Details Of Certain Accounts (Accrued Liabilities) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Details Of Certain Accounts [Abstract]
Accrued payroll and related benefits	$ 49,599	$ 38,026
Royalties payable	19,391	15,008
Current asset retirement obligations	93,183	64,526
Unearned revenue	7,654	1,817
Billings in excess of costs	28,839	6,146
Accrued interest	24,028	27,308
Hedging liability	1,247	30,606
Gas and oil imbalance	4,177	770
Other	11,845	14,030
Accrued liabilities	$ 239,963	$ 198,237

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable, pertaining to costs that are statutory in nature, are incurred on contractual obligations, or accumulate over time and for which invoices have not yet been received or will not be rendered. Examples include taxes, interest, rent and utilities. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for royalties. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Current portion of the carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement 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.

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Liability attributable to (i) billings in excess of costs under the percentage of completion contract accounting method representing the difference between contractually invoiced amounts (billings) and revenue recognized based, for example, on costs incurred to estimated total costs at period end or (ii) contractually invoiced amounts (billings) in excess of costs incurred and accumulated under the completed contract accounting method that are expected to be realized within one year or one operating cycle, whichever is longer, from the reporting date.

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The carrying amount of consideration received or receivable as of the balance sheet date on potential earnings that were not recognized as revenue in conformity with GAAP, and which are expected to be recognized as such within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, including sales, license fees, and royalties, but excluding interest income.

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Total of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for obligations related to services received from employees, such as accrued salaries and bonuses, payroll taxes and fringe benefits. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable to an underproduced working interest owner when an overproduced working interest owner has sold gas in excess of the party's ownership percentage. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the liability arising from a financial instrument or a contract used to mitigate a specified risk (hedge), and which are expected to be converted into cash or otherwise disposed of within a year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of [accrued] interest payable on all forms of debt, including trade payables, that has been incurred and is unpaid. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable arising from transactions not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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