Fresh Start Accounting Fresh Start Accounting (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	2 Months Ended	8 Months Ended
	Sep. 12, 2016	Sep. 12, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	May 10, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]
Preconfirmation, Senior Notes	$ 1,075,000	$ 1,075,000
Common stock, shares issued	14,992,018	14,992,018	14,992,018		81,252,676
Proceeds from Long-term Lines of Credit		$ 75,350
Fresh Start Valuation - Discount Rate for Gathering and Transportation Costs	1350.00%	1350.00%
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Enterprise Value	$ 234,831	$ 234,831	$ 266,200
Cash and cash equivalents	31,414	31,414	$ 13,994		$ 11,955	$ 3,342	$ 6,252
Short-term Debt, Fair Value	(75,350)	(75,350)
Fair Value of Successor Common Stock	$ 190,895	$ 190,895
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	14,992,018,000	14,992,018,000
Common stock, par value	$ 12.73	$ 12.73	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Postconfirmation, Current Liabilities	$ 54,171	$ 54,171
Postconfirmation, Noncurrent Liabilities Excluding Long-term Debt	13,558	13,558
Reorganization Value	333,974	333,974
Fair Value of Proved Reserves	121,900	121,900
Asset Retirement Obligation	2,700	2,700	$ 2,700
Fair Value of Undeveloped Acreage - Eagle Ford	92,500	92,500
Fair Value of Undeveloped Acreage - Other than Eagle Ford	8,300	8,300
Fair Value of Other Fixed Assets	26,700	26,700
Fair Value of South Texas Water Facility	23,400	23,400
Debt Issuance Costs, Line of Credit Arrangements, Gross	3,011	3,011
Plan of Reorganization, Line of Credit Facility, Initial Borrowing	75,400	75,400	75,400
Preconfirmation, Liabilities Subject to Compromise			0		$ 1,224,383
Postconfirmation, Additional Paid-in Capital	190,895	190,895
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Retained Earnings (Deficit)	28,319	28,319
Preconfirmation, Stockholders' Equity	140,954	140,954
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Stockholders' Equity	28,319	28,319
Postconfirmation, Stockholders' Equity	190,895	190,895
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	(55,751)	(55,751)
Rights Offering, Rights Offering Amount	49,943	49,943
Total Reorganization Proceeds	125,293	125,293
Repayments of Long-term Debt		113,653
Interest Paid		1,374
DIP Facility Fees Paid		12
Plan of Reorganization, Escrow Account for Professional Fees	14,575	14,575
RBL lender fees and expenses		455
Ad Hoc Committee and indenture trustee fees and expenses		6,782
Payment of certain allowed claims and settlements		2,735
Total Reorganization Uses		142,597
Net Cash Payments off Reorganization Adjustments		(17,304)
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Interest on Senior Notes	47,213	47,213
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Firm Transportation Obligation	11,077	11,077
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Compensation	9,733	9,733
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Deferred Compensation	4,676	4,676
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Accounts Payable	1,487	1,487
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Litigation claims	1,092	1,092
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Other accrued liabilities	3,885	3,885
Liabilities Subject to Compromise	1,154,163	1,154,163
Cash settlements paid or reserved at emergence	(3,915)	(3,915)
Liabilities subject to compromise, gain	1,150,248	1,150,248
Fair Value of Equity Allocated to Unsecured Creditors	174,477	174,477
Fair Value of Unsecured Creditors Pending Resolution	10,396	10,396
Backstop Commitment Agreement, Backstop Commitment	6,022	6,022		$ 50,000
Cancellation of Equity Upon Emergence from Bankruptcy	$ 882,992	$ 882,992
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Description	28319	28319
Reorganization items, legal and professional fees	$ (22,739)	$ (29,976)
Reorganization items, Settlements related to contract amendments	(2,550)	(2,550)
Debtor Reorganization Items, DIP Facility Costs and Commitment fees	(27)	(170)
Reorganization Items, Write-off Prepaid D&O Insurance	(832)
Debtor Reorganization Items, Other Expense (Income)	(46)	(46)
Debtor Reorganization Items	1,152,373	1,144,993
Minimum [Member]
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Enterprise Value			218,000
Maximum [Member]
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Enterprise Value			382,000
Mid-point
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Enterprise Value			$ 300,000
Revaluation of Assets [Member]
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Property and Equipment, Net	(55,751)	(55,751)
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Assets	(55,751)	(55,751)
Revaluation of Liabilities [Member]
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]
Fresh-Start Adjustments, Increase (Decrease), Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities	(3,455)	(3,455)
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Current Liabilities	(3,455)	(3,455)
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Deferred Income Tax Assets, Noncurrent	(80,615)	(80,615)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure					$ 4,125
Predecessor [Member]
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]
Preconfirmation, Cash and Cash Equivalents	48,718	48,718
Preconfirmation, Receivables, Net	35,606	35,606
Preconfirmation, Derivative Assets	397	397
Preconfirmation, Prepaid and Other Current Assets	3,966	3,966
Preconfirmation, Current Assets	88,687	88,687
Preconfirmation, Property and Equipment, Net	309,261	309,261
Preconfirmation, Other Assets, Noncurrent	6,902	6,902
Preconfirmation, Assets	404,850	404,850
Preconfirmation, Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities	77,151	77,151
Preconfirmation, Current Derivative Liabilities	1,641	1,641
Preconfirmation, Current Maturities of Long-term Debt	113,653	113,653
Preconfirmation, Current Liabilities	192,445	192,445
Preconfirmation, Other Noncurrent Obligations	84,953	84,953
Preconfirmation, Noncurrent Derivative Liabilities	9,120	9,120
Preconfirmation, Liabilities Subject to Compromise	1,154,163	1,154,163
Preconfirmation, Preferred Stock	1,880	1,880
Preconfirmation, Common Stock	697	697
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Common Stock	(697)	(697)
Preconfirmation, Additional Paid-in Capital	1,213,797	1,213,797
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Additional Paid-in Capital	(1,213,797)	(1,213,797)
Preconfirmation, Other Deferred Compensation	3,440	3,440
Preconfirmation, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	383	383
Preconfirmation, Treasury Stock	(3,574)	(3,574)
Preconfirmation, Retained Earnings (Deficit)	(2,252,454)	(2,252,454)
Preconfirmation, Stockholders' Equity	(1,035,831)	(1,035,831)
Preconfirmation, Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	404,850	404,850
Restatement Adjustment [Member]
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Cash and Cash Equivalents	(17,304)	(17,304)
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Receivables, Net	4,292	4,292
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Other Current Liabilities	(832)	(832)
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Current Assets	(13,844)	(13,844)
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Property and Equipment, Net	0	0
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Other Assets, Noncurrent	(1,281)	(1,281)
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Assets	(15,125)	(15,125)
Fresh-Start Adjustments, Increase (Decrease), Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities	(21,166)	(21,166)
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Current Maturities of Long-term Debt	(113,653)	(113,653)
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Current Liabilities	(134,819)	(134,819)
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Long-term Debt	75,350	75,350
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Liabilities Subject to Compromise	(1,154,163)	(1,154,163)
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Preferred Stock	(1,880)	(1,880)
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease) Other Deferred Compensation	(3,440)	(3,440)
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(383)	(383)
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease) Treasury Stock	3,574	3,574
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Retained Earnings (Deficit)	2,224,135	2,224,135
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Stockholders' Equity	1,198,407	1,198,407
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	(15,125)	(15,125)
Successor [Member]
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]
Postconfirmation, Cash and Cash Equivalents	31,414	31,414
Postconfirmation, Current Liabilities	54,171	54,171
Postconfirmation, Receivables, Net	39,898	39,898
Postconfirmation, Derivative Assets	397	397
Postconfirmation, Prepaid and Other Current Assets	3,134	3,134
Postconfirmation, Current Assets	74,843	74,843
Postconfirmation, Property and Equipment, Net	253,510	253,510
Postconfirmation, Other Assets, Noncurrent	5,621	5,621
Postconfirmation, Assets	333,974	333,974
Postconfirmation, Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities	52,530	52,530
Postconfirmation, Current Derivative Liabilities	1,641	1,641
Postconfirmation, Other Noncurrent Obligations	4,438	4,438
Postconfirmation, Noncurrent Derivative Liabilities	9,120	9,120
Postconfirmation, Long-term Debt	75,350	75,350
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Common Stock	150	150
Postconfirmation, Common Stock	150	150
Fresh-Start Adjustment, Increase (Decrease), Additional Paid-in Capital	190,745	190,745
Postconfirmation, Additional Paid-in Capital	190,745	190,745
Postconfirmation, Stockholders' Equity	190,895	190,895
Postconfirmation, Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	$ 333,974	$ 333,974