Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$ (11,407,519)	$ (6,936,662)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	2,365,280	2,303,807
Amortization of financing cost and debt discount	3,484,843	890,370
Share-based compensation	919,755	1,533,855
Loss (gain) on sale of assets	1,900	(112,898)
Interest and legal expense added to principal	3,329,349	557,226
Unrealized gain on warrant derivative	(595,245)	(780,317)
Unrealized gain on commodity derivative assets	(522,733)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, trade	(453,245)	428,703
Accounts receivable/payable, operator	(2,098,899)	(731,026)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(250,662)	(181,123)
Other assets	(1,471)	(250,487)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	1,646,322	(13,326,103)
Revenue payable	(75,659)	(89,282)
Accounts payable related party		(650)
Income tax payable		(4,493)
Net cash used by operating activities	(3,657,984)	(16,699,080)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sale of assets	2,625,025	328,466
Expenditures for oil and gas properties	(23,829,183)	(18,122,746)
Expenditures for property and equipment	(9,141)	(93,244)
Net cash used by investing activities	(21,213,299)	(17,887,524)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of warrant		2,000,000
Financing costs paid	(122,230)	(1,460,734)
Payments on notes payable	(16,212)	(14,869,435)
Proceeds from notes payable	25,000,000	47,043,307
Stock options exercised	13,750
Net cash provided by financing activities	24,875,308	32,713,138
NET CHANGE IN CASH	4,025	(1,873,466)
CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	1,009,084	7,885,652
CASH, END OF PERIOD	1,013,109	6,012,186
CASH PAID FOR:
Interest	4,482,229	2,676,218
Income taxes
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Accrued expenditures for oil and gas properties	1,112,214	1,211,010
Increase in asset retirement obligation	689	27,000
Accrued expenditures for debt financing	$ 401,625