97 million) (including the net 5% interest of Roy Group (Mauritius) Inc.) plus interest.

GSPC advised the Company on November 5, 2008 that the minimum work program for the KG Offshore Block had been completed in September 2008. Further, GSPC elected to undertake an additional work program over and above the minimum work program as either Joint Operations or as Exclusive Operations under the terms of the PSC and advised that the Company must elect whether to participate in these additional exploration activities as a Joint Operation or alternatively, GSPC would conduct these drilling activities as Exclusive Operations, as defined in the PSC.

On November 13, 2008 the Company advised GSPC that it exercised its right to participate in the drilling operations proposed in the November 5, 2008 GSPC letter as a Joint Operation under the terms of the PSC and Joint Operating Agreement and pursuant to the terms of our Carried Interest Agreement with GSPC. As such, the Company continues to be of the view that it is carried for 100% of its entire share of any and all costs during the additional exploration phase prior to the start of initial commercial production and that the Carried Interest Agreement extends through the exploration period of the PSC.

In August 2010 GSPC advised the Company that it is of the view that the technical and other advice provided by the Company in the preparation of the parties' original bid document submitted to the Government of India in 2002 under NELP-III has proven to be incorrect causing GSPC's costs in the project to exceed its estimate. GSPC asserts that by reason of the foregoing the Carried Interest Agreement between the parties is void and consequently the PSC to which the Government of India is party and the Joint Operating Agreement are also void.

The Company has advised GSPC that under the terms of the Carried Interest Agreement (the terms of which are also incorporated into the PSC and the Joint Operating Agreement) they have no right to such payment under the Carried Interest Agreement. The Company has advised GSPC that the Company fulfilled its obligations under the Carried Interest Agreement to provide extensive technical assistance without any further remuneration other than the carried interest, all in accordance with the terms of the Carried Interest Agreement. The Company obtained the opinion of Indian legal counsel who has advised that under the terms of the agreements between the parties, and in particular the Carried Interest Agreement, the Company is not liable to pay any amount to GSPC for costs or expenses incurred or otherwise before reaching the stage of commercial production.

The Company disputes these positions of GSPC and the conclusions reached by GSPC and continues to state that the Company holds a gross 10% interest in the KG Offshore Block (including the 5% interest of Roy Group (Mauritius) Inc.). In a KG Offshore Block Management Committee meeting held in October, 2010, the Management Committee (of which the Government of India is a member) advised GSPC to resolve these issues with the Company at the earliest and requested GSPC to maintain the status quo until the issues are resolved.

Based upon the audited accounts of the joint venture for the KG Offshore Block, the total costs incurred to March 31, 2010 were $1.447 billion (10% being $144.7 million of which 50% is for the account of Roy Group (Mauritius) Inc.). Further, based upon the budget for the fiscal year April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011 and fiscal year April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012, total costs projected for the period April 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011 were $1.183 billion (10% being $118.33 million). Therefore, management estimates that the amount of GSPC's claim as of December 31, 2011 to be approximately $263.03 million plus interest, if any, of which 50% is for the account of Roy Group (Mauritius) Inc. The Company disputes this assertion of GSPC. The Company believes that the likelihood of an unfavourable outcome of this dispute is remote and accordingly, as at December 31, 2011, no amount has been accrued in the consolidated financial statements. However, the fact of the dispute has been disclosed.

The Company intends to vigorously protect its contractual rights in accordance with the dispute resolution process under the Carried Interest Agreement, the PSC and the Joint Operating Agreement as may be appropriate. In September 2007, the Company commenced discussions with GSPC in an effort to reach an amicable resolution. A number of draft settlement proposals have been put forward by the Company to GSPC seeking to settle this dispute amicably. Subsequent to the October 2010 Management Committee meeting the Company's management has again met with senior management of GSPC to continue its effort to reach an amicable resolution. However, no settlement agreement has been reached as of March 29, 2012 and there can be no assurance that this matter will be settled amicably.

Export Development Canada

In the second quarter of 2011, Export Development Canada (EDC) commenced providing the performance security guarantees on behalf of the Company against the bank guarantees provided to the Government of India for the period of April 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012. These bank guarantees are in the form of irrevocable letters of credit and are provided to the Government of India in the amount of 35% of the participant's share of the minimum work program for a particular phase and serve as guarantees for the performance of such minimum work programs.

In consideration of EDC providing the performance security guarantees, the Company has agreed to fully indemnify EDC against all claims and demands made in respect of these performance security guarantees.