Acquisitions and Divestitures (Details) a in Thousands		1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 03, 2013 USD ($) well platform	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($) a mi²	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) a	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments of financing costs				$ 1,094,000	$ 253,000	$ 320,000
Accrued acquisition costs				$ 4,409,000	17,690,000
10% Senior Notes
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Interest rate of Senior Notes (as a percent)				10.00%
Payments of financing costs	$ 5,000,000
Acquisition-related costs	$ 4,000,000
Gulf of Mexico Acquisition
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of wells acquired | well	16
Number of platforms purchased | platform	7
Gulf of Mexico Acquisition | 10% Senior Notes
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Principal amount	$ 200,000,000
Interest rate of Senior Notes (as a percent)				10.00%
Gulf of Mexico Acquisition | General and Administrative Expense | Bridge Loan
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition-related costs	$ 2,600,000
10% Senior Notes | Gulf of Mexico Acquisition
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase price						$ 188,800,000
Louisiana | Fleetwood Joint Venture
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase price			$ 10,000,000
Aggregate purchase price			$ 24,000,000		$ 24,000,000
Working interest (as a percent)			37.00%
Number of acres acquired | a			30		30
Number of square miles | mi²			200
Cash funding for future drilling			$ 14,000,000
Subsequent Event | Louisiana | Fleetwood Joint Venture
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payment to settle liability (accrued acquisition costs)		$ 4,400,000