Business Segments - Summary of Operations in Different Segments (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 12,442,028	$ 27,220,818
Income (Loss) from operations	(13,028,115)	(1,349,283)
Interest expense	18,959,717	19,782,603
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	8,781,939	9,702,192
Property and equipment acquisitions, including oil and gas properties	7,164,524	32,717,617
Total assets, net of intercompany accounts	96,863,091	111,769,145
Operating Segments [Member] | Exploration and Production [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	12,261,539	26,969,359
Income (Loss) from operations	(8,024,877)	11,187,962
Interest expense	18,953,219	19,776,017
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	8,710,067	9,701,086
Property and equipment acquisitions, including oil and gas properties	7,159,356	32,709,147
Total assets, net of intercompany accounts	96,815,769	111,755,587
Operating Segments [Member] | Pipeline Transmission [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	151,080	161,975
Income (Loss) from operations	46,978	(172)
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	1,000	1,106
Total assets, net of intercompany accounts	47,322	13,558
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	29,409	89,484
Income (Loss) from operations	(5,050,216)	(12,537,073)
Interest expense	6,498	6,586
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	70,872
Property and equipment acquisitions, including oil and gas properties	$ 5,168	$ 8,470