Interest And Other Income (Interest And Other Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Third-party income from vertical integration services	$ 45,115	[1]	$ 169	[1]		[1]
Alaskan Petroleum Production Tax credits and refunds	38,939	[2]	47,652	[2]	94,989	[2]
Equity interest in income (loss) of EFS Midstream	7,868		(819)
Other income	3,937		4,565		3,631
Deferred compensation plan income	1,657		1,228		1,034
Interest income	697		4,177		1,935
Total interest and other income	101,960		56,972		101,589
Eagle Ford Shale [Member]
Eagle Ford Shale land fees	$ 3,747

[1] Third-party income from vertical integration services represents the third-party working interests' share of earnings associated with Company-provided fracture stimulation, drilling and related services.

[2] The Company earns Alaskan Petroleum Production Tax ("PPT") credits on qualifying capital expenditures. The Company recognizes income from PPT credits when they are realized through cash refunds or as reductions in production and ad valorem taxes if realizable as offsets to PPT expense.