ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS [Abstract]

Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Text Block]

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

The following table presents the changes in carrying amounts of the asset retirement obligations associated with our working interest in natural gas and crude oil properties.



	Amount
	(in thousands)

Balance at December 31, 2011	$	46,566
Obligations incurred with development activities	99
Accretion expense	818
Obligations discharged with disposal of properties and asset retirements	(2,061		)
Balance at March 31, 2012	45,422
Less current portion	(250		)
Long-term portion	$	45,172

- Definition

The entire disclosure for an asset retirement obligation and the associated long-lived asset. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement from service of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

+ References+ Details