Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$ (7,977,752)	$ (4,600,476)	$ (35,554,455)	$ (10,414,022)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion			12,288,835	5,371,023
Amortization of financing costs and debt discount			4,269,825	2,080,632
Share-based compensation			289,113	817,030
Professional fees paid by common stock issuance			780,019	270,000
Gain on sale of assets	(3,083)		(133,083)
Interest and legal expense added to principal			17,194,747	4,917,077
Total gain on commodity derivatives			(703,371)	(9,770,324)
Cash settlement of commodity derivatives			2,992,891	14,238,371
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Changes in restricted cash			213,077	(786,581)
Accounts receivable, trade			(665,409)	1,662,134
Accounts receivable due from operator			(258,892)
Accounts receivable, related party			18,500
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(138,524)	(64,152)
Other assets			(1,552)	(1,528)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses			(175,862)	(2,873,250)
Accounts payable due to operator			(548,086)	(6,031,736)
Environmental settlement and related costs			(250,000)	(1,600,000)
Deferred revenue			(62,510)
Revenue payable			142	9,492
Net cash used in operating activities			(444,595)	(2,175,834)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sale of assets			150,000
Expenditures for oil and gas properties			223,820	(114,515)
Expenditures for property and equipment			(13,303)	(5,168)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			360,517	(119,683)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Financing costs paid				(1,436,218)
Payments on notes payable				(796,313)
Proceeds from notes payable				3,050,000
Stock options exercised				327,016
Net cash provided by financing activities				1,144,485
NET DECREASE IN CASH			(84,078)	(1,151,032)
CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD			473,081	1,585,530	$ 1,585,530
CASH, END OF PERIOD	$ 389,003	$ 434,498	389,003	434,498	$ 473,081
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES FOR CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Interest			2,091	6,282,782
Income taxes			0	0
NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Accrued expenditures for oil and gas properties			548,086	5,777,983
Increase in asset retirement obligation			$ 28,777	$ 34,116