Business Segments - Summary of Operations in Different Segments (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 2,711,121	$ 6,775,281	$ 10,806,588	$ 25,008,348
Income (Loss) from operations	(1,406,081)	(6,811,216)	(7,905,489)	(2,381,119)
Interest expense	6,117,014	3,458,384	12,280,494	17,342,493
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	979,566	2,533,032	5,371,023	6,815,570
Property and equipment acquisitions, including oil and gas properties	(79,082)	8,063,285	119,683	24,073,461
Total assets, net of intercompany accounts	101,385,324	11,769,145	101,385,324	11,769,145	$ 111,769,145
Operating Segments [Member] | Exploration and Production [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	2,662,511	6,667,618	10,668,175	24,816,633
Income (Loss) from operations	(675,929)	923,945	(4,207,934)	8,301,050
Interest expense	6,114,306	3,456,817	12,276,046	17,336,337
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	961,880	2,532,782	5,313,113	6,814,714
Property and equipment acquisitions, including oil and gas properties	(79,082)	8,056,902	114,515	24,064,991
Total assets, net of intercompany accounts	101,320,197	111,755,587	101,320,197	111,755,587
Operating Segments [Member] | Pipeline Transmission [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	45,845	44,256	129,734	121,875
Income (Loss) from operations	22,719	(21,715)	74,856	7,141
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	250	250	750	856
Total assets, net of intercompany accounts	65,127	13,558	65,127	13,558
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	2,765	63,407	8,679	69,840
Income (Loss) from operations	(752,871)	(7,713,446)	(3,772,411)	(10,689,310)
Interest expense	2,708	1,567	4,448	6,156
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	$ 17,436		57,160
Property and equipment acquisitions, including oil and gas properties		$ 6,383	$ 5,168	$ 8,470