v2.4.0.6

Exploratory Well Costs (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Exploratory Well Costs [Abstract] |  |  |
Balance at January 1 | $ 61,111,000 | $ 99,801,000 | $ 118,459,000
Additions Pending the Determination of Proved Reserves | 73,332,000 | 31,271,000 | 94,090,000
Reclassifications to Proved Properties | (69,462,000) | (29,227,000) | (93,333,000)
Costs Charged to Expense (1) | (17,115,000) | (42,178,000) | (20,267,000)
Foreign Currency Translations | 1,250,000 | 1,444,000 | 852,000
Balance at December 31 | 49,116,000 | 61,111,000 | 99,801,000
Capitalized exploratory well costs that have been capitalized for a period less than one year | 28,319,000 | 17,009,000 | 43,408,000
Capitalized exploratory well costs that have been capitalized for a period greater than one year | 20,797,000 | 44,102,000 | 56,393,000
Number of exploratory wells that have been capitalized for a period greater than one year | 1 | 4 | 4
Exploratory well costs related to an outside operated, offshore Central North Sea project in the United Kingdom |  | 20,000,000 | 21,000,000
Exploratory well costs related to an East Irish Sea project in the United Kingdom |  | 9,000,000 | 9,000,000
Exploratory well costs related to a project in the Sichuan Basin, Sichuan Province, China |  | 9,000,000 | 20,000,000
Exploratory well costs related to a shale project in British Columbia, Canada |  | $ 6,000,000 | $ 6,000,000

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- Definition Additions or deductions to capitalized exploratory well costs that resulted from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The amount of exploratory well costs that have been capitalized for a period of greater than one year after the completion of drilling related to an East Irish Sea project in the United Kingdom. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The amount of exploratory well costs that have been capitalized for a period of greater than one year after the completion of drilling related to an outside operated, offshore Central North Sea project in the United Kingdom + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The amount of exploratory well costs that have been capitalized for a period of greater than one year after the completion of drilling related to shale projects in British Columbia. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The amount of exploratory well costs that have been capitalized for greater than a year after the completion of drilling related to a project in the Sichuan Basin, China. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Additions to capitalized exploratory well costs that were added during the reporting period pending the determination of proved reserves. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 235 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1B -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=SL6806780-109447 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FAS19-1 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph a -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition Capitalized exploratory well costs that were expensed during the year because proved reserves were not found at the exploratory well. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FAS19-1 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph a -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 235 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1B -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=SL6806780-109447 + Details
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- Definition The amount of capitalized exploratory well costs that is pending the determination of proved reserves. This does not include amounts that were capitalized and subsequently expensed in the same annual period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 235 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1B -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=SL6806780-109447 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FAS19-1 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph a -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition The amount of exploratory well costs that have been capitalized for a period of greater than one year after the completion of drilling. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 235 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1B -Subparagraph b -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=SL6806780-109447 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FAS19-1 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition The amount of exploratory well costs that have been capitalized for a period of one year or less after the completion of drilling. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FAS19-1 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 235 -Section 50 -Paragraph 16 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=d3e61939-109447 + Details
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- Definition The number of projects for which exploratory well costs have been capitalized for a period of greater than one year after the completion of drilling. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 235 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1B -Subparagraph b -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=SL6806780-109447 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FAS19-1 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition Previously capitalized costs of the drilling of wells that were reclassified as part of the costs of the enterprise's wells and related equipment and facilities at the time that proved reserves were found. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FAS19-1 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph a -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 235 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1B -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=SL6806780-109447 + Details
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