Consolidated Statement of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Natural gas sales									$ 609,756	$ 696,730	$ 969,850
Oil sales									111,335	142,381	260,170
Total operating revenues	$ 215,861	$ 199,253	$ 146,591	$ 159,386	$ 189,301	$ 222,503	$ 207,998	$ 219,309	721,091	839,111	1,230,020
Expenses:
Lease operating expenses									89,134	106,906	96,496
Liquids gathering system operating lease expense									20,686	20,647	20,306
Production taxes									69,737	72,774	103,898
Gathering fees									86,809	87,904	59,931
Transportation charges									20,049	83,803	77,780
Depletion and depreciation									125,121	401,200	292,951
Ceiling test and other impairments	0	0	0	0	3,144,899	0	0	0	0	3,144,899	0
General and Administrative Expense									9,179	7,387	19,069
Total operating expenses									420,715	3,925,520	670,431
Operating income (loss)									300,376	(3,086,409)	559,589
Other income (expense), net:
Interest Expense Debt	0	0	(16,662)	(49,903)	43,494	43,137	42,619	42,668	(66,565)	(171,918)	(126,157)
Gain (loss) on commodity derivatives	0	0	0	0	2	9,390	(3,646)	36,865	0	42,611	82,402
Deferred gain on sale of liquids gathering system									10,553	10,553	10,553
Litigation expense									0	(4,401)	0
Restructuring expenses	0	(28)	(1,569)	(5,579)					(7,176)	0	0
Contract Settlement	(131,106)	0	0	0					(131,106)	0	0
Gain on sale of property									0	0	8,022
Other income (expense) net									(3,082)	(2,060)	2,618
Total other income (expense), net	(129,113)	2,096	(15,820)	(54,539)					(197,376)	(125,215)	(22,562)
Reorganization items, net	(22,211)	(3,109)	(22,183)	0					(47,503)	0	0
Income (loss) before income tax (benefit)	(34,776)	98,452	13,842	(22,021)	(3,205,639)	(4,229)	(24,923)	23,167	55,497	(3,211,624)	537,027
Income tax (benefit)	(349)	45	(160)	(190)	(999)	(1,133)	(250)	(2,022)	(654)	(4,404)	(5,824)
Net income (loss)	$ (34,427)	$ 98,407	$ 14,002	$ (21,831)	$ (3,204,640)	$ (3,096)	$ (24,673)	$ 25,189	$ 56,151	$ (3,207,220)	$ 542,851
Basic Earnings (Loss) per Share:
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ (0.22)	$ 0.64	$ 0.09	$ (0.14)	$ (20.91)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.16)	$ 0.16	$ 0.37	$ (20.94)	$ 3.54
Fully Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share:
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ (0.22)	$ 0.64	$ 0.09	$ (0.14)	$ (20.91)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.16)	$ 0.16	$ 0.36	$ (20.94)	$ 3.51
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic									153,378	153,192	153,136
Weighted average common shares outstanding - fully diluted									154,081	153,192	154,694