CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended			112 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net loss	$ (12,607,841)	$ (18,788,624)	$ (4,424,247)	$ (57,092,888)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Accretion expense	53,209	41,289	55,619	182,319
Impairment of oil and gas properties	6,870,000	13,789,000	0	30,757,015
Depletion and depreciation	379,562	824,304	352,637	1,875,382
Gain on sale of equipment	0	0	0	(42,228)
Stock-based compensation (note 11)	659,978	717,629	918,685	8,208,194
Compensation option and warrant modification	0	0	264,000	504,000
Deferred income taxes benefit (expense)	(18,529)	61,000	0	42,471
Changes in non-cash working capital (note 19)	327,024	(711,636)	714,647	365,961
Total cash flows provided by (used in) operating activity	(4,336,597)	(4,067,038)	(2,118,659)	(15,199,774)
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:
Oil and natural gas property additions	(8,206,171)	(9,039,941)	(11,222,450)	(66,298,897)
Other property and equipment additions	(22,360)	(19,849)	(34,174)	(1,597,684)
Proceeds on sale of equipment	0	0	0	82,800
Cash acquired on acquisition	0	0	0	3,034,666
Restricted deposits (notes 4 and 20)	(33,326,075)	(127,000)	3,875,000	(41,548,075)
Investment in equity investee	(1,340,262)	0	0	(1,340,262)
Changes in non-cash working capital (note 19)	46,634,101	(3,276,259)	362,465	52,407,936
Total cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities	3,739,233	(12,463,049)	(7,019,159)	(55,259,516)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	3,951,993	8,450,000	0	88,014,158
Share issuance costs	(625,000)	(463,804)	0	(5,162,192)
Changes in non-cash working capital (note 19)	0	0	0	(1,911,942)
Total cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities	3,326,993	7,986,196	0	80,940,024
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	2,729,629	(8,543,891)	(9,137,818)	10,480,734
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year	7,751,105	16,294,996	25,432,814	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year	10,480,734	7,751,105	16,294,996	10,480,734
Cash and cash equivalents
Current bank accounts	9,680,413	158,879	163,280	9,680,413
Short term deposits	800,321	7,592,226	16,131,716	800,321
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year	10,480,734	7,751,105	16,294,996	10,480,734
Cash taxes paid during the year	$ 93,583	$ 73,775	$ 17,750