|**DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS Fair Value of Derivative and Balance Sheet Location (Details) (USD $)In Thousands, unless otherwise specified**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | Dec. 31, 2012                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | Dec. 31, 2011                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Net                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | $ 58,925                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Net                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 28,576                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Derivatives Designated as Hedges                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Current Assets [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Net                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | 52,042                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Non Current Assets [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Net                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | 6,883                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Current Liabilities [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Net                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 18,439                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Non Current Liabilities [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Net                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 10,137                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Commodity Contracts Related to Natural Gas and Crude Oil Sales [Member] | Current Assets [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 47,016                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Commodity Contracts Related to Natural Gas and Crude Oil Sales [Member] | Non Current Assets [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 6,671                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Commodity Contracts Related to Natural Gas and Crude Oil Sales [Member] | Current Liabilities [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 1,744                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Commodity Contracts Related to Natural Gas and Crude Oil Sales [Member] | Non Current Liabilities [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 9,969                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Commodity Contracts Related to Affiliated Partnership [Member] | Current Assets [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 4,707                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | [1]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Commodity Contracts Related to Affiliated Partnership [Member] | Non Current Assets [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | [1]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Commodity Contracts Related to Affiliated Partnership [Member] | Current Liabilities [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | [2]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Commodity Contracts Related to Affiliated Partnership [Member] | Non Current Liabilities [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | [2]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Commodity Contracts Related to Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | Current Assets [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 302                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Commodity Contracts Related to Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | Non Current Assets [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 203                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Commodity Contracts Related to Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | Current Liabilities [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 226                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Commodity Contracts Related to Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | Non Current Liabilities [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 168                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Basis Protection Contracts Related to Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | Current Assets [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 17                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Basis Protection Contracts Related to Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | Non Current Assets [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 9                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Basis Protection Contracts Related to Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | Current Liabilities [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Basis Protection Contracts Related to Affiliated Partnerships [Member] | Current Liabilities [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 2,140                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | [2]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Basis Protection Contracts Related to Affiliated Partnerships [Member] | Non Current Liabilities [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | [2]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Basis Protection Contracts Related to Natural Gas and Crude Oil Sales [Member] | Current Liabilities [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 14,329                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Basis Protection Contracts Related to Natural Gas and Crude Oil Sales [Member] | Non Current Liabilities [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|**Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | $ 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|[1]
              Represents derivative positions designated to our affiliated partnerships. Accordingly, our accompanying balance sheets include a corresponding payable to our affiliated partnerships representing their proportionate share of the derivative assets.[2]
              Represents derivative positions designated to our affiliated partnerships. Accordingly, our accompanying balance sheets include a corresponding receivable from our affiliated partnerships representing their proportionate share of the derivative liabilities. | [1]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Represents derivative positions designated to our affiliated partnerships. Accordingly, our accompanying balance sheets include a corresponding payable to our affiliated partnerships representing their proportionate share of the derivative assets.
|[1]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | Represents derivative positions designated to our affiliated partnerships. Accordingly, our accompanying balance sheets include a corresponding payable to our affiliated partnerships representing their proportionate share of the derivative assets.          
|[2]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | Represents derivative positions designated to our affiliated partnerships. Accordingly, our accompanying balance sheets include a corresponding receivable from our affiliated partnerships representing their proportionate share of the derivative liabilities.

X- DefinitionFair value of the gross assets less the gross liabilities of a derivative asset or group of derivative assets.+ ReferencesReference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7491637&loc=d3e13433-108611Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7491637&loc=d3e13495-108611Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958+ Details**Name:**
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                    instant X- DefinitionAggregate net fair value of all derivative instruments designated as hedging instruments. Includes instruments designated as cash flow hedges, fair value hedges, and hedges of net investments in foreign operations.+ ReferencesReference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7491637&loc=d3e13433-108611Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 107 -Paragraph 10 -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 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7491637&loc=d3e13495-108611+ Details**Name:**
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                    instant X- DefinitionFair value of the gross liabilities less the gross assets of a derivative liability or group of derivative liabilities.+ ReferencesReference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7491637&loc=d3e13433-108611Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7491637&loc=d3e13495-108611Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958+ Details**Name:**
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