Consolidated Statement of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Revenues [Abstract]
Natural gas sales	$ 170,996	$ 188,457	$ 425,878	$ 536,477
Oil sales	28,257	34,046	79,352	113,332
Oil and Gas Revenue	199,253	222,503	505,230	649,809
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Lease operating expenses	19,934	28,567	67,164	82,464
LGS operating lease expense	5,171	5,162	15,514	15,485
Production taxes	20,688	19,813	49,394	56,892
Gathering fees	21,159	23,114	65,112	65,359
Transportation charges	49	21,310	23,750	62,577
Depletion, depreciation and amoritzation	31,192	92,806	93,274	279,762
General and administrative	1,595	4,567	7,196	10,629
Costs and Expenses	99,788	195,339	321,404	573,168
Operating Income (Loss)	99,465	27,164	183,826	76,641
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Interest expense (excludes contractual interest expense of $46.8 million and $78.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively)	0	(43,137)	(66,565)	(128,426)
Gain (loss) on commodity derivatives	0	9,390	0	42,608
Deferred gain on sale of liquids gathering system	2,638	2,638	7,915	7,915
Litigation expense	0	0	0	(4,401)
Restructuring expenses	(28)	0	(7,176)	0
Other income (expense), net	(514)	(284)	(2,436)	(323)
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	2,096	(31,393)	(68,262)	(82,627)
Reorganization items, net	(3,109)	0	(25,292)	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	98,452	(4,229)	90,272	(5,986)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	45	(1,133)	(305)	(3,405)
Net Income (Loss)	$ 98,407	$ (3,096)	$ 90,577	$ (2,581)
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.64	$ (0.02)	$ 0.59	$ (0.02)
Fully Diluted Earnings per Share:
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.64	$ (0.02)	$ 0.59	$ (0.02)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	153,392	153,250	153,368	153,171
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	154,121	153,250	154,077	153,171