Accrued oil and gas sales Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Additional paid-in capital Loan fee amortization Amortization of Deferred Loan Origination Fees, Net Amortization of bank fees Asset retirement obligations settled Asset Retirement Obligation, Cash Paid to Settle Accretion expense Asset retirement obligation Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Certificates of deposit Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Inventory Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Receivables Increase (Decrease) in Receivables Increase (decrease) from changes in working capital items: Common stock, shares authorized (in shares) Common stock, shares issued (in shares) Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares) Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011; 52,926,098 and 52,787,350 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, respectively Exploration costs Asset retirement obligation gain Cumulative translation adjustment Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current Current liabilities: Notes Payable Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Effect of exchange rate changes on cash Stock compensation Stock compensation Share-based Compensation Share-based Compensation [Abstract] Foreign Currency Translation and Risk Foreign Currency Disclosure [Text Block] (Gain) loss on property dispositions Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property General and administrative costs Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract] Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Interest expense Interest Expense Inventory Inventory, Net Lease operating expenses Total liabilities Liabilities Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Liabilities and Equity LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Net cash provided by financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Cash flows from financing activities: Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Cash flows from investing activities: Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Cash flows from operating activities: Net income Net income Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net increase (decrease) in cash Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Total other income Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other income (expense): Total other assets Assets, Noncurrent Other assets: Total long-term liabilities Liabilities, Noncurrent Long-term liabilities: Notes Payable [Abstract] Notes payable Impairment of oil and gas properties Oil and gas properties (successful efforts method): Operating income Operating Income (Loss) Foreign currency translation adjustment Other comprehensive income (loss) Other current assets Other Assets, Current Additions to other property and equipment Payments to Acquire Other Property, Plant, and Equipment Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares) Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares) Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) Proceeds from common stock offering, net Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Gross property and equipment Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross Net property and equipment Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Proved Additions to oil and gas properties Payments to Acquire Oil and Gas Property Receivables: Payments on credit facility Repayments of Long-term Lines of Credit Accumulated deficit Total revenues Revenue, Net Revenues: Oil and gas sales Oilfield services Business Segments Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Stockholders' equity: Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Total current assets Assets, Current Current assets: Unproved Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding (in shares) Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding (in shares) Total assets Assets Loan fees Share-Based Compensation Property and equipment, at cost: ASSETS Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Industries Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Total stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Foreign exchange gain Foreign exchange (gains) losses Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), Unrealized Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010; no shares outstanding Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs [Abstract] Other property and equipment Operating costs and expenses: Total operating costs and expenses Costs and Expenses Net Income per Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Depreciation, depletion and amortization Depreciation, depletion and amortization Comprehensive income Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest VAT receivable Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Accounts payable Accrued liabilities VAT payable Basis of Presentation Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block] Interest and other income Income Taxes [Abstract] Oilfield services costs Business Segments [Abstract] Joint interest and other receivables Other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Assets Basic and diluted net income per common share (in dollars per share) Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Type The remuneration to non-employees in common stock for services rendered during the period. Common stock issued for services general and administrative Common stock issued for services The cash inflow associated with the amount received from holders exercising their stock options and stock warrants. Proceeds from exercise of stock options and warrants Basis of Presentation [Abstract] Net Income per Share [Abstract] Fair Value Measurements [Abstract] Foreign Currency Translation and Risk [Abstract] Document and Entity Information [Abstract]