|**TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES AND OTHER RELATED PARTIES** | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
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|**Related Party Transactions [Abstract]**                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]         | TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATESFormer Executive Officer.In June 2011, Richard W. McCullough resigned from his positions as our Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of the Board, effective immediately. In connection with his resignation, in July 2011, Mr. McCullough and the Company executed a separation agreement, whereby Mr. McCullough will receive those benefits to which he was entitled under Section 7(d) of his employment agreement, dated as of April 19, 2010, including without limitation: (i) separation compensation in the amount of $4.1 million, less required withholdings; (ii) his annual non-qualified deferred supplemental retirement benefit equal to $30,000 for each of the years 2012 through 2021 (not accelerated), less required withholdings; (iii) continued coverage under the Company’s group health plans at the Company’s cost for a period equal to the lesser of 18 months or such period ending as of the date Mr. McCullough is eligible to participate in another employer’s group health plan; (iv) immediate vesting of any unvested Company stock options, SARs and restricted stock; and (v) issuance of shares representing the vested portion of his 2009 performance share awards. Related to this separation agreement, the statement of operations for 2011 reflects a charge to general and administrative expense of $6.7 million.Affiliated Partnerships.Our Gas Marketing segment markets the natural gas produced by our affiliated partnerships in the Eastern Operating Region. Our sales from natural gas marketing include $1.3 million, $0.7 million and $0.5 million in2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, related to the marketing of natural gas on behalf of our affiliated partnerships. Our cost of natural gas marketing include $1.3 million, $0.6 million and $0.5 million in2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, related to these sales.Amounts due from/to the affiliated partnerships are primarily related to derivative positions and, to a lesser extent, unbilled well lease operating expenses, and costs resulting from audit and tax preparation services. We have entered into derivative instruments on behalf of our affiliated partnerships for their estimated production. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, we had a payable to affiliates of $14.2 million and $20.3 million, respectively, representing their designated portion of the fair value of our gross derivative assets and a receivable from affiliates of $6.2 million and $14.6 million, respectively, representing their designated portion of the fair value of our gross derivative liabilities.We provide well operations and pipeline services to our affiliated partnerships. The majority of all of our revenue and expenses related to well operations and pipeline income are associated with services provided to our affiliated partnerships. Further, through June 2009, we provided natural gas and crude oil well drilling services to our affiliated partnerships. For the year ended December 31, 2009, we recognized $0.2 million in revenue related to these services, which have been reclassified on our statement of operations for inclusion in discontinued operations. See Note 13.PDCM. Our Gas Marketing segment markets the natural gas produced by PDCM. Our sales from natural gas marketing include $9.7 million and $4.3 million2011and 2010, respectively, related to the marketing of natural gas on behalf of PDCM. Our cost of natural gas marketing include $9.5 million and $4.2 million in2011and 2010, respectively, related to these sales.We provide certain well operating and administrative services for PDCM. Amounts billed to PDCM for these services were $10.4 million and $11.1 million in 2011 and 2010, respectively. Our statements of operations include only our proportionate share of these billings. The following table presents the statement of operations line item in which our proportionate share is recorded and the amount for each of the periods presented.Year Ended December 31,Statement of Operations Line Item20112010(in thousands)Production Costs$3,441$3,862Exploration Expense430883General and Administrative Expense1,5431,899
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|Exploration Expense                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|General and Administrative Expense                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

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