| **Subsidiary Guarantor Subsidiary Guarantor (Tables)** | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                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| **Subsidiary Guarantor [Abstract]**                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     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| Schedule of Guarantor Obligations [Table Text Block]   | The following condensed consolidating financial statements have been prepared on the same basis of accounting as our condensed consolidated financial statements.  Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for under the equity method.  Accordingly, the entries necessary to consolidate the Parent and Guarantor are reflected in the eliminations column.  Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets  June 30, 2017  Parent Guarantor Eliminations Consolidated  (in thousands)Assets        Current assets $381,313 $14,905 $— $396,218Properties and equipment, net 1,945,252 2,220,320 — 4,165,572Intercompany receivable 120,106 — (120,106) —Investment in subsidiaries 1,733,615 — (1,733,615) —Goodwill — 56,331 — 56,331Noncurrent assets 37,966 841 — 38,807Total Assets $4,218,252 $2,292,397 $(1,853,721) $4,656,928         Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity        Current liabilities $277,443 $53,223 $— $330,666Intercompany payable — 120,106 (120,106) —Long-term debt 1,049,004 — — 1,049,004Other noncurrent liabilities 177,363 373,872 11,581 562,816Stockholders' equity 2,714,442 1,745,196 (1,745,196) 2,714,442Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $4,218,252 $2,292,397 $(1,853,721) $4,656,928  Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets  December 31, 2016  Parent Guarantor Eliminations Consolidated  (in thousands)Assets        Current assets $387,309 $12,516 $— $399,825Properties and equipment, net 1,889,419 2,118,847 — 4,008,266Intercompany receivable 9,415 — (9,415) —Investment in subsidiaries 1,765,092 — (1,765,092) —Goodwill — 62,041 — 62,041Noncurrent assets 15,539 171 — 15,710Total Assets $4,066,774 $2,193,575 $(1,774,507) $4,485,842         Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity        Current liabilities $235,121 $35,457 $— $270,578Intercompany payable — 9,415 (9,415) —Long-term debt 1,043,954 — — 1,043,954Other noncurrent liabilities 164,945 383,611 — 548,556Stockholders' equity 2,622,754 1,765,092 (1,765,092) 2,622,754Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $4,066,774 $2,193,575 $(1,774,507) $4,485,842  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations  Three Months Ended June 30, 2017  Parent Guarantor Eliminations Consolidated  (in thousands)         Operating and other revenues $252,346 $22,812 $— $275,158Operating expenses 39,915 7,700 — 47,615General and administrative 26,617 2,914 — 29,531Depreciation depletion and amortization 108,727 17,286 — 126,013Impairment of properties and equipment 531 27,035 — 27,566Provision for uncollectible notes receivable (40,203) — — (40,203)Interest (expense) income (19,032) 183 — (18,849)   Income (loss) before income taxes 97,727 (31,940) — 65,787Income tax expense (36,285) 11,748 — (24,537)Equity in loss of subsidiary (20,192) — 20,192 —   Net income (loss) $41,250 $(20,192) $20,192 $41,250  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations  Six Months Ended June 30, 2017  Parent Guarantor Eliminations Consolidated  (in thousands)         Operating and other revenues $507,087 $41,778 $— $548,865Operating expenses 77,415 14,380 — 91,795General and administrative 50,146 5,700 — 55,846Depreciation depletion and amortization 210,465 24,864 — 235,329Impairment of properties and equipment 1,134 28,625 — 29,759Provision for uncollectible notes receivable (40,203) — — (40,203)Interest (expense) income (38,389) 313 — (38,076)   Income (loss) before income taxes 169,741 (31,478) — 138,263Income tax expense (62,448) 11,581 — (50,867)Equity in loss of subsidiary (19,897) — 19,897 —   Net income (loss) $87,396 $(19,897) $19,897 $87,396Net losses of the Guarantor for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 are primarily the result of the impairment of certain unproved Delaware Basin leasehold positions during the respective periods.  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows  Six Months Ended June 30, 2017  Parent Guarantor Eliminations Consolidated  (in thousands)         Cash flows from operating activities $246,128 $17,069 $— $263,197Cash flows from investing activities:        Capital expenditures for development of crude oil and natural properties (198,954) (135,452) — (334,406)Capital expenditures for other properties and equipment (1,792) (507) — (2,299)Acquisition of crude oil and natural gas properties, including  settlement adjustments — 5,372 — 5,372Proceeds from sale of properties and equipment 1,293 — — 1,293Sale of promissory note 40,203 — — 40,203Restricted cash (9,250) — — (9,250)Purchases of short-term investments (49,890) — — (49,890)Sales of short-term investments 49,890 — — 49,890Intercompany transfers (109,923) — 109,923 —Net cash from investing activities (278,423) (130,587) 109,923 (299,087)Cash flows from financing activities:        Proceeds from issuance of equity, net of issuance costs — — — —Purchase of treasury stock (5,274) — — (5,274)Other (627) (18) — (645)Intercompany transfers — 109,923 (109,923) —Net cash from financing activities (5,901) 109,905 (109,923) (5,919)Net change in cash and cash equivalents (38,196) (3,613) — (41,809)Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 240,487 3,613 — 244,100Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $202,291 $— $— $202,291 |

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| - Definition
Subsidiary Guarantor [Abstract]
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No definition available.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of each guarantee obligation, or each group of similar guarantee obligations, including (a) the nature of the guarantee, including its term, how it arose, and the events or circumstances that would require the guarantor to perform under the guarantee; (b) the maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee; (c) the current carrying amount of the liability, if any, for the guarantor's obligations under the guarantee; and (d) the nature of any recourse provisions under the guarantee, and any assets held either as collateral or by third parties, and any relevant related party disclosure. Excludes disclosures about product warranties.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12265-110248Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248
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