CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net loss	$ (347,210)	$ (53,058)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net loss on divestiture activity	69,021	35,802
Depletion, depreciation, amortization, and asset retirement obligation liability accretion	214,207	217,401
Exploratory dry hole expense	(19)	16,275
Impairment of proved properties	269,785	55,526
Abandonment and impairment of unproved properties	2,311	11,627
Stock-based compensation expense	6,868	6,024
Change in Net Profits Plan liability	(1,260)	(4,334)
Derivative gain	(14,228)	(154,167)
Derivative settlement gain	147,028	161,229
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(920)	1,957
Non-cash gain on extinguishment of debt, net	(15,722)	0
Deferred income taxes	(195,039)	(33,727)
Plugging and abandonment	(604)	(2,425)
Other, net	128	1,496
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	26,922	69,527
Refundable income taxes	5,085	(544)
Prepaid expenses and other	(101)	1,825
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(52,294)	(45,416)
Accrued derivative settlements	4,318	(1,096)
Net cash provided by operating activities	118,276	283,922
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net proceeds from the sale of oil and gas properties	1,206	21,573
Capital expenditures	(176,370)	(544,965)
Acquisition of proved and unproved oil and gas properties	(15,044)	(10,069)
Other, net	885	(997)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(189,323)	(534,458)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from credit facility	317,000	560,000
Repayment of credit facility	(226,000)	(309,500)
Cash paid to repurchase Senior Notes	(19,917)	0
Other, net	(3)	(62)
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities	71,080	250,438
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	33	(98)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	18	120
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	51	22
Supplemental schedule of additional cash flow information and noncash investing and financing activities:
Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest	24,453	34,059
Net cash (refunded) paid for income taxes	$ (4,689)	$ 94