Business Segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Operations in different segments
Revenue	$ 653,696	$ 5,314,257	$ 6,035,926	$ 10,838,672
Income (loss) from operations	(1,908,796)	906,717	(4,261,959)	12,742,279
Interest expense	1,659,934	367,004	3,530,819	1,217,121
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	550,759	1,360,678	2,303,807	3,764,598
Property and equipment acquisitions, including oil and gas properties	2,634,201	1,502,583	(18,122,746)	(15,110,857)
Total assets, net of intercompany accounts	73,788,980		73,788,980		58,225,817
Exploration and Production [Member]
Operations in different segments
Revenue	783,045	5,224,765	5,692,389	10,477,859
Income (loss) from operations	60,758	2,221,739	66,835	16,433,901
Interest expense	1,659,934	367,004	3,530,819	1,217,121
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	550,679	1,358,162	2,303,566	3,757,050
Property and equipment acquisitions, including oil and gas properties	2,634,201	1,502,583	16,974,319	13,817,963
Total assets, net of intercompany accounts	73,771,338		73,771,338		57,994,615
Pipeline Transmission [Member]
Operations in different segments
Revenue	98,288	57,745	285,976	302,788
Income (loss) from operations	52,174	55,224	159,047	295,180
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	80	2,516	241	7,548
Total assets, net of intercompany accounts	17,642		17,642		231,202
Corporate [Member]
Operations in different segments
Revenue	(227,637)	31,747	57,561	58,025
Income (loss) from operations	$ (2,021,728)	$ (1,370,246)	$ (4,487,841)	$ (3,986,802)