CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$ (135,134,000)	$ (1,047,109,000)	$ (57,111,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by(used for) operating activities:
Loss on sale of oil and gas properties	14,315,000	112,085,000
Deferred income taxes	7,105,000	(155,249,000)	(24,677,000)
Dry hole costs, exploratory lease impairments and other exploration costs	84,144,000	70,694,000	19,003,000
Impairment of oil and gas properties	27,134,000	801,347,000	60,268,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	141,487,000	321,323,000	378,275,000
(Gain) loss on derivative financial instruments	5,356,000	(2,676,000)	(8,175,000)
Cash settlements of derivative financial instruments	2,120,000	1,230,000	9,145,000
Net gain on extinguishment of debt	(189,052,000)	(78,741,000)
Amortization of debt discount, premium and issuance costs	17,788,000	5,144,000	4,097,000
Interest paid in-kind	11,860,000
Stock-based compensation	4,660,000	8,149,000	10,697,000
Taxes related to equity award vesting		2,044,000	1,055,000
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable	(3,651,000)	30,248,000	2,221,000
Decrease (increase) in other current assets	169,000	8,112,000	(7,366,000)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses	(12,029,000)	(46,515,000)	13,552,000
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	(23,728,000)	30,086,000	400,984,000
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(57,424,000)	(264,210,000)	(634,787,000)
Proceeds from sales of oil and gas properties	27,855,000	102,485,000
Net cash used for investing activities	(29,569,000)	(161,725,000)	(634,787,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings		790,000,000	370,750,000
Principal payments on debt		(465,000,000)	(100,000,000)
Payments to retire debt	(3,397,000)	(42,655,000)
Debt and equity issuance costs	(11,108,000)	(16,201,000)	(2,524,000)
Tax withholdings related to equity awards	(313,000)	(526,000)	(2,349,000)
Repurchases of common stock	0	0	(8,086,000)
Taxes related to equity award vesting		(2,044,000)	(1,055,000)
Common stock warrants exercised	13,000
Dividends paid			(23,829,000)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(14,805,000)	263,574,000	232,907,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(68,102,000)	131,935,000	(896,000)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year	134,006,000	2,071,000	2,967,000
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year	$ 65,904,000	$ 134,006,000	$ 2,071,000