Consolidated Statement of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Revenues [Abstract]
Natural gas sales	$ 234,785	$ 140,836	$ 436,985	$ 331,876
Oil sales	26,591	29,434	50,018	64,537
Oil and Gas Revenue	261,376	170,270	487,003	396,413
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Lease operating expenses	17,514	12,239	36,331	29,241
LGS operating lease expense	5,000	0	10,000	0
Production taxes	20,006	13,367	36,561	31,587
Gathering fees	13,834	16,766	25,718	36,318
Transportation charges	20,649	21,366	40,958	42,422
Depletion, depreciation and amoritzation	60,123	114,767	121,591	227,469
Ceiling test and other impairments	0	1,869,136	0	1,869,136
General and administrative	5,876	7,559	11,837	12,567
Costs and Expenses	143,002	2,055,200	282,996	2,248,740
Operating Income (Loss)	118,374	(1,884,930)	204,007	(1,852,327)
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Interest Expense, Debt	(25,238)	(18,748)	(51,002)	(37,046)
Gain (loss) on commodity derivatives	22,091	(33,287)	(22,624)	86,996
Deferred gain on sale of liquids gathering system	2,636	0	5,276	0
Contract Cancellation Fees	0	(4,666)	0	(9,512)
Other income (expense) net	5	7	13	14
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(506)	(56,694)	(68,337)	40,452
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest	117,868	(1,941,624)	135,670	(1,811,875)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	1,491	(754,642)	2,859	(709,152)
Net Income (Loss)	$ 116,377	$ (1,186,982)	$ 132,811	$ (1,102,723)
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.76	$ (7.76)	$ 0.87	$ (7.22)
Fully Diluted Earnings per Share:
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.75	$ (7.76)	$ 0.86	$ (7.22)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	152,948	152,921	152,947	152,761
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	154,513	152,921	154,397	152,761