Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Revenues
Oil and natural gas revenues	$ 29,163,667	$ 13,698,578
Realized gain on derivatives	3,062,700	1,849,750
Unrealized loss on derivatives	(3,269,652)	(1,668,115)
Total revenues	28,956,715	13,880,213
Expenses
Production taxes and marketing	2,164,486	1,299,557
Lease operating	4,645,200	1,605,092
Depletion, depreciation and amortization	11,205,450	7,111,211
Accretion of asset retirement obligations	52,750	39,220
Full-cost ceiling impairment		35,673,098
General and administrative	3,789,424	2,618,591
Total expenses	21,857,310	48,346,769
Operating income (loss)	7,099,405	(34,466,556)
Other income (expense)
Interest expense	(307,824)	(106,465)
Interest and other income	72,827	71,099
Total other expense	(234,997)	(35,366)
Income (loss) before income taxes	6,864,408	(34,501,922)
Income tax provision (benefit)
Deferred	3,063,832	(6,906,257)
Total income tax provision (benefit)	3,063,832	(6,906,257)
Net income (loss)	$ 3,800,576	$ (27,595,665)
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic	50,016,022	42,655,280
Diluted	50,085,289	42,655,280
Class A [Member]
Earnings (loss) per common share
Basic	$ 0.08	$ (0.65)
Diluted	$ 0.08	$ (0.65)
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic	49,596,946	41,624,580
Diluted	49,666,213	41,624,580
Class B [Member]
Earnings (loss) per common share
Basic	$ 0.15	$ (0.58)
Diluted	$ 0.15	$ (0.58)
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic	419,076	1,030,700
Diluted	419,076	1,030,700