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Capital expenditures related to oil and natural gas producing activities (Details 3) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Acquisitions: |  |  |  |  |  |
Proved properties | $ 839,000 | [1] | $ 3,999,000 | [1] | $ 89,733,000 | [1]
Unproved properties | 31,109,000 | [1] | 63,354,000 | [1] | 92,100,000 | [1]
Exploration | 235,906,000 | [1] | 41,775,000 | [1] | 33,226,000 | [1]
Development | 275,959,000 | [1] | 161,647,000 | [1] | 139,733,000 | [1]
Total capital expenditures | 543,813,000 | [1] | 270,775,000 | [1] | 354,792,000 | [1]
Net change in property, plant and equipment related to future liabilitie for asset retirement obligations that are excluded | $ (200,000) |  | $ (1,800,000) |  | $ 11,100,000 |
[1] | Excludes net additions/(reductions) to property, plant and equipment related to the recognition of future liabilities for asset retirement obligations associated with the plugging and abandonment of oil and natural gas wells, as discussed in Note 10, of $(200,000), $(1.8) million and $11.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

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- Definition Costs incurred, including capitalized costs and costs charged to expense, associated with the acquisition of oil and gas properties that have proved reserves. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 19 -Paragraph 59Q -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 19 -Paragraph 15 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 235 -Section 50 -Paragraph 19 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=d3e62038-109447 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 235 -Section 50 -Paragraph 18 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=d3e62014-109447 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 19 -Paragraph 59P -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 Costs incurred, including capitalized costs and costs charged to expense, associated with the acquisition of oil and gas properties that have unproved reserves. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 19 -Paragraph 59Q -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 Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 19 -Paragraph 15 -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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 235 -Section 50 -Paragraph 19 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=d3e62038-109447 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 235 -Section 50 -Paragraph 18 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=d3e62014-109447 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 19 -Paragraph 59P -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 Exploration costs incurred, including capitalized costs and costs charged to expense, in oil and gas activities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 19 -Paragraph 59P -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 -Glossary Exploration -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6512329 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 235 -Section 50 -Paragraph 18 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=d3e62014-109447 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 19 -Paragraph 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 -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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