| **SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - NATURAL GAS AND CRUDE OIL PROPERTIES Principal Sources of Change in Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows (Unuadited) (Details) - USD ($)** | 12 Months Ended |
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| **Principal Sources of Change:**                                                                                                                                                            |                 |   |   |   |   |
| Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flow of Proved Oil and Gas Reserves, Period Increase (Decrease)                                                                          |                 | $ 2,880,105,000 | $ 1,420,629,000 | $ 1,096,864,000 | $ 2,306,465,000 |
| Sales of natural gas, NGL and crude oil production, net of production costs                                                                                                                 |                 | (729,506,000) | (387,576,000) | (293,127,000) |   |
| Net changes in prices and production costs                                                                                                                                                  | [1]             | 841,713,000 | (205,760,000) | (1,752,921,000) |   |
| Extensions, discoveries and improved recovery, less related costs                                                                                                                           |                 | 47,240,000 | 15,128,000 | 489,178,000 |   |
| Sales of reserves                                                                                                                                                                           |                 | (2,613,000) | (3,745,000) | (463,000) |   |
| Purchases of reserves                                                                                                                                                                       |                 | 224,483,000 | 487,636,000 | 374,000 |   |
| Development costs incurred during the period                                                                                                                                                |                 | 419,047,000 | 268,672,000 | 368,840,000 |   |
| Revisions of previous quantity estimates                                                                                                                                                    |                 | 484,431,000 | (320,286,000) | (1,286,462,000) |   |
| Changes in estimated income taxes                                                                                                                                                           |                 | (138,560,000) | (13,630,000) | 902,994,000 |   |
| Net change in future development costs                                                                                                                                                      |                 | 25,183,000 | 391,145,000 | 112,958,000 |   |
| Accretion of discount                                                                                                                                                                       |                 | 167,487,000 | 133,747,000 | 345,007,000 |   |
| Timing and other                                                                                                                                                                            |                 | 120,571,000 | (41,566,000) | (95,979,000) |   |
| **Notes to Changes in SMOG [Abstract]**                                                                                                                                                     |                 |   |   |   |   |
| Weighted-Average price, net of production cost                                                                                                                                              |                 | $ 20.08 | $ 15.73 | $ 17.30 |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| [1]Our weighted-average price, net of production costs per Boe, in our 2017 reserve report increased to $20.08 as compared to $15.73 for 2016 and $17.30 for 2015.                          |

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Amount of decrease in standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow as a result of sales of minerals in place.
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Amount of increase (decrease) in standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow as a result of extensions, discoveries and improved recovery of proved oil and gas reserves.
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Amount of increase (decrease) in standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow as a result of change in the estimated future income tax on future pretax net cash flows related to the entity's proved oil and gas reserves.
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Amount of increase (decrease) in standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow as a result of change in sales and transfer prices and in production (lifting) costs related to future production.
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Amount of increase (decrease) in standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow as a result of revisions of estimated quantity of oil and gas in proved reserves.
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Amount of (increase) decrease in standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow as a result of sales and transfers of oil and gas produced.
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Amount of increase (decrease) in standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow as a result of changes from other sources.
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Amount of accretion of discount for the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow related to proved oil and gas reserves.
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