Reorganization Under Chapter 11, Fresh-Start Reporting and the Effects of the Plan (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2012
Preconfirmation, Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents			$ 1,954
Trust assets			0
Restricted cash			0
Trade accounts receivable, net			3,708
Prepaid assets			4,777
Prepaid reorganization costs			1,326
Total current assets			11,765
Preconfirmation, Oil and gas properties
Unproved			84
Proved			759,755
Land			4,000
Other			73,021
Total property and equipment			836,860
Less accumulated depreciation and depletion			(642,172)
Property and equipment, net			194,688
Preconfirmation, Long-term assets:
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates			3,629
Other long-term assets			307
Total long-term assets			3,936
Total assets			210,389
Preconfirmation, Liabilities not subject to compromise
Debtor in possession financing			56,535
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities			4,897
Other accrued liabilities			9,224
Accrued reorganization and trustee expense			70,656
Preconfirmation, Liabilities subject to compromise
3 3/4% Senior notes			115,000
7% Senior convertible notes			150,000
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities			17,203
Total current liabilities			352,859
Preconfirmation, Liabilities not subject to compromise
Long - term debt			0
Derivative liabilities			0
Asset retirement obligations	3,172	512	476
Total liabilities			357,273
Preconfirmation, Stockholders’ equity
Common stock			288
Additional paid-in capital			1,643,285
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)			(1,790,457)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)			(146,884)
Total liabilities and equity (deficit)			210,389
Fresh Start Reporting Adjustments, Current assets
Trade accounts receivable, net			(1,981)	[1]
Prepaid assets			(4,777)	[1]
Prepaid reorganization costs			(1,326)	[1]
Fresh Start Reporting Adjustments, Oil and gas properties
Unproved			(84)	[1]
Proved			(14,776)	[1]
Other			(21,289)	[1]
Less accumulated depreciation and depletion			34,569	[1]
Fresh Start Reporting Adjustments, Long-term assets:
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates			(3,629)	[1]
Other long-term assets			(253)	[1]
Fresh Start Reporting Adjustments, Liabilities subject to compromise
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities			(1,981)	[1]
Fresh Start Reporting Adjustments, Stockholders' equity
Common stock			(288)	[2]
Additional paid-in capital			288	[2]
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)			(14,765)	[1]
Postconfirmation, Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents			4,882
Trust assets			3,446
Restricted cash			20,359
Trade accounts receivable, net			0
Prepaid assets			0
Prepaid reorganization costs			0
Total current assets			28,687
Postconfirmation, Oil and gas properties
Unproved			0
Proved			4,587
Land			0
Other			4,239
Total property and equipment			8,826
Less accumulated depreciation and depletion			0
Property and equipment, net			8,826
Postconfirmation, Long-term assets:
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates			105,344
Other long-term assets			54
Total long-term assets			105,398
Total assets			142,911
Postconfirmation, Liabilities not subject to compromise
Debtor in possession financing			0
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities			4,897
Other accrued liabilities			2,640
Accrued reorganization and trustee expense			7,537
Postconfirmation, Liabilities subject to compromise
3 3/4% Senior notes			0
7% Senior convertible notes			0
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities			12,336
Total current liabilities			19,873
Postconfirmation, Liabilities not subject to compromise
Long - term debt			6,335
Derivative liabilities			6,665
Asset retirement obligations			476
Total liabilities			33,349
Postconfirmation, Stockholders' equity
Common stock			1,477
Additional paid-in capital			108,085
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)			0
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)			109,562
Total liabilities and equity (deficit)			142,911
Reflects Adjustments To Remaining Assets [Member]
Fresh Start Reporting Adjustments, Liabilities subject to compromise
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities			3,200	[1]
Reflects Elimination of Predecessor Accumulated Deficit [Member]
Fresh Start Reporting Adjustments, Stockholders' equity
Additional paid-in capital			(1,636,890)	[3]
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)			1,636,890	[3]
Plan of Reorganization Adjustments [Member]
Preconfirmation, Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents			74,167	[4]
Trust assets			3,446	[5]
Restricted cash			20,359	[6]
Trade accounts receivable, net			(1,727)	[4]
Preconfirmation, Oil and gas properties
Proved			(740,392)	[4]
Land			(4,000)	[4]
Other			(47,493)	[4]
Less accumulated depreciation and depletion			607,603	[4]
Preconfirmation, Long-term assets:
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates			105,344	[4]
Preconfirmation, Liabilities not subject to compromise
Debtor in possession financing			(56,535)	[7]
Other accrued liabilities			(2,685)	[8]
Preconfirmation, Liabilities subject to compromise
3 3/4% Senior notes			(115,000)	[8]
7% Senior convertible notes			(150,000)	[8]
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities			(2,560)	[4]
Preconfirmation, Liabilities not subject to compromise
Long - term debt			6,335	[7]
Derivative liabilities			6,665	[7]
Asset retirement obligations			(3,938)	[4]
Preconfirmation, Stockholders’ equity
Common stock			1,457	[8]
Additional paid-in capital			100,084	[8]
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)			166,144	[8]
Plan of Reorganization Adjustments [Member] | Reflects The Successor Drawing [Member]
Preconfirmation, Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents			(45,035)	[7]
Preconfirmation, Liabilities not subject to compromise
Other accrued liabilities			(1,500)	[7]
Plan of Reorganization Adjustments [Member] | Reflects Settlement of Other Claims [Member]
Preconfirmation, Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents			(24,204)	[6]
Preconfirmation, Liabilities not subject to compromise
Other accrued liabilities			(3,845)	[6]
Preconfirmation, Liabilities subject to compromise
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities			(3,526)	[6]
Preconfirmation, Stockholders’ equity
Common stock			20	[6]
Additional paid-in capital			1,318	[6]
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)			2,188	[6]
Plan of Reorganization Adjustments [Member] | Reflects Funding of The Recovery Trusts [Member]
Preconfirmation, Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents			(2,000)	[5]
Preconfirmation, Liabilities not subject to compromise
Other accrued liabilities			$ 1,446	[5]

[1] Reflects adjustments to remaining assets due to fresh start accounting. On the Emergence Date, we adjusted the carrying value of our remaining assets to their estimated fair values. As a result of these adjustments, we recorded a loss for changes in asset fair values due to fresh start accounting adjustments within Reorganization items of approximately $14.8 million on the Predecessor’s consolidated statement of operations in the period from January 1, 2012 through August 31, 2012.

[2] Reflects cancellation of Predecessor common stock.

[3] Reflects elimination of Predecessor accumulated deficit.

[4] Reflects contribution of certain of our oil and gas assets and related prepaid expenses and asset retirement obligations to Piceance Energy in exchange for cash and a 33.34% interest in Piceance Energy.

[5] Reflects funding of the Recovery Trusts (see Note 9).

[6] Reflects settlement of other claims with common stock of Successor and cash. On the Emergence Date, we issued 191,973 shares of our common stock to various creditors. We estimated the fair value of our common stock to be $7.0 on the Emergence Date. Accordingly, we recorded a gain on settlement of liabilities within Reorganization items of approximately $2.2 million on the Predecessor’s consolidated statement of operations in the period from January 1, 2012 through August 31, 2012.

[7] Reflects the Successor drawing $13 million under the Loan Agreement (see Note 6) to repay amounts outstanding under the DIP Credit Facility (see Note 6) with those proceeds and cash from contribution of assets to Piceance Energy.

[8] Reflects extinguishment of secured debt in exchange for common stock of the Successor. On the Emergence Date, we issued 14,573,608 shares of our common stock and warrants to acquire 959,213 shares of our common stock to the holders of our secured debt or their affiliates. We estimated the fair value of our common stock to be $7.0 on the Emergence Date. Accordingly, we recorded a gain on the settlement of secured debt within Reorganization items of approximately $166.1 million on the Predecessor’s consolidated statement of operations in the period from January 1, 2012 through August 31, 2012.