Business Segments - Summary of Operations in Different Segments (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 2,496,302	$ 4,429,530
Income (Loss) from operations	(8,147,590)	(1,591,316)
Interest expense	6,892,608	3,115,737
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	7,262,821	1,802,830
Property and equipment acquisitions, including oil and gas properties	972,293	7,110,281
Total assets, net of intercompany accounts	85,880,121		$ 93,312,907
Operating Segments [Member] | Exploration and Production [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	2,476,706	4,385,037
Income (Loss) from operations	(7,315,451)	(421,576)
Interest expense	6,890,792	3,115,358
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	7,252,457	1,782,313
Property and equipment acquisitions, including oil and gas properties	972,293	7,108,042
Total assets, net of intercompany accounts	85,829,266		93,265,585
Operating Segments [Member] | Pipeline Transmission [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	19,463	42,716
Income (Loss) from operations	6,606	29,580
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	250	250
Total assets, net of intercompany accounts	50,855		$ 47,322
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	133	1,777
Income (Loss) from operations	(838,745)	(1,199,320)
Interest expense	1,816	379
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	$ 10,114	20,267
Property and equipment acquisitions, including oil and gas properties		$ 2,239