Basis of Financial Statement Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Basis Of Financial Statement Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Financing Fees Incurred			$ 110,365		$ 1,741,976
Amortization of financing cost	369,859	142,459	3,484,843	890,370
Written down on oil and gas properties					10,132,702
Current portion of the asset retirement obligation	0		0		0
Liabilities held for sale					247,955
Net operating loss carry forwards	44,300,000		44,300,000
Net operating loss expiration			Various dates through 2032
Current tax provision	0		0
Income tax benefit recorded by offsetting NOLs or Alternative Minimum Tax against valuation allowance description			No tax benefit has been recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the remaining NOLs or Alternative Minimum Tax ("AMT") credit since the potential tax benefit is offset by a valuation allowance of the same amount
Current income tax benefit		58,013		58,013
Valuation allowance			100.00%
Material unrecognized tax benefits	0		0
Tax penalties	0	0	0	0
Open Tax Year			2008
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001		$ 0.001		$ 0.001
Vesting of common shares on change in control and termination or demotion of President and Chairmen			85,000
Changes in severance payment of President of the Company and Chairman of the Board			These agreements provide that both individuals are entitled receive a severance payment equal to twice their annual salary and 85,000 vested common shares if there is a change in control of the Company and they are terminated or demoted. There are four other Company employees who received change in control agreements in 2013 that provide them severance payments equal to their salary for six to twenty four months and one employee would receive 50,000 vested common shares upon consummation of a change in control of the Company.
Stock issued on employee severance	13,319,978		13,319,978		13,238,228
Material imbalances	0		0		0
Compensation expenses related to stock awarded	283,892	517,370	919,755	1,533,855
Building [Member]
Basis Of Financial Statement Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Asset retirement obligation amortization period			39 years
Employee Severance [Member]
Basis Of Financial Statement Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Stock issued on employee severance	50,000		50,000
Marcellus Shale Wells [Member]
Basis Of Financial Statement Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Asset retirement obligation amortization period			50 years
Minimum [Member] | Vehicles, Machinery and Equipment [Member]
Basis Of Financial Statement Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Asset retirement obligation amortization period			5 years
Minimum [Member] | Pipelines and Other Related Equipment [Member]
Basis Of Financial Statement Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Asset retirement obligation amortization period			10 years
Maximum [Member]
Basis Of Financial Statement Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Civil penalties per day			37,500
Maximum [Member] | Vehicles, Machinery and Equipment [Member]
Basis Of Financial Statement Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Asset retirement obligation amortization period			10 years
Maximum [Member] | Pipelines and Other Related Equipment [Member]
Basis Of Financial Statement Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Asset retirement obligation amortization period			25 years
Opco [Member]
Basis Of Financial Statement Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Financing Fees Incurred			401,625
Amortization of financing cost			189,000
Opco [Member] | Cash [Member]
Basis Of Financial Statement Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Financing Fees Incurred			300,000
Opco [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
Basis Of Financial Statement Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Financing Fees Incurred			$ 101,625
Number of shares issued for settlement			37,500
Common stock, par value	$ 2.71		$ 2.71