Business Segments - Summary of Operations in Different Segments (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 4,429,530	$ 9,776,342
Income (Loss) from operations	(1,591,316)	3,168,243
Interest expense	3,115,737	4,131,193
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	1,802,830	2,111,726
Property and equipment acquisitions, including oil and gas Properties	7,110,281	1,986,807
Total assets, net of intercompany accounts	123,111,628		$ 111,769,145
Operating Segments [Member] | Exploration and Production [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	4,385,037	9,716,422
Income (Loss) from operations	(421,576)	4,554,604
Interest expense	3,115,358	4,127,501
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	1,782,313	2,111,370
Property and equipment acquisitions, including oil and gas Properties	7,108,042	1,986,807
Total assets, net of intercompany accounts	123,098,320		111,755,587
Operating Segments [Member] | Pipeline Transmission [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	42,716	54,789
Income (Loss) from operations	29,580	56,327
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	250	356
Total assets, net of intercompany accounts	13,308		$ 13,558
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	1,777	5,131
Income (Loss) from operations	(1,199,320)	(1,442,688)
Interest expense	379	$ 3,692
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	20,267
Property and equipment acquisitions, including oil and gas Properties	$ 2,239