Equity Investments (Equity Investments) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Total current assets	$ 173,540,000			$ 173,540,000			$ 120,475,000
Property and equipment, net	1,060,064,000			1,060,064,000			873,228,000
Other assets	3,929,000			3,929,000			6,143,000
Total assets	1,237,533,000			1,237,533,000			999,846,000
Total current liabilities	141,116,000			141,116,000			145,006,000
Total long term debt	432,142,000			432,142,000
Total long term liabilities	4,386,000			4,386,000			10,092,000
Total members' equity	659,889,000			659,889,000			844,748,000
Total liabilities and members' equity	1,237,533,000			1,237,533,000			999,846,000
Oil and natural gas	130,000		69,000	386,000		94,000
Midstream	64,180,000		39,133,000	179,820,000		114,485,000
Total revenues	64,310,000		39,202,000	180,206,000		114,579,000
Oil and natural gas production	17,000		120,000	21,000		162,000
Midstream operating	29,010,000		18,916,000	80,320,000		69,800,000
Other expenses	6,979,000		2,905,000	35,041,000		10,483,000
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	7,511,000		4,971,000	21,022,000		12,651,000
Total costs and expenses	43,517,000		26,912,000	136,404,000		93,096,000
Income before income taxes	20,793,000		12,290,000	43,802,000		21,483,000
Income tax expense	399,000		87,000	1,118,000		246,000
Net income	20,394,000		12,203,000	42,684,000		21,237,000
EXCO's share of equity income (loss) before amortization	10,197,000		6,102,000	21,342,000		10,619,000
Amortization of the difference in the historical basis of our contribution	469,000		573,000	1,407,000		1,435,000
Equity income	10,666,000		6,675,000	22,749,000		12,054,000
Equity investments	287,979,000			287,979,000			379,001,000
Basis adjustment	45,755,000	[1]		45,755,000	[1]		45,755,000	[1]
Cumulative amortization of basis adjustment	(3,789,000)	[2]		(3,789,000)	[2]		(2,382,000)	[2]
EXCO's 50% interest in equity investments	329,945,000			329,945,000			422,374,000
Historical basis of Exco's contribution and fair value of BG Group's contribution	57,200,000			57,200,000			57,200,000
TGGT Holdings, LLC [Member]
Goodwill included in our investment in TGGT	$ 11,400,000			$ 11,400,000			$ 11,400,000

[1] Our equity in TGGT and OPCO, at inception, exceeded the book value of our investments by an aggregate of $45.8 million, comprised of an aggregate of $57.2 million difference in the historical basis of our contribution and the fair value of BG Group's contribution, offset by $11.4 million of goodwill included in our investment in TGGT.

[2] The aggregate $57.2 million basis difference is being amortized over the estimated life of the associated assets.