Legal Proceedings	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Disclosure Legal Proceedings [Abstract]
Legal Proceedings [Text Block]	8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: The commencement of the chapter 11 proceedings automatically stayed certain actions against the Company, including actions to collect prepetition liabilities or to exercise control over the property of the Company’s bankruptcy estates, and the Company has obtained from the Bankruptcy Court authority to pay certain prepetition claims in the ordinary course of business notwithstanding the commencement of the chapter 11 proceedings. A future plan of reorganization in the chapter 11 proceedings, when confirmed, will provide for the treatment of claims against the Company’s bankruptcy estates, including prepetition liabilities that have not otherwise been satisfied or addressed during the chapter 11 proceedings. Indebtedness Claims The chapter 11 filings by the Company and its various subsidiaries, including Ultra Resources, constituted events of default under the Company’s debt agreements. See Note 3 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for more information about the debt agreements. On or around September 1, 2016, many of the holders of this indebtedness filed proofs of claim with the Bankruptcy Court, asserting claims for the outstanding balance of the indebtedness, unpaid interest that had accrued by the petition dates, interest that has accrued since the petition dates (including interest at the default rates under the debt agreements), make-whole amounts, and other fees and obligations under the debt agreements. At this time, we are not able to determine the likelihood or range of amounts attributable to claims for postpetition interest, make-whole amounts, or other fees and obligations under the debt agreements. We anticipate these claims will be resolved during our chapter 11 proceedings, although it is possible resolution of some of these matters could occur after we emerge from chapter 11. Rockies Express Pipeline On February 26, 2016, we received a letter from Sempra Rockies Marketing, LLC (“Sempra”) alleging that we were in breach of our Capacity Release Agreement, dated March 5, 2009 (the “Capacity Agreement”), resulting from nonpayment of fees for transportation service and notifying us that Sempra was authorized to recall the capacity released to us under the Capacity Agreement and to pursue any claims for damages or other remedies to which Sempra was entitled. On March 8, 2016, we received a letter from Sempra notifying us that Sempra was exercising its alleged right to permanently recall the 50,000 MMBtu/day of capacity on the Rockies Express Pipeline pursuant to the Capacity Agreement and that the recall would be effective as of March 9, 2016. On August 25, 2016, Sempra filed a proof of claim with the Bankruptcy Court for $63.8 million. We intend to object to Sempra’s proof of claim. Our estimate of the potential exposure in connection with the Capacity Agreement and Sempra’s claim filed in our chapter 11 proceedings ranges from $4.2 million, which represents amounts Sempra paid to Rockies Express attributable to the capacity released to us under the Capacity Agreement prior to Sempra’s recalling such capacity, to $63.8 million. We anticipate Sempra’s claims will be resolved through our chapter 11 proceedings. On April 4, 2016, we received a demand for payment and notice of enforcement from Rockies Express Pipeline LLC (“Rockies Express”) in connection with the transportation agreement related to the Rockies Express Pipeline, pursuant to which Rockies Express demanded payment from us of $303.2 million by April 20, 2016. On April 14, 2016, Rockies Express filed a lawsuit against us in Harris County, Texas alleging breach of contract and seeking damages related to the alleged breach. On August 26, 2016, Rockies Express filed a proof of claim with the Bankruptcy Court for $303.3 million. We intend to object to Rockies Express’ proof of claim. Our estimate of the potential exposure in connection with the Rockies Express lawsuit and proof of claim ranges from approximately $19.0 million, which represents accrued, unpaid invoices during the first quarter prior to contract termination, to $303.3 million, which excludes potential interest, court costs and attorney fees. Rockies Express is a member of our official committee of unsecured creditors. We anticipate Rockies Express’ claims will be resolved through our chapter 11 proceedings. Royalties On April 19, 2016, the Company received a preliminary determination notice from the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (“ONRR”) asserting that the Company’s allocation of certain processing costs and plant fuel use at certain processing plants were impermissibly charged as deductions in the determination of royalties owed under Federal oil and gas leases. During the second quarter of 2016, the Company responded to the preliminary determination asserting the reasonableness of its allocation methodology of such costs, noting several matters we believed should have been considered in the preliminary determination notice. The ONRR unbundling review could ultimately result in an order for payment of additional royalties under the Company’s Federal oil and gas leases for current and prior periods. The Company is not able to determine the likelihood or range of any additional royalties or, if and when assessed, whether such amounts would be material. Oil Sales Contract On April 29, 2016, the Company received a letter from counsel to Sunoco Partners Marketing & Terminals L.P. (“SPMT”) asserting that (1) the Company had breached, by anticipatory repudiation, a contract for the purchase and sale of crude oil between Ultra Resources and SPMT and (2) the contract was terminated. In the letter, SPMT demanded payment for damages resulting from the breach in the amount of $38.6 million. On August 31, 2016, SPMT filed a proof of claim with the Bankruptcy Court for $16.9 million. We dispute SPMT’s positions in the letter and its proof of claim, and we intend to object to SPMT’s proof of claim. At this time, we are not able to determine the likelihood or range of damages owed to SPMT, if any, related to this matter, or, if and when such amounts are assessed, whether such amounts would be material. SPMT is a member of our official committee of unsecured creditors. We anticipate SPMT’s claims will be resolved through our chapter 11 proceedings. On April 26, 2016, Big West Oil LLC (“Big West”) and the Company entered into a Temporary Suspension of Contracts and Interim Crude Oil Purchase and Sale Agreement. Pursuant to the Interim Purchase Agreement, for a period of 180 days after the Petition Date (“Suspension Period”), the parties suspended performance under the Crude Contracts, provided that the Company would sell and deliver crude oil to Big West during the suspension period. On October 10, 2016, Big West and the Company entered an extension of the Suspension Period through January 21, 2017. On August 30, 2016, Big West filed a proof of claim with the Bankruptcy Court for $32.6 million related to lost profits associated with the Interim Purchase Agreement. We intend to object to Big West’s proof of claim. At this time, we are not able to determine the likelihood or range of damages owed to Big West, if any, or, if and when such amounts are assessed, whether such amounts would be material. We anticipate Big West’s claims will be resolved through our chapter 11 proceedings. Other Claims The Company is currently involved in various routine disputes and allegations incidental to its business operations. While it is not possible to determine the ultimate disposition of these matters, the Company believes that the resolution of all such pending or threatened litigation is not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

The commencement of the chapter 11 proceedings automatically stayed certain actions against the Company, including actions to collect prepetition liabilities or to exercise control over the property of the Company’s bankruptcy estates, and the Company has obtained from the Bankruptcy Court authority to pay certain prepetition claims in the ordinary course of business notwithstanding the commencement of the chapter 11 proceedings. A future plan of reorganization in the chapter 11 proceedings, when confirmed, will provide for the treatment of claims against the Company’s bankruptcy estates, including prepetition liabilities that have not otherwise been satisfied or addressed during the chapter 11 proceedings.

Indebtedness Claims

The chapter 11 filings by the Company and its various subsidiaries, including Ultra Resources, constituted events of default under the Company’s debt agreements. See Note 3 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for more information about the debt agreements. On or around September 1, 2016, many of the holders of this indebtedness filed proofs of claim with the Bankruptcy Court, asserting claims for the outstanding balance of the indebtedness, unpaid interest that had accrued by the petition dates, interest that has accrued since the petition dates (including interest at the default rates under the debt agreements), make-whole amounts, and other fees and obligations under the debt agreements. At this time, we are not able to determine the likelihood or range of amounts attributable to claims for postpetition interest, make-whole amounts, or other fees and obligations under the debt agreements. We anticipate these claims will be resolved during our chapter 11 proceedings, although it is possible resolution of some of these matters could occur after we emerge from chapter 11.

Rockies Express Pipeline

On February 26, 2016, we received a letter from Sempra Rockies Marketing, LLC (“Sempra”) alleging that we were in breach of our Capacity Release Agreement, dated March 5, 2009 (the “Capacity Agreement”), resulting from nonpayment of fees for transportation service and notifying us that Sempra was authorized to recall the capacity released to us under the Capacity Agreement and to pursue any claims for damages or other remedies to which Sempra was entitled. On March 8, 2016, we received a letter from Sempra notifying us that Sempra was exercising its alleged right to permanently recall the 50,000 MMBtu/day of capacity on the Rockies Express Pipeline pursuant to the Capacity Agreement and that the recall would be effective as of March 9, 2016. On August 25, 2016, Sempra filed a proof of claim with the Bankruptcy Court for $63.8 million. We intend to object to Sempra’s proof of claim. Our estimate of the potential exposure in connection with the Capacity Agreement and Sempra’s claim filed in our chapter 11 proceedings ranges from $4.2 million, which represents amounts Sempra paid to Rockies Express attributable to the capacity released to us under the Capacity Agreement prior to Sempra’s recalling such capacity, to $63.8 million. We anticipate Sempra’s claims will be resolved through our chapter 11 proceedings.

On April 4, 2016, we received a demand for payment and notice of enforcement from Rockies Express Pipeline LLC (“Rockies Express”) in connection with the transportation agreement related to the Rockies Express Pipeline, pursuant to which Rockies Express demanded payment from us of $303.2 million by April 20, 2016.

On April 14, 2016, Rockies Express filed a lawsuit against us in Harris County, Texas alleging breach of contract and seeking damages related to the alleged breach. On August 26, 2016, Rockies Express filed a proof of claim with the Bankruptcy Court for $303.3 million. We intend to object to Rockies Express’ proof of claim. Our estimate of the potential exposure in connection with the Rockies Express lawsuit and proof of claim ranges from approximately $19.0 million, which represents accrued, unpaid invoices during the first quarter prior to contract termination, to $303.3 million, which excludes potential interest, court costs and attorney fees. Rockies Express is a member of our official committee of unsecured creditors. We anticipate Rockies Express’ claims will be resolved through our chapter 11 proceedings.

Royalties

On April 19, 2016, the Company received a preliminary determination notice from the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (“ONRR”) asserting that the Company’s allocation of certain processing costs and plant fuel use at certain processing plants were impermissibly charged as deductions in the determination of royalties owed under Federal oil and gas leases. During the second quarter of 2016, the Company responded to the preliminary determination asserting the reasonableness of its allocation methodology of such costs, noting several matters we believed should have been considered in the preliminary determination notice. The ONRR unbundling review could ultimately result in an order for payment of additional royalties under the Company’s Federal oil and gas leases for current and prior periods. The Company is not able to determine the likelihood or range of any additional royalties or, if and when assessed, whether such amounts would be material.

Oil Sales Contract

On April 29, 2016, the Company received a letter from counsel to Sunoco Partners Marketing & Terminals L.P. (“SPMT”) asserting that (1) the Company had breached, by anticipatory repudiation, a contract for the purchase and sale of crude oil between Ultra Resources and SPMT and (2) the contract was terminated. In the letter, SPMT demanded payment for damages resulting from the breach in the amount of $38.6 million. On August 31, 2016, SPMT filed a proof of claim with the Bankruptcy Court for $16.9 million. We dispute SPMT’s positions in the letter and its proof of claim, and we intend to object to SPMT’s proof of claim. At this time, we are not able to determine the likelihood or range of damages owed to SPMT, if any, related to this matter, or, if and when such amounts are assessed, whether such amounts would be material. SPMT is a member of our official committee of unsecured creditors. We anticipate SPMT’s claims will be resolved through our chapter 11 proceedings.

On April 26, 2016, Big West Oil LLC (“Big West”) and the Company entered into a Temporary Suspension of Contracts and Interim Crude Oil Purchase and Sale Agreement. Pursuant to the Interim Purchase Agreement, for a period of 180 days after the Petition Date (“Suspension Period”), the parties suspended performance under the Crude Contracts, provided that the Company would sell and deliver crude oil to Big West during the suspension period. On October 10, 2016, Big West and the Company entered an extension of the Suspension Period through January 21, 2017. On August 30, 2016, Big West filed a proof of claim with the Bankruptcy Court for $32.6 million related to lost profits associated with the Interim Purchase Agreement. We intend to object to Big West’s proof of claim. At this time, we are not able to determine the likelihood or range of damages owed to Big West, if any, or, if and when such amounts are assessed, whether such amounts would be material. We anticipate Big West’s claims will be resolved through our chapter 11 proceedings.

Other Claims

The Company is currently involved in various routine disputes and allegations incidental to its business operations. While it is not possible to determine the ultimate disposition of these matters, the Company believes that the resolution of all such pending or threatened litigation is not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.