U.S. Energy (USEG) 10-K 12 Mar 14 2013 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 11, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'US ENERGY CORP	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000101594	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$52,144,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	27,736,497	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-13	'	'

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$5,855	$2,825
Available for sale securities	69	183
Accounts receivable trade	6,801	5,182
Commodity risk management asset	14	472
Assets held for sale	0	17,051
Other current assets	422	302
Total current assets	13,161	26,015
Investment	0	2,264
Properties and equipment	'	'
Oil & gas properties under full cost method, net of $57,077 and $43,454 accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization	86,922	85,634
Undeveloped mining claims	20,739	20,739
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,199	4,435
Net properties and equipment	111,860	110,808
Other assets	1,780	1,740
Total assets	126,801	140,827
Current liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable	6,167	2,692
Accrued compensation	580	295
Commodity risk management liability	280	0
Current portion of debt	0	200
Liabilities held for sale	0	10,022
Other current liabilities	164	44
Total current liabilities	7,191	13,253
Long-term debt, net of current portion	9,000	10,000
Asset retirement obligations	812	686
Other accrued liabilities	741	771
Commitments and contingencies (Note L)	'	'
Shareholders' equity	'	'
Common stock, $.01 par value; unlimited shares authorized; 27,735,878 and 27,652,602 shares issued, respectively	277	277
Additional paid-in capital	123,510	123,078
Accumulated deficit	-14,718	-7,339
Other comprehensive (loss) income	-12	101
Total shareholders' equity	109,057	116,117
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$126,801	$140,827

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Properties and equipment	'	'
Oil & gas properties under full cost method, accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization	$57,077	$43,454
Shareholders' equity	'	'
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	27,735,878	27,652,602

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_OPE

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating revenues:	'	'	'
Oil, gas, and NGL production revenues:	$33,647	$32,534	$30,958
Operating expenses:	'	'	'
Oil and gas	10,469	10,788	11,552
Oil and gas depreciation, depletion and amortization	13,623	14,893	13,997
Impairment of oil and gas properties	5,828	5,189	0
Water treatment plant	1,817	1,978	1,878
Mineral holding costs	1,228	921	486
General and administrative	5,673	6,810	8,261
Impairment of corporate aircraft	0	2,299	0
Total operating expenses	38,638	42,878	36,174
Loss from operations	-4,991	-10,344	-5,216
Other income and expenses:	'	'	'
Realized (loss) gain on risk management activities	-338	21	-1,974
Unrealized (loss) gain on risk management activities	-737	1,070	1,126
Gain (loss) on the sale of assets	760	-12	137
Equity loss in unconsolidated investment	-104	-359	-211
Impairment of unconsolidated investment	-2,160	0	0
Gain on sale of marketable securities	0	82	529
Miscellaneous income	160	241	-38
Interest income	8	9	40
Interest expense	-284	-203	-326
Total other income and (expenses)	-2,695	849	-717
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations	-7,686	-9,495	-5,933
Income taxes:	'	'	'
Current (provision for)	0	-104	0
Deferred benefit from	0	148	3,755
Total income taxes	0	44	3,755
Loss from continuing operations	-7,686	-9,451	-2,178
Discontinued operations:	'	'	'
Discontinued operations, net of taxes	427	97	434
Loss on sale of discontinued operations, net of taxes	-120	0	0
Impairment on discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	-1,891	-3,063
Total discontinued operations	307	-1,794	-2,629
Net loss	($7,379)	($11,245)	($4,807)
Net income (loss) per share basic and diluted	'	'	'
Loss from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	($0.28)	($0.34)	($0.08)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$0.01	($0.07)	($0.10)
Net (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	($0.27)	($0.41)	($0.18)
Weighted average shares outstanding	'	'	'
Basic and Diluted (in shares)	27,678,698	27,466,549	27,238,869

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net loss	($7,379)	($11,245)	($4,807)
Other comprehensive (loss) income:	'	'	'
Marketable securities, net of tax	-113	23	-564
Total comprehensive loss	($7,492)	($11,222)	($5,371)

STATEMENT_OF_SHAREHOLDERS_EQUI

STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities [Member]	Total
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$271	$121,062	$8,713	$642	$130,688
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010	27,068,610	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'
Net loss	0	0	-4,807	0	-4,807
Recognized gain on marketable securities	0	0	0	-850	-850
Unrecognized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	0	-30	-30
Unrealized tax effect on the unrealized gain	0	0	0	316	316
Funding of ESOP	1	287	0	0	288
Funding of ESOP (in shares)	98,958	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock 2001 stock compensation plan	1	369	0	0	370
Issuance of common stock 2001 stock compensation plan (in shares)	75,000	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock from stock options	1	-209	0	0	-208
Issuance of common stock from stock options (in shares)	124,444	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock from stock warrants	0	61	0	0	61
Issuance of common stock from stock warrants (in shares)	42,896	'	'	'	'
Vesting of stock options	0	947	0	0	947
Vesting of stock warrants	0	6	0	0	6
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	274	122,523	3,906	78	126,781
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	27,409,908	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'
Net loss	0	0	-11,245	0	-11,245
Recognized gain on marketable securities	0	0	0	-54	-54
Unrecognized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	0	90	90
Unrealized tax effect on the unrealized gain	0	0	0	-13	-13
Funding of ESOP	2	241	0	0	243
Funding of ESOP (in shares)	161,624	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock 2001 stock compensation plan	1	162	0	0	163
Issuance of common stock 2001 stock compensation plan (in shares)	60,000	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock from stock options	0	0	0	0	0
Issuance of common stock from stock options (in shares)	1,070	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock from stock warrants	0	50	0	0	50
Issuance of common stock from stock warrants (in shares)	20,000	'	'	'	'
Vesting of stock options	0	33	0	0	33
Vesting of stock warrants	0	69	0	0	69
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	277	123,078	-7,339	101	116,117
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	27,652,602	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'
Net loss	0	0	-7,379	0	-7,379
Unrecognized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	0	-113	-113
Funding of ESOP	0	200	0	0	200
Funding of ESOP (in shares)	53,276	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock 2001 stock compensation plan	0	48	0	0	48
Issuance of common stock 2001 stock compensation plan (in shares)	30,000	'	'	'	'
Vesting of stock options	0	120	0	0	120
Vesting of stock warrants	0	64	0	0	64
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$277	$123,510	($14,718)	($12)	$109,057
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	27,735,878	'	'	'	'

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'	'
Net (loss)	($7,379)	($11,245)	($4,807)
(Gain) loss from discontinued operations includes non-cash impairment of $2,955, $3,063, and $1,540	-307	1,794	2,629
Loss from continuing operations	-7,686	-9,451	-2,178
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operations	'	'	'
Depreciation, depletion & amortization	13,898	15,457	14,593
Change in fair value of commodity price risk management activities, net	737	-1,070	-1,126
Impairment of oil and gas properties	5,828	5,189	0
Impairment of equity investment	2,160	0	0
Impairment of corporate aircraft	0	2,299	0
Gain on sale of marketable securities	0	-82	-529
Equity loss from Standard Steam	104	359	211
Net change in deferred income taxes	0	-60	-3,990
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	-760	12	-137
Noncash compensation	452	518	1,604
Noncash services	64	69	6
Net changes in assets and liabilities	'	'	'
Accounts receivable	-1,619	315	-1,493
Income tax receivable	0	113	-9
Other current assets	8	230	148
Accounts payable	3,617	-476	-3,368
Accrued compensation expense	172	-336	-1,194
Other liabilities	123	53	29
Net cash provided by operating activities	17,098	13,139	2,567
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'	'
Net redemption of treasury investments	0	0	17,843
Acquisition & development of oil & gas properties	-20,757	-42,311	-50,265
Acquisition & development of mining properties	0	0	-221
Mining property option payment	0	0	354
Acquisition of property and equipment	-42	-102	-42
Proceeds from sale of oil and gas properties	0	21,475	13,574
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities	0	101	846
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	2,628	76	147
Net change in restricted investments	-48	-116	-11
Net cash used in investing activities:	-18,219	-20,877	-17,775
Cash flows financing activities:	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock	0	51	-146
Proceeds from new debt	2,000	10,000	33,069
Repayments of debt	-12,821	-12,484	-11,365
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	-10,821	-2,433	21,558
Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	317	122	767
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of discontinued operations	14,655	0	-55
Net cash (used in) provided by discontinued operations	14,972	122	712
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	3,030	-10,049	7,062
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	2,825	12,874	5,812
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	5,855	2,825	12,874
Supplemental disclosures:	'	'	'
Income tax paid	0	0	0
Interest paid	274	179	290
Non-cash investing and financing activities:	'	'	'
Unrealized gain on marketable securities	12	101	78
Acquisition and development of oil and gas properties through accounts payable	142	6,202	2,092
Additions to oil and gas properties through asset retirement obligations	$131	$142	$186

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'	'
Non-cash impairments	$2,955	$3,063	$1,540

BUSINESS_ORGANIZATION_AND_OPER

BUSINESS ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
BUSINESS ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS [Abstract]	'
BUSINESS ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS	'
	A.           BUSINESS ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS
	U.S. Energy Corp. (“USE”, the “Company”, “we” or “us”) was incorporated in the State of Wyoming on January 26, 1966.  U.S. Energy Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and gas properties and the exploration, holding, sale and/or development of mineral properties.  Principal asset interests at December 31, 2013 are in oil and gas, and molybdenum.

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]	'
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	'
	B.           SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Significant estimates include oil and gas reserves used for depletion and impairment considerations and the cost of future asset retirement obligations.  Due to inherent uncertainties, including the future prices of oil and gas, these estimates could change in the near term and such changes could be material.
	Principles of Consolidation
	The financial statements of USE as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 include the accounts of USE and its wholly owned subsidiaries Energy One, LLC (“Energy One”) and Remington Village, LLC (“Remington Village”).  All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  The financial statements as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 reflect USE’s ownership in a geothermal company, Standard Steam Trust LLC (“SST”), which is accounted for using the equity method.  At December 31, 2013 USE’s ownership interest in SST was 19.54%.
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	USE considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.  The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.  USE maintains its cash and cash equivalents in bank deposit accounts which may exceed federally insured limits.  USE has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes the accounts are not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents.
	Marketable Securities
	USE categorizes its marketable securities as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity.  Increases or decreases in the fair value of available-for-sale securities which are considered temporary are recorded within equity as comprehensive income or losses.  Gains or losses as a result of sale are recorded in operations when realized.  As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, USE had unrealized gains in the marketable securities before tax effect of $45,000 and $159,000, respectively.
	Accounts Receivable
	USE determines any required allowance by considering a number of factors including the length of time trade and other accounts receivable are past due and our previous loss history.  USE provides reserves for account receivable balances when they become uncollectable.  Payments subsequently received on such reserved receivables are credited to the allowance for doubtful accounts.  During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, USE recorded $0 and $13,000, respectively, in bad debt expense related to its multifamily housing project.  The balance of accounts receivable at December 31, 2013 and 2012 are for the sale of oil and gas and have been collected subsequent to the balance sheet date.  No reserve for uncollectable receivables was booked during the year ended December 31, 2013 or 2012.
	Valuation of Equity Method Investment
	The Company’s investment in SST is evaluated quarterly for possible impairment as applicable in accordance with ASC 323-10-35-32, which provides guidance related to a loss in value of an equity method investment.  This evaluation as of December 31, 2013, based on historical losses, current market conditions and forward business plans of SST, resulted in a determination by management that the Company’s investment in SST was impaired as of December 31, 2013.  As a result, the Company incurred a non-cash impairment charge of $2.2 million to write off the carrying amount of the investment in SST at December 31, 2013 to zero.  Future equity losses will not be recorded, however, the Company will resume accounting for the investment in SST under the equity method should SST subsequently report net income and the Company’s share of that net income equals the net losses not recognized during the period the equity method was suspended.  For additional information about the Company’s investment in SST, please refer to Note F – Investment in Standard Steam Trust, LLC.
	Restricted Investments
	USE accounts for cash deposits held as collateral for reclamation obligations as restricted investments.  Maturities or release dates less than twelve months from the end of the reported accounting period are reported as current assets while maturities or release dates in excess of twelve months from report dates are reported as long term assets.
	Properties and Equipment
	Land, buildings, improvements, machinery and equipment are carried at cost.  Depreciation of buildings, improvements, machinery and equipment is provided principally by the straight-line method over estimated useful lives ranging from 3 to 45 years.  Following is a breakdown of the lives over which assets are depreciated:
	Machinery and Equipment:
		Office Equipment	3 to 5 years
		Field Tools and Hand Equipment	5 to 7 years
		Vehicles and Trucks	3 to 7 years
		Heavy Equipment	7 to 10 years
	Buildings and Improvements:
		Service Buildings	20 years
		Corporate Headquarter Building	45 years
	Components of Property and Equipment as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
			(In thousands)
			December 31,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Oil & Gas properties
	Unproved		$	7,478		$	9,169
	Proved			136,521			119,919
				143,999			129,088
	Less accumulated depreciation
	depletion and amortization			(57,077	)		(43,454	)
	Net book value			86,922			85,634
	Mineral properties			20,739			20,739
	Building, land and equipment			8,334			8,469
	Less accumulated depreciation			(4,135	)		(4,034	)
	Net book value			4,199			4,435
	Totals		$	111,860		$	110,808
	Oil and Gas Properties
	The Company follows the full cost method in accounting for its oil and gas properties.  Under the full cost method, all costs associated with the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and gas properties are capitalized and accumulated in a country-wide cost center.  This includes any internal costs that are directly related to development and exploration activities, but does not include any costs related to production, general corporate overhead or similar activities.  Proceeds received from property disposals are credited against accumulated cost except when the sale represents a significant disposal of reserves, in which case a gain or loss is recognized.  The sum of net capitalized costs and estimated future development and dismantlement costs for each cost center is depleted on the equivalent unit-of-production method, based on proved oil and gas reserves.  Excluded from amounts subject to depletion are costs associated with unproved properties.
	Full Cost Pool – Full cost pool capitalized costs are amortized over the life of production of proven properties.  Capitalized costs at December 31, 2013 and 2012 which were not included in the amortized cost pool were $7.5 million and $9.2 million, respectively.  These costs consist of exploratory wells in progress and land costs related to unevaluated properties.  No capitalized costs related to unproved properties are included in the amortization base at December 31, 2013 and 2012.  It is anticipated that these costs will be added to the full cost amortization pool within the next two years as properties are evaluated, drilled or abandoned.
	Ceiling Test Analysis – Under the full cost method, net capitalized costs are limited to the lower of unamortized cost reduced by the related net deferred tax liability and asset retirement obligations or the cost center ceiling.  The cost center ceiling is defined as the sum of (i) estimated future net revenue, discounted at 10% per annum, from proved reserves, based on unescalated average prices per barrel of oil and per MMbtu of natural gas at the first day of each month in the 12-month period prior to the end of the reporting period and costs, adjusted for contract provisions and financial derivatives that hedge USE’s oil and gas revenue and asset retirement obligations, (ii) the cost of properties not being amortized, and (iii) the lower of cost or market value of unproved properties included in the cost being amortized, reduced by (iv) the income tax effects related to differences between the book and tax basis of the crude oil and natural gas properties. If the net book value reduced by the related net deferred income tax liability and asset retirement obligations exceeds the cost center ceiling limitation, a non-cash impairment charge is required in the period in which the impairment occurs.
	We perform a quarterly ceiling test for each of our oil and gas cost centers.  There was only one such cost center in 2013.  The reserves used in the ceiling test and the ceiling test itself incorporate assumptions regarding pricing and discount rates over which management has no influence in the determination of present value.  In arriving at the ceiling test for the year ended December 31, 2013, USE used $96.78 per barrel for oil and $3.67 per MMbtu for natural gas (and adjusted for property specific gravity, quality, local markets and distance from markets) to compute the future cash flows of USE’s producing properties.  The discount factor used was 10%.
	During the first quarter of 2013, we recorded a proved property impairment of $5.8 million related to our oil and gas assets.  The impairment was primarily due to a decline in the price of oil, additional capitalized well costs and changes in production.  At December 31, 2013, our net capitalized costs did not exceed the ceiling test limit and as a result, no further proved property impairment was recorded at December 31, 2013.  As of year-end there were no unproved properties that were considered to be impaired and reclassified to properties being amortized.  Management will continue to review the Company’s unproved properties based on market conditions and other changes and if appropriate, unproved property amounts may be reclassified to the amortized base of properties within the full cost pool.
	Wells in Progress - Wells in progress represent the costs associated with unproved wells that have not reached total depth or have not been completed as of period end.  They are classified as wells in progress and withheld from the depletion calculation and the ceiling test.  The costs for these wells are then transferred to evaluated property when the wells reach total depth and are cased and the costs become subject to depletion and the ceiling test calculation in future periods.
	Mineral Properties
	We capitalize all costs incidental to the acquisition of mineral properties.  Mineral exploration costs are expensed as incurred.  When exploration work indicates that a mineral property can be economically developed as a result of establishing proved and probable reserves, costs for the development of the mineral property as well as capital purchases and capital construction are capitalized and amortized using units of production over the estimated recoverable proved and probable reserves. Costs and expenses related to general corporate overhead are expensed as incurred. All capitalized costs are charged to operations if we subsequently determine that the property is not economic due to permanent decreases in market prices of commodities, excessive production costs or depletion of the mineral resource.
	Mineral properties at December 31, 2013 and 2012 reflect capitalized costs associated with our Mt. Emmons molybdenum property near Crested Butte, Colorado.  Our carrying balance in the Mt. Emmons property at December 31, 2013 and 2012 is as follows:
			(In thousands)
			December 31,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Costs associated with Mount Emmons
	beginning of year		$	20,739		$	20,739
	Development costs			--			--
	Costs at the end of the period		$	20,739		$	20,739
	Long-Lived Assets
	We evaluate our long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amount may not be recoverable. Impairment calculations are generally based on market appraisals.  If estimated future cash flows, on an undiscounted basis, are less than the carrying amount of the related asset, an asset impairment is considered to exist.  Changes in significant assumptions underlying future cash flow estimates may have a material effect on our financial position and results of operations.
	Assets Held for Sale
	In accordance with authoritative accounting guidance regarding property plant and equipment, assets are classified as held for sale when we commit to a plan to sell the assets and there is reasonable certainty that the sale will take place within one year.  Upon classification as held for sale, long-lived assets are no longer depreciated or depleted, and a measurement for impairment is performed to determine if there is any excess of carrying value over fair value less costs to sell.  Subsequent changes to estimated fair value less the cost to sell will impact the measurement of assets held for sale if the fair value is determined to be less than the carrying value of the assets.
	In January 2011, we made the decision to sell our Remington Village multifamily project in Gillette, Wyoming and in September 2012, we made the decision to sell our corporate aircraft and related facilities to reduce overhead costs.  All assets classified as assets held for sale at December 31, 2012 were sold in the year ending December 31, 2013.  Operations related to Remington Village are shown in discontinued operations on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.  For additional discussion on assets held for sale, please refer to Note G – Assets Held for Sale.
		(In thousands)
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
Assets held for sale
Remington Village		$	--		$	15,167
Corporate aircraft and facilities			--			1,884
		$	--		$	17,051
Liabilities held for sale
Remington Village		$	--		$	10,022
Derivative Instruments
The Company uses derivative instruments, typically costless collars and fixed-rate swaps, to manage price risk underlying its oil and gas production.  All derivative instruments are recorded in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The Company offsets fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments executed with the same counterparty. Although the Company does not designate any of its derivative instruments as cash flow hedges, such derivative instruments provide an economic hedge of our exposure to commodity price risk associated with forecasted future oil and gas production. These contracts are accounted for using the mark-to-market accounting method and accordingly, the Company recognizes all unrealized and realized gains and losses that are related to these contracts currently in earnings and classifies them as gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net in our consolidated statements of operations. The Company may also use puts, calls and basis swaps in the future.
The Company’s Board of Directors sets all risk management policies and reviews the status and results of derivative activities, including volumes, types of instruments and counterparties on a quarterly basis. These policies require that derivative instruments be executed only by the Chief Executive Officer or President. The agreements with approved counterparties identify the Chief Executive Officer and President as the only Company representatives authorized to execute trades. See Note D, Commodity Price Risk Management, for further discussion.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying amount of cash equivalents, receivables, other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of those instruments.  The recorded amounts for short-term and long-term debt approximate the fair market value due to the variable nature of the interest rates on the short-term debt, and the fact that interest rates remain generally unchanged from issuance of the long-term debt.
Asset Retirement Obligations
USE accounts for its asset retirement obligations under FASB ASC 410-20, "Asset Retirement Obligations."  USE records the fair value of the reclamation liability on its inactive mining properties and its operating oil and gas properties as of the date that the liability is incurred.  USE reviews the liability each quarter and determines if a change in estimate is required, and it accretes the discounted liability on a quarterly basis for the future liability.  Final determinations are made during the fourth quarter of each year.  USE deducts any actual funds expended for reclamation during the quarter in which it occurs.
The following is a reconciliation of the total liability for asset retirement obligations:
		(In thousands)
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
Beginning asset retirement obligation		$	686		$	510
Accretion of discount			38			34
Liabilities incurred			131			142
Liabilities settled			(43	)		--
Ending asset retirement obligation		$	812		$	686
Mineral properties		$	175		$	162
Oil & Gas wells			637			524
Ending asset retirement obligation		$	812		$	686
Revenue Recognition
USE derives revenue primarily from the sale of produced oil, gas, and NGLs.  The Company reports revenue as the gross amount received before taking into account production taxes and transportation costs, which are reported separately as expenses and are included in oil and gas production expense in the accompanying statements of operations.  USE records natural gas and oil revenue under the sales method of accounting.  Revenue is recorded in the month that the production is delivered to the purchaser.  Payment is generally received between 30 and 90 days after the date of production.  At the end of each month, we estimate the amount of production delivered to the purchaser and the price we will receive.  USE uses its knowledge of its properties, their historical performance, market prices, and other factors as the basis for these estimates.
USE has exposure to credit risk in the event of nonpayment by our operators, which are all in energy related industries.  During 2013, we had three major operators, Statoil, Zavanna, LLC and Contango Oil & Gas Company which accounted for approximately 38 percent, 32 percent and 18 percent of our total oil, gas and NGL revenues, respectively.  During 2012 we had two major operators, Statoil and Zavanna, which accounted for 57 percent and 32 percent of our total oil, gas and NGL revenues, respectively.  During 2011, we had one major operator, Statoil, which accounted for approximately 74 percent of our total oil, gas, and NGL revenues.
Revenues from real estate operations are reported on a gross revenue basis and are recorded at the time the service is provided.
Stock Based Compensation
USE measures the cost of employee and director services received in exchange for all equity awards granted, including stock options, based on the fair market value of the award as of the grant date.  USE computes the fair values of its options granted to employees using the Black Scholes pricing model and the following weighted average assumptions:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012	2011
Risk-free interest rate		1.66%		0.82% to 1.41%	1.77%
Expected lives (years)		6.0		5.0 to 6.0	6.0
Expected volatility		62.59%		61.87% to 63.59%	59.64%
Expected dividend yield		--		--	--
USE recognizes the cost of the equity awards over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, usually the vesting period.  As share-based compensation expense is recognized based on awards ultimately expected to vest, the expense has been reduced for estimated forfeitures based on historical forfeiture rates.
Income Taxes
USE recognizes deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the expected future income tax consequences, based on enacted tax laws, of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets, liabilities and carry forwards.
Additionally, USE recognizes deferred tax assets for the expected future effects of all deductible temporary differences, loss carry forwards and tax credit carry forwards. Deferred tax assets are reduced, if deemed necessary, by a valuation allowance for any tax benefits which, based on current circumstances, are not expected to be realized.  At December 31, 2013 and 2012, management believed it was more likely than not that such tax benefits would not be realized and a valuation allowance has been provided.  For further discussion, please refer to Note I – Income Taxes.
Earnings Per Share
Basic net income (loss) per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.  Common shares held by the ESOP are included in the computation of earnings per share.  Total shares held by the ESOP at December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 were 877,399, 824,123, and 684,643, respectively.
Diluted net income (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income or loss by the diluted weighted average common shares outstanding, which includes the effect of potentially dilutive securities.  Potentially dilutive securities for this calculation consist of in-the-money outstanding stock options.  When there is a loss from continuing operations, all potentially dilutive shares are anti-dilutive and are excluded from the calculation of net income (loss) per share.  The treasury stock method is used to measure the dilutive impact of in-the-money stock options.
The following table details the weighted-average dilutive and anti-dilutive securities related to stock options for the years presented:
		For the years ended December 31,
		2013		2012	2011
Dilutive		--		--	--
Anti-dilutive		872,185		--	969,631
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
On January 1, 2013, the Company adopted new authoritative accounting guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), which enhanced disclosures by requiring an entity to disclose information about netting arrangements, including rights of offset, to enable users of its financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position and provided clarification as to the specific instruments that should be considered in these disclosures. These pronouncements were issued to facilitate comparison between financial statements prepared on the basis of GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. These disclosures are effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and are to be applied retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The impact of retrospectively adopting these pronouncements did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements but did impact the Company's disclosures.
In July 2013, the FASB issued new authoritative accounting guidance related to the reporting of unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carryforward, similar tax loss, or tax credit carryforward exists. This authoritative accounting guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this guidance and assessing its impact on the Company’s financial statements and disclosures, but does not believe its financial statements will be significantly impacted.
The Company has reviewed other current outstanding statements from the FASB and does not believe that any of those statements will have a material effect on the financial statements of the Company when adopted.

FAIR_VALUE

FAIR VALUE	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
FAIR VALUE [Abstract]	'
FAIR VALUE	'
	C.           FAIR VALUE
	We follow authoritative guidance regarding fair value measurements for all assets and liabilities measured at fair value.  That guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs the Company uses to measure fair value based on the significance level of the following inputs:
	Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
	Level 2 - Pricing inputs, other than quoted prices within Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable.
	Level 3 - Pricing inputs that are unobservable, requiring the Company to use valuation methodologies that result in management’s best estimate of fair value.
	Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of the nonfinancial assets and liabilities and their placement in the fair value hierarchy levels.  As of December 31, 2013, we held $69,000 of investments in marketable securities.  The fair value of our commodity risk management assets and other accrued liabilities are determined using a market approach based on several factors, including observable transactions for the same or similar commodity options using the NYMEX futures index, and are designated as Level 2 within the valuation hierarchy.  The fair value of our property held for sale is determined based on anticipated future cash flows, costs and comparables to the extent they are available, less estimated selling costs.  The fair values of our other accrued liabilities that are reflected on the balance sheet are detailed in Note H.  Other accrued liabilities decreased to $741,000 at December 31, 2013 as a net result of a full year of payments from the retirement and the accretion of the liability.  The other accrued liabilities are the long term portion of the executive retirement program.
		(In thousands)
				Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013 Using
		December 31,		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets			Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs
	Description	2013		(Level 1)			(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Commodity risk management assets	$	14	$	--		$	14	$	--
	Available for sale securities		69		69			--		--
	Total assets	$	83	$	69		$	14	$	--
	Commodity risk management liability	$	280	$	--		$	280	$	--
	Other accrued liabilities 1		741		--			--		741
	Total liabilities	$	1,021	$	--		$	280	$	741
	1 Other accrued liabilities is the company's liability for its executive retirement program
		(In thousands)
				Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2012 Using
		31-Dec		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets			Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs
	Description	2012		(Level 1)			(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Commodity risk management assets	$	472	$	--		$	472	$	--
	Available for sale securities		183		183			--		--
	Assets held for sale		17,051		--			--		17,051
	Total assets	$	17,706	$	183		$	472	$	17,051
	Commodity risk management liability	$	--	$	--		$	--	$	--
	Other accrued liabilities 1		771		--			--		771
	Total liabilities	$	771	$	--		$	--	$	771
	1 Other accrued liabilities is the company's liability for its executive retirement program
	The following table summarizes the change in the fair value of our Level 3 Fair Value measurements for the year ended December 31, 2013.
		Change in Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
		(In thousands)
		December 31,		Sale of					December 31,
	Description	2012		Assets			Revision of Value		2013
	Assets held for sale
	Remington Village	$	15,167	$	(15,167	)	$	--	$	--
	Corporate aircraft and facilities		1,884		(1,884	)		--		--
	Total	$	17,051	$	(17,051	)	$	--	$	--
		December 31,		Additions and					December 31,
	Description		2012	Payments			Revision of Value			2013
	Other accrued liabilities	$	771	$	(30	)	$	--	$	741
	The following table summarizes, by major security type, the fair value and unrealized gain of our investments.  The unrealized gain is recorded on the consolidated balance sheet as other comprehensive income, a component of stockholders’ equity.
		(In thousands)
		31-Dec-13
				Unrealized
	Description of Securities	Cost		Gain			Fair Value
	Available for sale securities	$	24	$	45		$	69
	Total	$	24	$	45		$	69
		31-Dec-12
				Unrealized
	Description of Securities	Cost		Gain			Fair Value
	Available for sale securities	$	24	$	159		$	183
	Total	$	24	$	159		$	183
	Our other financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, other current liabilities and long-term debt.  The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other current liabilities approximate fair value because of their immediate or short-term maturities.  The carrying value of our debt approximates its fair market value since interest rates have remained unchanged from the issuance of the debt.  The fair value and carrying value of our debt was $9.0 million as of December 31, 2013.

COMMODITY_PRICE_RISK_MANAGEMEN

COMMODITY PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
COMMODITY PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT [Abstract]	'
COMMODITY PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT	'
	D.      COMMODITY PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT
	Through our wholly-owned subsidiary Energy One, we have entered into commodity derivative contracts (“economic hedges”) Wells Fargo, as described below.  The derivative contracts are priced using West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) quoted prices.  The Company is a guarantor of Energy One’s obligations under the economic hedges.  The objective of utilizing the economic hedges is to reduce the effect of price changes on a portion of our future oil production, achieve more predictable cash flows in an environment of volatile oil and gas prices and to manage our exposure to commodity price risk. The use of these derivative instruments limits the downside risk of adverse price movements.  However, there is a risk that such use may limit our ability to benefit from favorable price movements. Energy One may, from time to time, add incremental derivatives to hedge additional production, restructure existing derivative contracts or enter into new transactions to modify the terms of current contracts in order to realize the current value of its existing positions.  The Company does not engage in speculative derivative activities or derivative trading activities, nor does it use derivatives with leveraged features.
	Energy One's commodity derivative contracts as of December 31, 2013 are summarized below:
					Quantity
	Settlement Period	Counterparty	Basis		(Bbls/day)			Strike Price
	Crude Oil Costless Collar
	01/01/14 - 06/30/14	Wells Fargo	WTI			300		Put:		$	90
								Call:		$	95
	Crude Oil Costless Collar
	01/01/14 - 06/30/14	Wells Fargo	WTI			300		Put:		$	90
								Call:		$	97.25
	Crude Oil Costless Collar
	07/01/14 - 12/31/14	Wells Fargo	WTI			300		Put:		$	90
								Call:		$	98.4
	The following table details the fair value of the derivatives recorded in the applicable consolidated balance sheet, by category:
		As of December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)
		Derivative Assets					Derivative Liabilities
		Balance Sheet		Fair			Balance Sheet		Fair
		Classification		Value			Classification		Value
	Crude oil costless collars	Current Asset		$	14		Current Liability		$	280
		As of December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)
		Balance Sheet		Fair			Balance Sheet		Fair
		Classification		Value			Classification		Value
	Crude oil costless collars	Current Asset		$	472		Current Liability		$	--
	Unrealized gains and losses resulting from derivatives are recorded at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet and changes in fair value are recognized in the unrealized gain (loss) on risk management activities line on the consolidated statement of operations.  Realized gains and losses resulting from the contract settlement of derivatives are recognized in the commodity price risk management activities line on the consolidated statement of operations.  The following table summarizes the unrealized and realized derivative (gain) loss presented in the accompanying statements of operations:
			(In thousands)
			Year Ended December 31,
			2013				2012				2011
	Realized derivative gain (loss)		$	(338	)		$	21			$	(1,974	)
	Unrealized derivative gain (loss)		$	(737	)		$	1,070			$	1,126
	Total realized and unrealized derivative gain (loss)		$	(1,075	)		$	1,091			$	(848	)

SUPPLEMENTAL_FINANCIAL_INFORMA

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION ON OIL AND NATURAL GAS EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION ON OIL AND NATURAL GAS EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES [Abstract]	'
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION ON OIL AND NATURAL GAS EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES	'
	E.           SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION ON OIL AND NATURAL GAS EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES
	Capitalized Costs
	The following table presents information regarding USE’s net costs incurred in the purchase of proved and unproved properties, and in exploration and development activities:
		(In thousands)
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Unproved oil and gas properties	$	7,478		$	9,169
	Proved oil and gas properties		136,521			119,919
		$	143,999		$	129,088
	USE’s DD&A per equivalent BOE was $32.06 in 2013, $33.49 in 2012, and $31.64 in 2011.
	Undeveloped properties as of December 31, 2013 include costs incurred in the following years:
		(In thousands)
		Acquisitions			Exploration			Development			Total
	2010	$	134		$	--		$	--		$	134
	2011		5,006			--			--			5,006
	2012		271			--			--			271
	2013		2,067			--			--			2,067
	Total	$	7,478		$	--		$	--		$	7,478
	Costs Incurred
	Costs incurred in oil and natural gas property acquisition, exploration and development activities are summarized below:
		(In thousands)
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Property acquisition costs:
	Proved	$	445		$	2,987		$	1,288
	Unproved		1,760			1,416			10,679
	Exploration costs		9,138			10,943			32,788
	Development costs		9,403			20,134			4,550
	Total costs incurred	$	20,746		$	35,480		$	49,305
	Results of Operations
	Results of operations from oil and natural gas producing activities are presented below:
		(In thousands)
		For the years ending December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Oil and gas revenues	$	33,647		$	32,534		$	30,958
	Operating expenses		10,469			10,788			11,552
	Depreciation, depletion and amortization		13,623			14,893			13,997
	Impairment		5,828			5,189			--
			29,920			30,870			25,549
	Operating income	$	3,727		$	1,664		$	5,409
	Oil and Natural Gas Reserves (Unaudited)
	Proved reserves are estimated quantities of oil and natural gas which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions.  Proved developed reserves are reserves that can reasonably be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods.
	Proved oil and natural gas reserve quantities at December 31, 2013 and 2012 and the related discounted future net cash flows before income taxes are based on the estimates prepared by Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc.  The reserve reports for December 31, 2011 were prepared by Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc., Ryder Scott Company, L.P and Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.  Such estimates have been prepared in accordance with guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
	USE’s net ownership interests in estimated quantities of proved oil and natural gas reserves and changes in net proved reserves, all of which are located in the continental United States, are summarized below:
	31-Dec-13	Oil (BBLS)		Natural Gas or NGL (MCFE)
	Beginning of year	2,613,643		1,798,088
	Revisions of previous quantity estimates	(162,957)		382,690
	Extensions, discoveries and improved recoveries	1,352,746		678,412
	Purchase of reserves in place	--		--
	Sales of reserves in place	--		--
	Production	(343,719)		(487,282)
	End of year	3,459,713		2,371,908
	Proved developed reserves at end of year	1,875,528		1,701,282
	31-Dec-12	Oil (BBLS)		Natural Gas or NGL (MCFE)
	Beginning of year	2,737,969		2,744,128
	Revisions of previous quantity estimates	(145,596)		(481,583)
	Extensions, discoveries and improved recoveries	763,125		369,169
	Purchase of reserves in place	75,948		30,457
	Sales of reserves in place	(444,272)		(437,057)
	Production	(373,531)		(427,026)
	End of year	2,613,643		1,798,088
	Proved developed reserves at end of year	1,770,659		1,420,295
	Standardized Measure (Unaudited)
The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to USE’s ownership interests in proved oil and natural gas reserves as of year-end is shown below:
	(In thousands)
	December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Future cash inflows	$	330,245		$	237,148		$	259,533
Future costs:
Production		(129,392	)		(96,616	)		(77,813	)
Development		(37,739	)		(21,461	)		(42,972	)
Future income tax expense		(14,500	)		(8,483	)		(19,790	)
Future net cash flows		148,614			110,588			118,958
10% discount factor		(43,761	)		(39,571	)		(56,767	)
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows	$	104,853		$	71,017		$	62,191
Future cash flows are computed by applying average prices per barrel of oil and per MMbtu of natural gas at the first day of each month in the 12-month period prior to the end of the reporting period to year-end quantities of proved oil and natural gas reserves.  Prices used in computing year end 2013, 2012 and 2011 future cash flows were $96.78/barrel, $94.71/barrel and $96.19/barrel, respectively, for oil and $3.67/MMbtu, $2.757/MMbtu and $4.12/MMbtu for natural gas, respectively, in each case adjusted for regional price differentials and other factors.  Future operating expenses and development costs are computed primarily by USE’s independent petroleum engineers by estimating the expenditures to be incurred in developing and producing USE’s proved oil and natural gas reserves at the end of the year, based on year end costs and assuming continuation of existing economic conditions.
Future income taxes are based on year-end statutory rates, adjusted for the tax basis of oil and gas properties and available applicable tax assets.  A discount factor of 10% was used to reflect the timing of future net cash flows.  The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows is not intended to represent the replacement cost or fair market value of USE’s oil and natural gas properties.  An estimate of fair value would also take into account, among other things, the recovery of reserves not presently classified as proved, anticipated future changes in prices and costs, and a discount factor more representative of the time value of money and the risks inherent in reserve estimates.
Change in Standardized Measure (Unaudited)
Changes in standardized measure of future net cash flows relating to proved oil and natural gas reserves are summarized below:
	(In thousands)
	For the years ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Balance at beginning of year	$	71,017		$	62,191		$	44,653
Sales of oil and gas, net of production costs		(23,179	)		(21,747	)		(19,406	)
Net change in prices and production costs		2,543			(4,548	)		1,401
Net change in future development costs		--			--			--
Extensions and discoveries		54,360			23,297			26,574
Purchase of reserves in place		--			2,573			3,082
Sale of reserves in place		--			(13,573	)		(1,947	)
Revisions of previous quantity estimates		(2,961	)		(5,927	)		(3,158	)
Development costs incurred during year		8,344			22,808			14,930
Previously estimated development costs incurred		(6,414	)		(9,706	)		(2,719	)
Net change in income taxes		(4,245	)		7,261			(4,270	)
Accretion of discount		7,647			7,254			5,207
Changes in production rates, timing and other		(2,259	)		1,134			(2,156	)
Balance at end of year	$	104,853		$	71,017		$	62,191
Sales of oil and natural gas, net of oil and natural gas operating expenses, are based on historical pretax results.  Extensions and discoveries and the changes due to revisions in standardized variables are reported on a pretax discounted basis.

INVESTMENT_IN_STANDARD_STEAM_T

INVESTMENT IN STANDARD STEAM TRUST, LLC	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
INVESTMENT IN STANDARD STEAM TRUST, LLC [Abstract]	'
INVESTMENT IN STANDARD STEAM TRUST, LLC	'
	F.           INVESTMENT IN STANDARD STEAM TRUST, LLC
	USE’s ownership interest in SST, a Denver, Colorado based private geothermal resource acquisition and development company, was 19.54% at December 31, 2013.  The Company recorded an equity loss in unconsolidated investment related to SST of $104,000 during the year ended December 31, 2013.  Additionally, at December 31, 2013, the Company recorded an impairment of $2.2 million on the investment in SST which reduced the carrying amount of our investment in SST to zero.  Subsequently, we will no longer record our share of equity in earnings or losses, as we have written the investment balance down to zero due to impairment.

ASSETS_HELD_FOR_SALE

ASSETS HELD FOR SALE	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
ASSETS HELD FOR SALE [Abstract]	'
ASSETS HELD FOR SALE	'
	G.           ASSETS HELD FOR SALE
	The Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2012 presented approximately $17.1 million in book value of assets held for sale, consisting of $15.2 million related to Remington Village and $1.9 million related to our corporate aircraft and related facilities.  These assets were sold during the year ended December 31, 2013.
	Remington Village Sale
	On September 11, 2013, the Company completed the sale of the Remington Village Apartment Complex in Gillette Wyoming (“Remington Village”) to an affiliate of the Miller Frishman Group, LLC for $15.0 million.  The $9.5 million balance on the commercial note relating to Remington Village was paid in full at closing.  After deduction of payment of the note, commission and other closing costs, the net proceeds to the Company were approximately $5.0 million. Upon closing this transaction, a loss of $120,000 was recorded on the sale of discontinued of operations.
	The Company's real estate operations for the years ending December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 have been classified as discontinued operations in the current financial statements.   Results of discontinued operations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 were as follows:
		(In thousands)
		For the years ending December 31,
		2013		2012			2011
	Revenues	$	1,271	$	2,037		$	2,147
	Operating expenses		844		1,885			1,468
	Impairment		--		2,955			3,063
			844		4,840			4,531
	Income (loss) before income taxes		427		(2,803	)		(2,384	)
	Income tax benefit from (provision for)		--		1,009			(245	)
	Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	$	427	$	(1,794	)	$	(2,629	)
	Because Remington Village was classified as an asset held for sale, scheduled depreciation of $660,000 for 2013 and $896,000 for 2012 was not recorded.
	Corporate Aircraft and Related Facilities Sale
	During the first quarter of 2013, the Company sold its corporate aircraft for $1.9 million and related facilities for $767,000.  We recorded a loss of $1,000 on the sale of the corporate aircraft and a gain of $697,000 on the related facilities.

OTHER_LIABILITIES_AND_DEBT

OTHER LIABILITIES AND DEBT	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
OTHER LIABILITIES AND DEBT [Abstract]	'
OTHER LIABILITIES AND DEBT	'
	H.           OTHER LIABILITIES AND DEBT
	As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, USE had current and long term liabilities associated with the following funding commitments:
		(In thousands)
		December 31,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Other liabilities and debt:
	Other liabilities
	Deferred rent	$	11	$	12
	Remington Escrow		95		--
	Employee health insurance self funding		58		32
		$	164	$	44
	Other long term liabilities:
	Accrued executive retirement costs	$	741	$	771
	Debt:
	Credit Facility - collateralized by
	oil and gas reserves, at 2.46%	$	9,000	$	10,000
	Long term Debt
	Real estate note - collateralized by
	property, interest at 5.5%		--		9,621
	Real estate note - collateralized by
	property, interest at 6%		--		200
			9,000		19,821
	Less current portion		--		(526	)
	Totals	$	9,000	$	19,295
	Wells Fargo Reserve Credit Facility
	On July 30, 2010, USE established a Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility (the “Facility”) to borrow up to $100 million from a syndicate of banks, financial institutions and other entities, including BNP Paribas, who was replaced as a lender by Wells Fargo Bank, NA (“Wells Fargo”) on April 24, 2012.  At present, Wells Fargo is the only lender under the Facility.  In the future, the facility may include other members of a lending syndicate (the “Lenders”) as provided for in the Facility.  Wells Fargo also is the administrative agent for the Facility, which is governed by the following documents: Credit Agreement; Mortgage, Deed of Trust, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement (the “Mortgage”); and Guaranty and Pledge Agreement (the “Guaranty”), which are referred to below together as the “Facility Documents.”  The following summarizes the principal provisions of the Facility as set forth in the Facility Documents.  The summary is qualified by reference to the complete text of the documents.
	USE’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Energy One, is the borrower under the Facility.  USE has assigned to Energy One all of its rights, title and interest in certain oil and gas properties and equipment related thereto, rights under various operating agreements, proceeds from sale of production and from sale or other disposition of the properties.  USE also has unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed Energy One’s performance of its obligations under the Credit Agreement, including without limitation Energy One’s payment of all borrowings and related fees thereunder.
	From time to time until expiration of the Facility (July 30, 2017), if Energy One is in compliance with the Facility Documents, Energy One may borrow, pay, and re-borrow funds from the Lenders, up to an amount equal to the Borrowing Base, which was initially established at $12 million.   The Borrowing Base is redetermined semi-annually, taking into account updated reserve reports prepared by USE’s independent reserve engineers.  Any proposed increase in the Borrowing Base will require approval by all Lenders in the syndicate (presently only Wells Fargo), and any proposed Borrowing Base decrease will require approval by Lenders holding not less than two-thirds of outstanding loans and loan commitments.
	Interest is payable quarterly at the greater of the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate (plus 0.5%), and the adjusted LIBO rate (as those terms are defined in the Credit Agreement) for the three prior months, plus, an additional 2.25% to 3.25%, depending on the amount of the loan relative to the Borrowing Base.  Interest rates on outstanding loans are adjustable each day by Wells Fargo as administrative agent.  Energy One may prepay principal at any time without premium or penalty, but all outstanding principal will be due on July 30, 2017.  If there is a decrease in the Borrowing Base, the excess of outstanding loans over the Borrowing Base will be due over the six months following the redetermination.  We pay Wells Fargo a fee each time the Borrowing Base is increased.
	In addition, on a quarterly basis, Energy One will pay Wells Fargo, for the account of each Lender (as applicable), a commitment fee of 0.50% of the unused amount of each Lender’s lending commitment, computed daily until July 30, 2017.
	Energy One is required to comply with customary affirmative covenants and with certain negative covenants.  The principal negative financial covenants (measured at various times as provided in the Credit Agreement) do not permit (i) the Interest Coverage Ratio (Interest Expense to EBITDAX) to be less than 3.0 to 1; (ii) Total Debt to EBITDAX to be greater than 3.5 to 1; and (iii) the Current Ratio (current assets plus unused lender commitments under the Borrowing Base) to be less than 1.0 to 1.0.  EBITDAX is defined in the Credit Agreement as Consolidated Net Income, plus non-cash charges.  At December 31, 2013, Energy One was in compliance with all the affirmative and negative covenants.
	If Energy One fails to pay interest or principal when due, or fails to comply with the covenants in the Credit Agreement (after a reasonable cure period, if applicable), Wells Fargo as Administrative Agent may (and shall, if requested by the Majority Lenders (Lenders holding not less than 2/3rds of the outstanding loan principal), declare the loans immediately due, and foreclose on Energy One’s assets and enforce USE’s guaranty.
	As of December 31, 2013, the Borrowing Base was $25.0 million and we had borrowed $9.0 million under the Facility.  The Company’s outstanding balance under the Credit Agreement as of the date of this report is $9.0 million.
	Real Estate Notes
	In December 2008, USE and Thompson Creek Metals (“TCM”) jointly purchased land for $4.0 million ($2.0 million paid in January 2009, $400,000 annually for five years thereafter).  USE was responsible for one-half the purchase price. As of December 31, 2013, USE had paid $2.0 million for its half of the acquisition in full.  On January 21, 2014, the Company acquired TCM’s 50% interest in the property for $1.2 million (see Subsequent Event Footnote N).
	On May 5, 2011, USE borrowed $10.0 million from a commercial bank against Remington Village. This debt was retired on September 11, 2013 when Remington Village was sold.

INCOME_TAXES

INCOME TAXES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
INCOME TAXES [Abstract]	'
INCOME TAXES	'
	I.           INCOME TAXES
	The provision for income taxes is composed of the following:
	The provision for income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 consists of the following:
		(in thousands)
		Years ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Current income tax expense (benefit)
	Federal	$	--		$	--		$	--
	State		--			--			--
		$	--		$	--		$	--
	Deferred income tax expense (benefit)
	Federal	$	--		$	(1,093	)	$	(3,316	)
	State		--			(64	)		(195	)
		$	--		$	(1,157	)	$	(3,511	)
	The effective income tax rate differs from the U.S. Federal Statutory income tax rate due to the following:
		(in thousands)
		Years ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Federal statutory income tax rate	$	(2,509	)	$	(4,164	)	$	(2,828	)
	State income taxes, net of federal benefit		(158	)		(245	)		(166	)
	Incentive stock options		43			12			246
	Percent depletion carryover		(174	)		(177	)		(807	)
	Valuation analysis		2,717			3,512			--
	Other		81			(95	)		44
		$	--		$	(1,157	)	$	(3,511	)
	The components of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Deferred tax assets:
	Net operating loss	$	6,930		$	2,899
	Derivative instruments		96			(170	)
	Asset retirement obligation		294			247
	Stock based compensation		228			313
	Deferred compensation		385			382
	Alternative minimum tax credit		706			706
	Contribution carryover		37			37
	Equity investments		643			(91	)
	Percentage depletion carryover		2,421			2,100
		$	11,740		$	6,423
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Property and equipment		(5,446	)		(2,854	)
	State tax		(9	)		--
	Marketable securities		(16	)		(57	)
		$	(5,471	)	$	(2,911	)
	Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)		6,269			3,512
	Less: Valuation Allowance		(6,269	)		(3,512	)
	Deferred tax liability	$	--		$	--
	During the year ended December 31, 2013, deferred tax assets increased $5.3 million and deferred tax liabilities increased by $2.8 million.  The change in net deferred tax assets was an increase of $3.0 million compared to the previous year.  This resulted in a net deferred asset of $6.3 million, which is fully offset by a valuation allowance.
	USE has net operating loss carryovers as of December 31, 2013 of $20.9 million for federal income tax purposes and $18.3 million for financial reporting purposes.  The difference of $2.6 million relates to tax deductions for compensation expense for financial reporting purposes for which the benefit will not be recognized until the related deductions reduce taxes payable.  The net operating loss carryovers may be carried back two years and forward twenty years from the year the net operating loss was generated.  The net operating losses may be used to offset taxable income through 2032.  In addition, USE has alternative minimum tax credit carry-forwards of $706,000 which are available to offset future federal income taxes over an indefinite period.
	The statute of limitations is closed for the tax years through 2009.
	USE adopted the applicable provisions of ASC 740 to recognize, measure, and disclose uncertain tax positions in the financial statements.  Under ASC 740, tax positions must meet a “more-likely-than-not” recognition threshold to be recognized.  During the year ended December 31, 2013, no adjustments were recognized for uncertain tax positions.  USE recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense (benefit).  No interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions have been accrued.

SEGMENTS_AND_MAJOR_CUSTOMERS

SEGMENTS AND MAJOR CUSTOMERS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
SEGMENTS AND MAJOR CUSTOMERS [Abstract]	'
SEGMENTS AND MAJOR CUSTOMERS	'
	J.           SEGMENTS AND MAJOR CUSTOMERS
	During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, USE, for financial reporting purposes, operated two business segments, the exploration for and sale of oil and gas, and mining.  Our operating segments are reflected in the tables below:
		(In thousands)
		For the years ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Revenues:
	Oil and gas	$	33,647		$	32,534		$	30,958
	Total revenues		33,647			32,534			30,958
	Operating expenses:
	Oil and gas		29,920			30,870			25,549
	Mineral properties		3,045			2,899			2,364
	Total operating expenses		32,965			33,769			27,913
	Interest expense:
	Oil and gas		264			169			268
	Mineral properties		12			24			36
	Total interest expense		276			193			304
	Operating income (loss)
	Oil and gas	$	3,463		$	1,495		$	5,141
	Mineral properties		(3,057	)		(2,923	)		(2,400	)
	Operating income (loss)
	from identified segments		406			(1,428	)		2,741
	General and administrative expenses		(5,673	)		(9,109	)		(8,261	)
	Add back interest expense		276			193			304
	Other revenues and expenses		(2,695	)		849			(717	)
	Income (loss) before income taxes
	and discontinued operations	$	(7,686	)	$	(9,495	)	$	(5,933	)
	Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense:
	Oil and gas	$	13,623		$	14,893		$	13,997
	Mineral properties		126			127			102
	Corporate		149			437			494
	Total Depreciation, depletion
	and amortization expense	$	13,898		$	15,457		$	14,593
		(In thousands)
		December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Assets by segment
	Oil and gas	$	97,418		$	93,839		$	109,141
	Mineral		20,739			20,747			20,755
	Corporate		8,644			26,241			32,543
	Total assets	$	126,801		$	140,827		$	162,439

SHAREHOLDERS_EQUITY

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY [Abstract]	'
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	'
	K.           SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
	Stock Option Plans
	Employee Stock Option Plans.  In December 2001, the Board of Directors adopted (and the shareholders subsequently approved) the U.S. Energy Corp. 2001 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "2001 ISOP") for the benefit of USE's employees.  The 2001 ISOP (amended with the approval of the shareholders in 2004 and 2007) reserved for issuance 25% of USE’s shares of common stock issued and outstanding at any time.  The 2001 ISOP had a term of 10 years and expired on December 6, 2011.  Options issued under the 2001 ISOP remain exercisable until their expiration date under the terms of the 2001 ISOP.
	In June 2012, the Board of Directors adopted (and the shareholders approved) the U.S. Energy Corp. 2012 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan (the “2012 Equity Plan”) for the benefit of USE’s employees.  The 2012 Equity Plan reserved for issuance 1,200,000 shares of USE’s common stock.  The 2012 Equity Plan has a term of 10 years.
	A summary of the Employee Stock Option Plans activity in all plans for the year ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:
			For the years ended December 31,
			2013								2012								2011
			Employee Options				Weighted Average Exercise Price				Employee Options				Weighted Average Exercise Price				Employee Options				Weighted Average Exercise Price
	Outstanding at beginning
	of the year			2,259,282			$	3.8				2,318,399			$	3.94				3,011,647			$	3.87
	Granted			270,000			$	2.08				150,000			$	2.32				--			$	--
	Forfeited			--			$	--				(10,000	)		$	2.32				--			$	--
	Expired			(28,333	)		$	4.68				(194,950	)		$	4.47				(200,000	)		$	3.9
	Exercised			--			$	--				(4,167	)		$	2.52				(493,248	)		$	3.51
	Outstanding at year end			2,500,949			$	3.6				2,259,282			$	3.8				2,318,399			$	3.94
	Exercisable at year end			2,137,619			$	3.85				2,119,282			$	3.9				2,108,399			$	3.84
	Weighted average fair
	value of options
	granted during
	the year						$	1.2							$	1.3							$	--
	No employee options were exercised during the year ended December 31, 2013.  During the year ended December 31, 2012, a total of 4,167 options were exercised by employees by the surrender of 3,097 shares valued at $10,000.  In the year ended December 31, 2011, 493,248 options were exercised by the payment of $34,000 in cash and surrender of 368,804 shares with a fair market value of $1.9 million.
	Option related compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period of the options and is calculated using the Black Scholes option pricing model.  USE initially assumed no forfeitures, but has subsequently reduced the cumulative expense based on historical forfeitures.  The total expense associated with employee stock options for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $120,000, $33,000 and $947,000, respectively.  As of December 31, 2013, there was $370,000 of total unrecognized expense related to unvested stock options, which is being amortized through 2016.
	The following table summarizes information about employee stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2013:
	Grant Price Range				Employee Options Outstanding at December 31, 2013				Weighted average remaining contractual life in years				Weighted average exercise price				Employee Options exercisable at December 31, 2013				Weighted average exercise price
	$	2.08				270,000				9.5			$	2.08				--			$	--
	$	2.09 - $2.32				140,000				8.53			$	2.32				46,670			$	2.32
	$	2.33 - $2.46				386,869				0.5			$	2.46				386,869			$	2.46
	$	2.47 - $2.52				405,312				4.73			$	2.52				405,312			$	2.52
	$	2.53 - $3.86				273,768				1.79			$	3.86				273,768			$	3.86
	$	3.87 - $4.97				1,025,000				3.57			$	4.97				1,025,000			$	4.97
						2,500,949				4			$	3.6				2,137,619			$	3.85
	The following table sets forth the number of options available for grant as well as the intrinsic value of the options outstanding and exercisable at:
			At December 31,
			2013				2012				2011
	Available for future grant			790,000				1,060,000				--
	Intrinsic value of options exercised		$	--			$	4,000			$	888,000
	Aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding		$	1,661,000			$	--			$	351,000
	Aggregate intrinsic value of options exercisable		$	1,073,000			$	--			$	351,000
	Director Option Plan.  As of December 31, 2013, there were 146,000 director options outstanding to purchase shares of USE's common stock.  USE values these options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and expenses that value over various terms based on the nature of the award.  Activity for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 for director options is presented in the following table:
			For the years ended December 31,
			2013								2012								2011
			Director Options				Weighted Average Exercise Price				Director Options				Weighted Average Exercise Price				Director Options				Weighted Average Exercise Price
	Outstanding at beginning
	of the period			150,000			$	3.05				210,000			$	3.1				320,000			$	2.95
	Granted			36,000			$	2.08				80,000			$	2.78				20,000			$	4.19
	Forfeited			--			$	--				--			$	--				(20,000	)		$	2.52
	Expired			(40,000	)		$	2.6				(120,000	)		$	3.05				(5,000	)		$	3.9
	Exercised			--			$	--				(20,000	)		$	2.52				(105,000	)		$	2.92
	Outstanding at period end			146,000			$	2.93				150,000			$	3.05				210,000			$	3.1
	Exercisable at period end			56,668			$	3.46				63,335			$	3.01				183,334			$	2.91
	Weighted average fair
	value of options
	granted during
	the period						$	1.2							$	1.59							$	2.34
	No director options were exercised during the year ended December 31, 2013.  During the year ended December 31, 2012, a total of 20,000 director options were exercised by the payment of $50,000 in cash.  In the year ended December 31, 2011, 105,000 options were exercised by the payment of $62,000 in cash and the surrender of 62,104 shares with a fair market value of $245,000.  The total expense associated with director stock options for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $64,000, $69,000 and $6,000, respectively.  As of December 31, 2013, there was $90,000 of total unrecognized expense related to unvested stock options, which is being amortized through 2016.
	The following table summarizes information about director options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2013:
	Grant Price Range				Director Options Outstanding at December 31, 2013				Weighted average remaining contractual life in years				Weighted average exercise price				Director Options exercisable at December 31, 2013				Weighted average exercise price
	$	2.08				36,000				9.5			$	2.08				--			$	--
	$	2.09 - $2.32				10,000				8.53			$	2.32				3,334			$	2.32
	$	2.33 - $2.52				10,000				4.73			$	2.52				10,000			$	2.52
	$	2.53 - $2.85				60,000				8.22			$	2.85				20,000			$	2.85
	$	2.86 - $4.19				20,000				7.48			$	4.19				13,334			$	4.19
	$	4.20 - $5.04				10,000				6.48			$	5.04				10,000			$	5.04
					146,000				8.1			$	2.93				56,668			$	3.46
These options are held by current and former directors of USE.
The following table sets forth the number of options available for grant as well as the intrinsic value of the options outstanding and exercisable at:
		At December 31,
		2013				2012				2011
Available for future grant			131,359				126,526				164,099
Intrinsic value of options exercised		$	--			$	17,000			$	14,000
Aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding		$	142,000			$	--			$	31,000
Aggregate intrinsic value of options exercisable		$	35,000			$	--			$	31,000
USE has computed the fair values of its employee and director options using the Black Scholes pricing model and the following weighted average assumptions:
	For the years ended December 31,
	2013	2012	2011
Risk-free interest rate	1.66%	0.82% to 1.41%	1.77%
Expected lives (years)	6.0	5.0 to 6.0	6.0
Expected volatility	62.59%	61.87% to 63.59%	59.64%
Expected dividend yield	--	--	--
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
The Board of Directors of USE adopted the U.S. Energy Corp. 1989 Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") in 1989, for the benefit of all USE’s employees.  Employees become eligible to participate in the ESOP after one year of service which must consist of at least 1,000 hours worked.  After the employee becomes a participant in the plan, he or she must have a minimum of 1,000 hours of service in each plan year to be considered for allocations of funding from USE.  Employees become 20% vested after three years of service and increase their vesting by 20% each year thereafter until such time as they are fully vested after eight years of service.
An employee’s total compensation paid, which is subject to federal income tax, up to an annual limit of $255,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013, and $250,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012 and $245,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011, is the basis for computing how much of the total annual funding is contributed into his or her personal account.  An employee’s compensation divided by the total eligible compensation paid to all plan participants is the percentage that each participant receives on an annual basis.  USE funds 10% of all eligible compensation annually in the form of common stock and may fund up to an additional 15% to the plan in common stock.  As of December 31, 2013, all shares of USE’s stock that have been contributed to the ESOP have been allocated.  The estimated fair value of shares that are not vested is approximately $14,000.
During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Board of Directors of USE approved a contribution of 53,276 shares to the ESOP at the price of $3.76 for a total expense of $200,000.  This compares to contributions to the ESOP during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 of 161,624 and 98,958 shares to the ESOP at prices of $1.50 and $2.91 per share, respectively.  The expense for the contributions during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 were $242,000 and $287,000, respectively.

COMMITMENTS_CONTINGENCIES_AND_

COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER [Abstract]	'
COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER	'
	L.           COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER
	Legal Proceedings
	From time to time, we are party to certain legal actions and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. While the outcome of these events cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not expect these matters to have a materially adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.  Following are currently pending legal matters:
	Water Rights Litigation –Mt. Emmons Project
	On July 25, 2008, we filed an Application for Finding of Reasonable Diligence with the Colorado Water Court (“Water Diligence Application”) concerning the conditional water rights associated with the Mt. Emmons Project (Case No. 2008CW81).  The conditional water decree (“Decree”) required the Company to file its proposed plan of operations and associated permits with the Forest Service and BLM within six years of entry of the Decree, or within six years of the final determination of the pending patent application, whichever occurred later.  The BLM issued the mineral patents on April 2, 2004.  Although the issuance of the patents was appealed, on April 30, 2007, the United States Supreme Court made a final determination (by denial of certiorari) upholding BLM’s issuance of the mineral patents.  The Company filed a plan of operations on March 31, 2010.
	On August 11, 2010, High Country Citizen’s Alliance, Crested Butte Land Trust and Star Mountain Ranch Association, Inc. (“Opposers”) filed a motion for summary judgment alleging that the plan of operations did not comply with the United States Forest Service (“USFS”) regulations and did not satisfy certain “reality check” limitations contained in the Decree.  On September 24, 2010, we filed a response to the motion for summary judgment responding that the plan of operations complied with USFS and BLM regulations and satisfied the reality check limitations.  The U.S. Department of Justice also filed a response on behalf of the USFS and BLM asserting that the Court cannot second guess the USFS’s determination that the plan of operations satisfied USFS and BLM regulations.
	On November 24, 2010 the District Court Judge denied the Opposers’s motion for summary judgment and held that Company had until April 30, 2013 to comply with the reality check provision of the Decree, which is six years after the Supreme Court denied certiorari in the judicial proceeding.  On October 10, 2012 the Company filed a Plan of Operations with the USFS in compliance with the reality check provision of the Decree.  The question of the adequacy of the Water Diligence Application is pending.
	Appeal of Modification – Notice of Intent to Conduct Prospecting for the Mt. Emmons Project
	On October 17, 2013, the Colorado Court of Appeals upheld the Colorado District Court and affirmed the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board (“MLRB”) approval of the Company’s Modification MD-03 (“MD-03”) to the Notice of Intent for the Mt. Emmons Project (the “NOI”).  On January 12, 2011, the MLRB upheld DRMS’s approval of MD-03 and its determination that:  (i) the activities proposed by the NOI and MD-03 are prospecting, not development or mining, (ii) the current financial warranty amount is sufficient to cover the proposed activities and (iii) DRMS’s decision not to make its approval of MD-03 contingent on permits or licenses that may be required by federal, other state, or local agencies was proper.
	Brigham Oil & Gas, L.P.
	On June 8, 2011, Brigham Oil & Gas, L.P. (“Brigham”), as the operator of the Williston 25-36 #1H Well, filed an action in the State of North Dakota, County of Williams, in District Court, Northwest Judicial District, Case No. 53-11-CV-00495 to interplead to the court with respect to the undistributed suspended funds from this well to protect itself from potential litigation.  Brigham became aware of an apparent dispute with respect to ownership of the mineral interest between the ordinary high water mark and the ordinary low water mark of the Missouri River.  Brigham has suspended payment of certain proceeds of production related to the minerals in and under this property pending resolution of the apparent dispute.  Energy One is a 47.2% working interest owner in this well as a result of a participation agreement and a joint operating agreement with Brigham and Energy One’s legal position is aligned with Brigham.  All funds due to Energy One on this well have been distributed to Energy One and there are no undistributed suspended funds held in suspense by Brigham for Energy One.  Although initially listed as a defendant in this proceeding, Brigham and Energy One anticipate filing with the court documents to change Energy One’s status to an additional plaintiff.
	Quiet Title Action – Dimmit County, TX
	On October 4, 2013, Dimmit Wood Properties, Ltd. (“Dimmit”) filed a Quiet Title Action against Chesapeake Exploration, LLC (“Chesapeake”), Crimson Exploration Operating, Inc. (“Crimson”), EXCO Operating Company, LP, OOGC America, Inc., Energy One and Liberty Energy, LLC (“Liberty”) (jointly referred to as “Defendants”) concerning an 800.77 gross acre oil and gas lease (“Lease”) located in Dimmit County, Texas.  Crimson, Energy One and Liberty received an assignment from Chesapeake of the Lease, in which Energy One has a 30% working interest.  Dimmit alleges that the Lease has terminated due to the failure to achieve production in paying quantities.  On October 28, 2013, the Defendants filed an answer, asserting that production in paying quantities was achieved in the primary term of the Lease with an existing producing well and that the Lease has remained in good standing and has not terminated.  The Defendants also filed Counterclaims against Dimmit, including but not limited to breach of contract.  No new wells have been drilled by the Defendants on the Lease.
	Mining Permits
	The Mt. Emmons molybdenum property is located on fee property within the boundary of USFS land.  Although mining of the mineral resource will occur on the fee property, associated ancillary activities will occur on USFS land.  USE submitted a full mine plan of operations in part to satisfy the requirements of the conditional water rights decree on October 10, 2012.  Under the procedures mandated by National Environmental Protection Act (“NEPA”), the USFS will prepare an environmental analysis in the form of an Environmental Assessment and/or and Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate the predicted environmental and social economic impacts of the proposed development and mining of the Mt. Emmons molybdenum property.  The NEPA process provides for public review and comment of the proposed plan.
	Obtaining and maintaining the various permits for the mining operations at Mt. Emmons will be complex, time-consuming, and expensive.  Changes in a mine’s design, production rates, quality of material mined, and many other matters, often require submission of the proposed changes for agency approval prior to implementation.  In addition, changes in operating conditions beyond our control, or changes in agency policy and Federal and State law, could further affect the successful permitting of the mine operations.
	Although USE believes that the plan of operations for Mt. Emmons will ultimately be approved by the USFS, this cannot be guaranteed.  Moreover, the timing and cost, and ultimate success of the mining operation, cannot be predicted.
	401(K) Plan
	The Board of Directors of USE adopted the U.S. Energy Corp. 401(K) Plan in 2004.  USE matches 50% of an employee’s salary deferrals up to a maximum contribution per employee of $4,000 annually.  USE expensed $46,000, $54,000, and $57,000 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, related to these contributions.
	Executive Officer Compensation
	In December 2001, the Board of Directors adopted (and the shareholders subsequently approved) the 2001 Stock Compensation Plan (the “2001 SCP”) to compensate its executive officers.  The 2001 SCP was amended on June 22, 2007 with shareholder approval.  Under the plan, 20,000 shares may be issued annually to each officer during his employment.  During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, USE collectively issued 30,000, 60,000, and 75,000 shares of stock to these officers, respectively.  While in USE’s employ, the officers have agreed not to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of or encumber the shares granted under the 2001 SCP.  In consideration of this agreement USE has agreed to pay all taxes due on the shares granted to the officers.  With the approval of the 2012 Equity Plan by the shareholders at the 2012 annual meeting, the 2001 SCP terminated on April 20, 2013.  The last shares issued under the 2001 SCP were issued in April 2013.  All future stock awards will be issued pursuant to the 2012 Equity Plan.
	USE committed to pay the surviving spouse of the former Chairman and Founder, who passed away on September 4, 2006, one years’ full salary and 50% of that amount annually for an additional four years thereafter.  During the three years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, USE paid $0, $0, and $57,000, respectively.   The Board of Directors also approved payment to USE’s former General Counsel of 50% of his then current salary for a period of five years.  USE paid $85,000 annually under this agreement beginning at the date of retirement, January 12, 2007, to January 12, 2012.
	On October 20, 2005, the Board of Directors adopted an Executive Retirement Policy (the “Retirement Plan”) for the then Chairman/CEO President/COO and CFO/Treasurer/V.P. Finance.  Under the terms of the Retirement Plan, the retired executive will receive payments equaling 50% of the greater of (i) the amount of compensation the officer received as base cash pay on his/her final regular pay check or (ii) the average annual pay rate, less all bonuses, he/she received over the last five years of his/her employment with Company.  To be eligible for this benefit, the executive officer must serve in one of the designated executive offices for 15 years, reach the age of 60 and be an employee of USE on December 31, 2010.  Under each executive’s employment contract USE has also agreed to pay for health insurance for the executive and his spouse from date of retirement, after age 60, until the executive is eligible for Medicare.  During 2007, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to fund the retirement benefit for the then active officers who qualified under the plan.  The funding is held in a separate trust account that is managed by an independent trustee and is subject only to the claims of creditors in the event of insolvency of USE.  At December 31, 2013, USE had funded the executive retirement account with the amount calculated by a third party actuary, of $1.2 million, which is recorded as Other Long Term Assets.  Additional amounts will be deposited annually until each executive’s 60th birthday.  As of June 30, 2011 the former CFO/Treasurer/V.P. Finance retired.  During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 that former officer received payments totaling $122,000 and $122,000, respectively from the Retirement Plan.  At December 31, 2013, there were two officers who were included in the Retirement Plan and four that may qualify for the health insurance benefit.
	Compensation expense for executives under the Retirement Plan for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $99,000, $80,000, and $72,000, respectively.  The total accrued liability for executive retirement under all plans at December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 was $865,000, $903,000, and $947,000, respectively.
	USE has also established a mandatory retirement age of 70 unless the board specifically requests the services of an employee or officer beyond that age.  Certain officers and one non-officer employee have agreements for payment of severance in the event of a change of control of USE.
	Operating Leases
	USE is the lessor of portions of the office buildings and building improvements that it owns.  USE occupies the majority of its main office building.  The leases are accounted for as operating leases and provide for minimum monthly receipts of $8,000 through December 31, 2013. Rental income under the agreements was $96,000, $170,000, and $101,000 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  Future minimum receipts for non-cancelable operating leases are $101,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014.

SELECTED_QUARTERLY_FINANCIAL_D

SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited) [Abstract]	'
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited)	'
	M.           SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited)
		(In thousands except per share data)
		Three Months Ended
		December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,
		2013			2013			2013			2013
	Operating revenues	$	9,271		$	8,582		$	7,915		$	7,879
	Operating income (loss)	$	692		$	359		$	118		$	(6,160	)
	Income (loss) before income tax and discontinued operations	$	(1,217	)	$	(706	)	$	367		$	(6,130	)
	Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	$	--		$	--		$	--		$	--
	Discontinued operations, net of tax	$	(3	)	$	(128	)	$	206		$	232
	Net income (loss)	$	(1,220	)	$	(834	)	$	573		$	(5,898	)
	Loss per share, basic
	Continuing operations	$	(0.04	)	$	(0.03	)	$	0.01		$	(0.22	)
	Discontinued operations		--			--			0.01			0.01
		$	(0.04	)	$	(0.03	)	$	0.02		$	(0.21	)
	Basic weighted average shares outstanding		27,682,602			27,682,602			27,682,272			27,667,102
	Loss per share, diluted
	Continuing operations	$	(0.04	)	$	(0.03	)	$	0.01		$	(0.22	)
	Discontinued operations		--			--			0.01			0.01
		$	(0.04	)	$	(0.03	)	$	0.02		$	(0.21	)
	Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		27,682,602			27,682,602			27,682,272			27,667,102
		(In thousands except per share data)
		Three Months Ended
		December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,
		2012			2012			2012			2012
	Operating revenues	$	8,038		$	7,639		$	8,522		$	8,335
	Operating (loss)	$	(5,880	)	$	(2,709	)	$	(991	)	$	(712	)
	Income (loss) before income tax and discontinued operations	$	(6,079	)	$	(3,155	)	$	624		$	(833	)
	Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	$	(1,302	)	$	1,285		$	(379	)	$	388
	Discontinued operations, net of tax	$	(548	)	$	(75	)	$	(1,235	)	$	64
	Net income (loss)	$	(7,929	)	$	(1,945	)	$	(990	)	$	(381	)
	Loss per share, basic
	Continuing operations	$	(0.27	)	$	(0.07	)	$	0.01		$	(0.01	)
	Discontinued operations		(0.02	)		--			(0.05	)		--
		$	(0.29	)	$	(0.07	)	$	(0.04	)	$	(0.01	)
	Basic weighted average shares outstanding		27,475,813			27,468,355			27,460,483			27,438,584
	Loss per share, diluted
	Continuing operations	$	(0.27	)	$	(0.07	)	$	0.01		$	(0.01	)
	Discontinued operations		(0.02	)		--			(0.05	)		--
		$	(0.29	)	$	(0.07	)	$	(0.04	)	$	(0.01	)
	Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		27,475,813			27,468,355			27,460,483			27,438,584
		(In thousands except per share data)
		Three Months Ended
		December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,
		2011			2011			2011			2011
	Operating revenues	$	8,846		$	8,408		$	7,025		$	6,679
	Operating income (loss)	$	(736	)	$	(689	)	$	(723	)	$	(3,068	)
	Income (loss) before income tax and discontinued operations	$	(2,443	)	$	1,022		$	420		$	(4,932	)
	Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	$	2,671		$	(892	)	$	(618	)	$	2,594
	Discontinued operations, net of tax	$	(3,019	)	$	138		$	123		$	129
	Net income (loss)	$	(2,791	)	$	268		$	(75	)	$	(2,209	)
	Income (loss) per share, basic
	Continuing operations	$	0.01		$	--		$	(0.01	)	$	(0.08	)
	Discontinued operations		(0.12	)		0.01			0.01			--
		$	(0.11	)	$	0.01		$	--		$	(0.08	)
	Basic weighted average shares outstanding		27,288,470			27,259,174			27,220,049			27,186,438
	Income (loss) per share, diluted
	Continuing operations	$	0.01		$	--		$	(0.01	)	$	(0.08	)
	Discontinued operations		(0.12	)		0.01			0.01			--
		$	(0.11	)	$	0.01		$	--		$	(0.08	)
	Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		27,288,470			27,862,098			27,866,544			27,186,438

SUBSEQUENT_EVENTS

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS [Abstract]	'
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	'
	N.           SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
	On January 21, 2014, the Company acquired Thompson Creek Metals’ (“TCM”) 50% interest in 160 acres of fee land in the vicinity of the Mt. Emmons project mining claims for $1.2 million.  The property was originally acquired jointly by the Company and TCM in January 2009.

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT1

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]	'
Use of Estimates	'
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Significant estimates include oil and gas reserves used for depletion and impairment considerations and the cost of future asset retirement obligations.  Due to inherent uncertainties, including the future prices of oil and gas, these estimates could change in the near term and such changes could be material.
Principles of Consolidation	'
	Principles of Consolidation
	The financial statements of USE as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 include the accounts of USE and its wholly owned subsidiaries Energy One, LLC (“Energy One”) and Remington Village, LLC (“Remington Village”).  All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  The financial statements as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 reflect USE’s ownership in a geothermal company, Standard Steam Trust LLC (“SST”), which is accounted for using the equity method.  At December 31, 2013 USE’s ownership interest in SST was 19.54%.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	'
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	USE considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.  The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.  USE maintains its cash and cash equivalents in bank deposit accounts which may exceed federally insured limits.  USE has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes the accounts are not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents.
Marketable Securities	'
	Marketable Securities
	USE categorizes its marketable securities as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity.  Increases or decreases in the fair value of available-for-sale securities which are considered temporary are recorded within equity as comprehensive income or losses.  Gains or losses as a result of sale are recorded in operations when realized.  As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, USE had unrealized gains in the marketable securities before tax effect of $45,000 and $159,000, respectively.
Accounts Receivable	'
	Accounts Receivable
	USE determines any required allowance by considering a number of factors including the length of time trade and other accounts receivable are past due and our previous loss history.  USE provides reserves for account receivable balances when they become uncollectable.  Payments subsequently received on such reserved receivables are credited to the allowance for doubtful accounts.  During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, USE recorded $0 and $13,000, respectively, in bad debt expense related to its multifamily housing project.  The balance of accounts receivable at December 31, 2013 and 2012 are for the sale of oil and gas and have been collected subsequent to the balance sheet date.  No reserve for uncollectable receivables was booked during the year ended December 31, 2013 or 2012.
Valuation of Equity Method Investment	'
	Valuation of Equity Method Investment
	The Company’s investment in SST is evaluated quarterly for possible impairment as applicable in accordance with ASC 323-10-35-32, which provides guidance related to a loss in value of an equity method investment.  This evaluation as of December 31, 2013, based on historical losses, current market conditions and forward business plans of SST, resulted in a determination by management that the Company’s investment in SST was impaired as of December 31, 2013.  As a result, the Company incurred a non-cash impairment charge of $2.2 million to write off the carrying amount of the investment in SST at December 31, 2013 to zero.  Future equity losses will not be recorded, however, the Company will resume accounting for the investment in SST under the equity method should SST subsequently report net income and the Company’s share of that net income equals the net losses not recognized during the period the equity method was suspended.  For additional information about the Company’s investment in SST, please refer to Note F – Investment in Standard Steam Trust, LLC.
Restricted Investments	'
	Restricted Investments
	USE accounts for cash deposits held as collateral for reclamation obligations as restricted investments.  Maturities or release dates less than twelve months from the end of the reported accounting period are reported as current assets while maturities or release dates in excess of twelve months from report dates are reported as long term assets.
Properties and Equipment	'
	Properties and Equipment
	Land, buildings, improvements, machinery and equipment are carried at cost.  Depreciation of buildings, improvements, machinery and equipment is provided principally by the straight-line method over estimated useful lives ranging from 3 to 45 years.  Following is a breakdown of the lives over which assets are depreciated:
	Machinery and Equipment:
		Office Equipment	3 to 5 years
		Field Tools and Hand Equipment	5 to 7 years
		Vehicles and Trucks	3 to 7 years
		Heavy Equipment	7 to 10 years
	Buildings and Improvements:
		Service Buildings	20 years
		Corporate Headquarter Building	45 years
	Components of Property and Equipment as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
			(In thousands)
			December 31,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Oil & Gas properties
	Unproved		$	7,478		$	9,169
	Proved			136,521			119,919
				143,999			129,088
	Less accumulated depreciation
	depletion and amortization			(57,077	)		(43,454	)
	Net book value			86,922			85,634
	Mineral properties			20,739			20,739
	Building, land and equipment			8,334			8,469
	Less accumulated depreciation			(4,135	)		(4,034	)
	Net book value			4,199			4,435
	Totals		$	111,860		$	110,808
Oil and Gas Properties	'
	Oil and Gas Properties
	The Company follows the full cost method in accounting for its oil and gas properties.  Under the full cost method, all costs associated with the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and gas properties are capitalized and accumulated in a country-wide cost center.  This includes any internal costs that are directly related to development and exploration activities, but does not include any costs related to production, general corporate overhead or similar activities.  Proceeds received from property disposals are credited against accumulated cost except when the sale represents a significant disposal of reserves, in which case a gain or loss is recognized.  The sum of net capitalized costs and estimated future development and dismantlement costs for each cost center is depleted on the equivalent unit-of-production method, based on proved oil and gas reserves.  Excluded from amounts subject to depletion are costs associated with unproved properties.
	Full Cost Pool – Full cost pool capitalized costs are amortized over the life of production of proven properties.  Capitalized costs at December 31, 2013 and 2012 which were not included in the amortized cost pool were $7.5 million and $9.2 million, respectively.  These costs consist of exploratory wells in progress and land costs related to unevaluated properties.  No capitalized costs related to unproved properties are included in the amortization base at December 31, 2013 and 2012.  It is anticipated that these costs will be added to the full cost amortization pool within the next two years as properties are evaluated, drilled or abandoned.
	Ceiling Test Analysis – Under the full cost method, net capitalized costs are limited to the lower of unamortized cost reduced by the related net deferred tax liability and asset retirement obligations or the cost center ceiling.  The cost center ceiling is defined as the sum of (i) estimated future net revenue, discounted at 10% per annum, from proved reserves, based on unescalated average prices per barrel of oil and per MMbtu of natural gas at the first day of each month in the 12-month period prior to the end of the reporting period and costs, adjusted for contract provisions and financial derivatives that hedge USE’s oil and gas revenue and asset retirement obligations, (ii) the cost of properties not being amortized, and (iii) the lower of cost or market value of unproved properties included in the cost being amortized, reduced by (iv) the income tax effects related to differences between the book and tax basis of the crude oil and natural gas properties. If the net book value reduced by the related net deferred income tax liability and asset retirement obligations exceeds the cost center ceiling limitation, a non-cash impairment charge is required in the period in which the impairment occurs.
	We perform a quarterly ceiling test for each of our oil and gas cost centers.  There was only one such cost center in 2013.  The reserves used in the ceiling test and the ceiling test itself incorporate assumptions regarding pricing and discount rates over which management has no influence in the determination of present value.  In arriving at the ceiling test for the year ended December 31, 2013, USE used $96.78 per barrel for oil and $3.67 per MMbtu for natural gas (and adjusted for property specific gravity, quality, local markets and distance from markets) to compute the future cash flows of USE’s producing properties.  The discount factor used was 10%.
	During the first quarter of 2013, we recorded a proved property impairment of $5.8 million related to our oil and gas assets.  The impairment was primarily due to a decline in the price of oil, additional capitalized well costs and changes in production.  At December 31, 2013, our net capitalized costs did not exceed the ceiling test limit and as a result, no further proved property impairment was recorded at December 31, 2013.  As of year-end there were no unproved properties that were considered to be impaired and reclassified to properties being amortized.  Management will continue to review the Company’s unproved properties based on market conditions and other changes and if appropriate, unproved property amounts may be reclassified to the amortized base of properties within the full cost pool.
	Wells in Progress - Wells in progress represent the costs associated with unproved wells that have not reached total depth or have not been completed as of period end.  They are classified as wells in progress and withheld from the depletion calculation and the ceiling test.  The costs for these wells are then transferred to evaluated property when the wells reach total depth and are cased and the costs become subject to depletion and the ceiling test calculation in future periods.
Mineral Properties	'
	Mineral Properties
	We capitalize all costs incidental to the acquisition of mineral properties.  Mineral exploration costs are expensed as incurred.  When exploration work indicates that a mineral property can be economically developed as a result of establishing proved and probable reserves, costs for the development of the mineral property as well as capital purchases and capital construction are capitalized and amortized using units of production over the estimated recoverable proved and probable reserves. Costs and expenses related to general corporate overhead are expensed as incurred. All capitalized costs are charged to operations if we subsequently determine that the property is not economic due to permanent decreases in market prices of commodities, excessive production costs or depletion of the mineral resource.
	Mineral properties at December 31, 2013 and 2012 reflect capitalized costs associated with our Mt. Emmons molybdenum property near Crested Butte, Colorado.  Our carrying balance in the Mt. Emmons property at December 31, 2013 and 2012 is as follows:
			(In thousands)
			December 31,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Costs associated with Mount Emmons
	beginning of year		$	20,739		$	20,739
	Development costs			--			--
	Costs at the end of the period		$	20,739		$	20,739
Long-Lived Assets	'
	Long-Lived Assets
	We evaluate our long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amount may not be recoverable. Impairment calculations are generally based on market appraisals.  If estimated future cash flows, on an undiscounted basis, are less than the carrying amount of the related asset, an asset impairment is considered to exist.  Changes in significant assumptions underlying future cash flow estimates may have a material effect on our financial position and results of operations.
Assets Held for Sale	'
	Assets Held for Sale
	In accordance with authoritative accounting guidance regarding property plant and equipment, assets are classified as held for sale when we commit to a plan to sell the assets and there is reasonable certainty that the sale will take place within one year.  Upon classification as held for sale, long-lived assets are no longer depreciated or depleted, and a measurement for impairment is performed to determine if there is any excess of carrying value over fair value less costs to sell.  Subsequent changes to estimated fair value less the cost to sell will impact the measurement of assets held for sale if the fair value is determined to be less than the carrying value of the assets.
	In January 2011, we made the decision to sell our Remington Village multifamily project in Gillette, Wyoming and in September 2012, we made the decision to sell our corporate aircraft and related facilities to reduce overhead costs.  All assets classified as assets held for sale at December 31, 2012 were sold in the year ending December 31, 2013.  Operations related to Remington Village are shown in discontinued operations on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.  For additional discussion on assets held for sale, please refer to Note G – Assets Held for Sale.
			(In thousands)
			December 31,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Assets held for sale
	Remington Village		$	--		$	15,167
	Corporate aircraft and facilities			--			1,884
			$	--		$	17,051
	Liabilities held for sale
	Remington Village		$	--		$	10,022
Derivative Instruments	'
	Derivative Instruments
	The Company uses derivative instruments, typically costless collars and fixed-rate swaps, to manage price risk underlying its oil and gas production.  All derivative instruments are recorded in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The Company offsets fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments executed with the same counterparty. Although the Company does not designate any of its derivative instruments as cash flow hedges, such derivative instruments provide an economic hedge of our exposure to commodity price risk associated with forecasted future oil and gas production. These contracts are accounted for using the mark-to-market accounting method and accordingly, the Company recognizes all unrealized and realized gains and losses that are related to these contracts currently in earnings and classifies them as gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net in our consolidated statements of operations. The Company may also use puts, calls and basis swaps in the future.
	The Company’s Board of Directors sets all risk management policies and reviews the status and results of derivative activities, including volumes, types of instruments and counterparties on a quarterly basis. These policies require that derivative instruments be executed only by the Chief Executive Officer or President. The agreements with approved counterparties identify the Chief Executive Officer and President as the only Company representatives authorized to execute trades. See Note D, Commodity Price Risk Management, for further discussion.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The carrying amount of cash equivalents, receivables, other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of those instruments.  The recorded amounts for short-term and long-term debt approximate the fair market value due to the variable nature of the interest rates on the short-term debt, and the fact that interest rates remain generally unchanged from issuance of the long-term debt.
Asset Retirement Obligations	'
	Asset Retirement Obligations
	USE accounts for its asset retirement obligations under FASB ASC 410-20, "Asset Retirement Obligations."  USE records the fair value of the reclamation liability on its inactive mining properties and its operating oil and gas properties as of the date that the liability is incurred.  USE reviews the liability each quarter and determines if a change in estimate is required, and it accretes the discounted liability on a quarterly basis for the future liability.  Final determinations are made during the fourth quarter of each year.  USE deducts any actual funds expended for reclamation during the quarter in which it occurs.
	The following is a reconciliation of the total liability for asset retirement obligations:
			(In thousands)
			December 31,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Beginning asset retirement obligation		$	686		$	510
	Accretion of discount			38			34
	Liabilities incurred			131			142
	Liabilities settled			(43	)		--
	Ending asset retirement obligation		$	812		$	686
	Mineral properties		$	175		$	162
	Oil & Gas wells			637			524
	Ending asset retirement obligation		$	812		$	686
Revenue Recognition	'
	Revenue Recognition
	USE derives revenue primarily from the sale of produced oil, gas, and NGLs.  The Company reports revenue as the gross amount received before taking into account production taxes and transportation costs, which are reported separately as expenses and are included in oil and gas production expense in the accompanying statements of operations.  USE records natural gas and oil revenue under the sales method of accounting.  Revenue is recorded in the month that the production is delivered to the purchaser.  Payment is generally received between 30 and 90 days after the date of production.  At the end of each month, we estimate the amount of production delivered to the purchaser and the price we will receive.  USE uses its knowledge of its properties, their historical performance, market prices, and other factors as the basis for these estimates.
	USE has exposure to credit risk in the event of nonpayment by our operators, which are all in energy related industries.  During 2013, we had three major operators, Statoil, Zavanna, LLC and Contango Oil & Gas Company which accounted for approximately 38 percent, 32 percent and 18 percent of our total oil, gas and NGL revenues, respectively.  During 2012 we had two major operators, Statoil and Zavanna, which accounted for 57 percent and 32 percent of our total oil, gas and NGL revenues, respectively.  During 2011, we had one major operator, Statoil, which accounted for approximately 74 percent of our total oil, gas, and NGL revenues.
	Revenues from real estate operations are reported on a gross revenue basis and are recorded at the time the service is provided.
Stock Based Compensation	'
	Stock Based Compensation
	USE measures the cost of employee and director services received in exchange for all equity awards granted, including stock options, based on the fair market value of the award as of the grant date.  USE computes the fair values of its options granted to employees using the Black Scholes pricing model and the following weighted average assumptions:
			Year Ended December 31,
			2013		2012	2011
	Risk-free interest rate		1.66%		0.82% to 1.41%	1.77%
	Expected lives (years)		6.0		5.0 to 6.0	6.0
	Expected volatility		62.59%		61.87% to 63.59%	59.64%
	Expected dividend yield		--		--	--
	USE recognizes the cost of the equity awards over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, usually the vesting period.  As share-based compensation expense is recognized based on awards ultimately expected to vest, the expense has been reduced for estimated forfeitures based on historical forfeiture rates.
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	USE recognizes deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the expected future income tax consequences, based on enacted tax laws, of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets, liabilities and carry forwards.
	Additionally, USE recognizes deferred tax assets for the expected future effects of all deductible temporary differences, loss carry forwards and tax credit carry forwards. Deferred tax assets are reduced, if deemed necessary, by a valuation allowance for any tax benefits which, based on current circumstances, are not expected to be realized.  At December 31, 2013 and 2012, management believed it was more likely than not that such tax benefits would not be realized and a valuation allowance has been provided.  For further discussion, please refer to Note I – Income Taxes.
Earnings Per Share	'
	Earnings Per Share
	Basic net income (loss) per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.  Common shares held by the ESOP are included in the computation of earnings per share.  Total shares held by the ESOP at December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 were 877,399, 824,123, and 684,643, respectively.
	Diluted net income (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income or loss by the diluted weighted average common shares outstanding, which includes the effect of potentially dilutive securities.  Potentially dilutive securities for this calculation consist of in-the-money outstanding stock options.  When there is a loss from continuing operations, all potentially dilutive shares are anti-dilutive and are excluded from the calculation of net income (loss) per share.  The treasury stock method is used to measure the dilutive impact of in-the-money stock options.
	The following table details the weighted-average dilutive and anti-dilutive securities related to stock options for the years presented:
			For the years ended December 31,
			2013		2012	2011
	Dilutive		--		--	--
	Anti-dilutive		872,185		--	969,631
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	On January 1, 2013, the Company adopted new authoritative accounting guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), which enhanced disclosures by requiring an entity to disclose information about netting arrangements, including rights of offset, to enable users of its financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position and provided clarification as to the specific instruments that should be considered in these disclosures. These pronouncements were issued to facilitate comparison between financial statements prepared on the basis of GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. These disclosures are effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and are to be applied retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The impact of retrospectively adopting these pronouncements did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements but did impact the Company's disclosures.
	In July 2013, the FASB issued new authoritative accounting guidance related to the reporting of unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carryforward, similar tax loss, or tax credit carryforward exists. This authoritative accounting guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this guidance and assessing its impact on the Company’s financial statements and disclosures, but does not believe its financial statements will be significantly impacted.
	The Company has reviewed other current outstanding statements from the FASB and does not believe that any of those statements will have a material effect on the financial statements of the Company when adopted.

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT2

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]	'
Estimated Useful Lives and Components of Property and Equipment	'
	Land, buildings, improvements, machinery and equipment are carried at cost.  Depreciation of buildings, improvements, machinery and equipment is provided principally by the straight-line method over estimated useful lives ranging from 3 to 45 years.  Following is a breakdown of the lives over which assets are depreciated:
	Machinery and Equipment:
		Office Equipment	3 to 5 years
		Field Tools and Hand Equipment	5 to 7 years
		Vehicles and Trucks	3 to 7 years
		Heavy Equipment	7 to 10 years
	Buildings and Improvements:
		Service Buildings	20 years
		Corporate Headquarter Building	45 years
Components of Property and Equipment	'
	Components of Property and Equipment as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
			(In thousands)
			December 31,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Oil & Gas properties
	Unproved		$	7,478		$	9,169
	Proved			136,521			119,919
				143,999			129,088
	Less accumulated depreciation
	depletion and amortization			(57,077	)		(43,454	)
	Net book value			86,922			85,634
	Mineral properties			20,739			20,739
	Building, land and equipment			8,334			8,469
	Less accumulated depreciation			(4,135	)		(4,034	)
	Net book value			4,199			4,435
	Totals		$	111,860		$	110,808
Mineral Properties	'
	Mineral properties at December 31, 2013 and 2012 reflect capitalized costs associated with our Mt. Emmons molybdenum property near Crested Butte, Colorado.  Our carrying balance in the Mt. Emmons property at December 31, 2013 and 2012 is as follows:
			(In thousands)
			December 31,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Costs associated with Mount Emmons
	beginning of year		$	20,739		$	20,739
	Development costs			--			--
	Costs at the end of the period		$	20,739		$	20,739
Assets Held For Sale	'
	In January 2011, we made the decision to sell our Remington Village multifamily project in Gillette, Wyoming and in September 2012, we made the decision to sell our corporate aircraft and related facilities to reduce overhead costs.  All assets classified as assets held for sale at December 31, 2012 were sold in the year ending December 31, 2013.  Operations related to Remington Village are shown in discontinued operations on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.  For additional discussion on assets held for sale, please refer to Note G – Assets Held for Sale.
			(In thousands)
			December 31,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Assets held for sale
	Remington Village		$	--		$	15,167
	Corporate aircraft and facilities			--			1,884
			$	--		$	17,051
	Liabilities held for sale
	Remington Village		$	--		$	10,022
Reconciliation of the Total Liability for Asset Retirement Obligations	'
	The following is a reconciliation of the total liability for asset retirement obligations:
			(In thousands)
			December 31,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Beginning asset retirement obligation		$	686		$	510
	Accretion of discount			38			34
	Liabilities incurred			131			142
	Liabilities settled			(43	)		--
	Ending asset retirement obligation		$	812		$	686
	Mineral properties		$	175		$	162
	Oil & Gas wells			637			524
	Ending asset retirement obligation		$	812		$	686
Stock Based Compensation, Weighted Average Assumptions	'
	USE has computed the fair values of its employee and director options using the Black Scholes pricing model and the following weighted average assumptions:
		For the years ended December 31,
		2013	2012	2011
	Risk-free interest rate	1.66%	0.82% to 1.41%	1.77%
	Expected lives (years)	6.0	5.0 to 6.0	6.0
	Expected volatility	62.59%	61.87% to 63.59%	59.64%
	Expected dividend yield	--	--	--
Weighted-average dilutive and anti-dilutive securities related to stock options	'
	The following table details the weighted-average dilutive and anti-dilutive securities related to stock options for the years presented:
			For the years ended December 31,
			2013		2012	2011
	Dilutive		--		--	--
	Anti-dilutive		872,185		--	969,631

FAIR_VALUE_Tables

FAIR VALUE (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
FAIR VALUE [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements	'
		(In thousands)
				Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013 Using
		December 31,		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets			Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs
	Description	2013		(Level 1)			(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Commodity risk management assets	$	14	$	--		$	14	$	--
	Available for sale securities		69		69			--		--
	Total assets	$	83	$	69		$	14	$	--
	Commodity risk management liability	$	280	$	--		$	280	$	--
	Other accrued liabilities 1		741		--			--		741
	Total liabilities	$	1,021	$	--		$	280	$	741
	1 Other accrued liabilities is the company's liability for its executive retirement program
		(In thousands)
				Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2012 Using
		31-Dec		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets			Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs
	Description	2012		(Level 1)			(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Commodity risk management assets	$	472	$	--		$	472	$	--
	Available for sale securities		183		183			--		--
	Assets held for sale		17,051		--			--		17,051
	Total assets	$	17,706	$	183		$	472	$	17,051
	Commodity risk management liability	$	--	$	--		$	--	$	--
	Other accrued liabilities 1		771		--			--		771
	Total liabilities	$	771	$	--		$	--	$	771
	1 Other accrued liabilities is the company's liability for its executive retirement program
Summary of Changes in Fair Value of Level 3 Fair Value Measurements	'
	The following table summarizes the change in the fair value of our Level 3 Fair Value measurements for the year ended December 31, 2013.
		Change in Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
		(In thousands)
		December 31,		Sale of					December 31,
	Description	2012		Assets			Revision of Value		2013
	Assets held for sale
	Remington Village	$	15,167	$	(15,167	)	$	--	$	--
	Corporate aircraft and facilities		1,884		(1,884	)		--		--
	Total	$	17,051	$	(17,051	)	$	--	$	--
		December 31,		Additions and					December 31,
	Description		2012	Payments			Revision of Value			2013
	Other accrued liabilities	$	771	$	(30	)	$	--	$	741
Available-for-sale Securities	'
	The following table summarizes, by major security type, the fair value and unrealized gain of our investments.  The unrealized gain is recorded on the consolidated balance sheet as other comprehensive income, a component of stockholders’ equity.
		(In thousands)
		31-Dec-13
				Unrealized
	Description of Securities	Cost		Gain			Fair Value
	Available for sale securities	$	24	$	45		$	69
	Total	$	24	$	45		$	69
		31-Dec-12
				Unrealized
	Description of Securities	Cost		Gain			Fair Value
	Available for sale securities	$	24	$	159		$	183
	Total	$	24	$	159		$	183

COMMODITY_PRICE_RISK_MANAGEMEN1

COMMODITY PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
COMMODITY PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT [Abstract]	'
Commodity Derivative Contracts	'
	Energy One's commodity derivative contracts as of December 31, 2013 are summarized below:
					Quantity
	Settlement Period	Counterparty	Basis		(Bbls/day)			Strike Price
	Crude Oil Costless Collar
	01/01/14 - 06/30/14	Wells Fargo	WTI			300		Put:		$	90
								Call:		$	95
	Crude Oil Costless Collar
	01/01/14 - 06/30/14	Wells Fargo	WTI			300		Put:		$	90
								Call:		$	97.25
	Crude Oil Costless Collar
	07/01/14 - 12/31/14	Wells Fargo	WTI			300		Put:		$	90
								Call:		$	98.4
Fair Value of Derivatives Recorded in Applicable Consolidated Balance Sheet, By Category	'
	The following table details the fair value of the derivatives recorded in the applicable consolidated balance sheet, by category:
		As of December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)
		Derivative Assets					Derivative Liabilities
		Balance Sheet		Fair			Balance Sheet		Fair
		Classification		Value			Classification		Value
	Crude oil costless collars	Current Asset		$	14		Current Liability		$	280
		As of December 31, 2012
		(in thousands)
		Balance Sheet		Fair			Balance Sheet		Fair
		Classification		Value			Classification		Value
	Crude oil costless collars	Current Asset		$	472		Current Liability		$	--
Schedule of unrealized and realized derivative gain loss	'
	The following table summarizes the unrealized and realized derivative (gain) loss presented in the accompanying statements of operations:
			(In thousands)
			Year Ended December 31,
			2013				2012				2011
	Realized derivative gain (loss)		$	(338	)		$	21			$	(1,974	)
	Unrealized derivative gain (loss)		$	(737	)		$	1,070			$	1,126
	Total realized and unrealized derivative gain (loss)		$	(1,075	)		$	1,091			$	(848	)

SUPPLEMENTAL_FINANCIAL_INFORMA1

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION ON OIL AND NATURAL GAS EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION ON OIL AND NATURAL GAS EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES [Abstract]	'
Net Costs Incurred in Purchase of Proved and Unproved Properties, and in Exploration and Development Activities	'
	The following table presents information regarding USE’s net costs incurred in the purchase of proved and unproved properties, and in exploration and development activities:
		(In thousands)
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Unproved oil and gas properties	$	7,478		$	9,169
	Proved oil and gas properties		136,521			119,919
		$	143,999		$	129,088
Undeveloped Properties	'
	Undeveloped properties as of December 31, 2013 include costs incurred in the following years:
		(In thousands)
		Acquisitions			Exploration			Development			Total
	2010	$	134		$	--		$	--		$	134
	2011		5,006			--			--			5,006
	2012		271			--			--			271
	2013		2,067			--			--			2,067
	Total	$	7,478		$	--		$	--		$	7,478
Costs Incurred in Oil and Natural Gas Property Acquisition, Exploration and Development	'
	Costs incurred in oil and natural gas property acquisition, exploration and development activities are summarized below:
		(In thousands)
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Property acquisition costs:
	Proved	$	445		$	2,987		$	1,288
	Unproved		1,760			1,416			10,679
	Exploration costs		9,138			10,943			32,788
	Development costs		9,403			20,134			4,550
	Total costs incurred	$	20,746		$	35,480		$	49,305
Summary of Results of Operations	'
	Results of operations from oil and natural gas producing activities are presented below:
		(In thousands)
		For the years ending December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Oil and gas revenues	$	33,647		$	32,534		$	30,958
	Operating expenses		10,469			10,788			11,552
	Depreciation, depletion and amortization		13,623			14,893			13,997
	Impairment		5,828			5,189			--
			29,920			30,870			25,549
	Operating income	$	3,727		$	1,664		$	5,409
Estimated Quantities of Proved Oil and Natural Gas Reserves and Changes in Net Proved Reserves	'
	USE’s net ownership interests in estimated quantities of proved oil and natural gas reserves and changes in net proved reserves, all of which are located in the continental United States, are summarized below:
	31-Dec-13	Oil (BBLS)		Natural Gas or NGL (MCFE)
	Beginning of year	2,613,643		1,798,088
	Revisions of previous quantity estimates	(162,957)		382,690
	Extensions, discoveries and improved recoveries	1,352,746		678,412
	Purchase of reserves in place	--		--
	Sales of reserves in place	--		--
	Production	(343,719)		(487,282)
	End of year	3,459,713		2,371,908
	Proved developed reserves at end of year	1,875,528		1,701,282
	31-Dec-12	Oil (BBLS)		Natural Gas or NGL (MCFE)
	Beginning of year	2,737,969		2,744,128
	Revisions of previous quantity estimates	(145,596)		(481,583)
	Extensions, discoveries and improved recoveries	763,125		369,169
	Purchase of reserves in place	75,948		30,457
	Sales of reserves in place	(444,272)		(437,057)
	Production	(373,531)		(427,026)
	End of year	2,613,643		1,798,088
	Proved developed reserves at end of year	1,770,659		1,420,295
Summary of Standardized Measure	'
	The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to USE’s ownership interests in proved oil and natural gas reserves as of year-end is shown below:
		(In thousands)
		December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Future cash inflows	$	330,245		$	237,148		$	259,533
	Future costs:
	Production		(129,392	)		(96,616	)		(77,813	)
	Development		(37,739	)		(21,461	)		(42,972	)
	Future income tax expense		(14,500	)		(8,483	)		(19,790	)
	Future net cash flows		148,614			110,588			118,958
	10% discount factor		(43,761	)		(39,571	)		(56,767	)
	Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows	$	104,853		$	71,017		$	62,191
Changes in Standardized Measure	'
	Changes in standardized measure of future net cash flows relating to proved oil and natural gas reserves are summarized below:
		(In thousands)
		For the years ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Balance at beginning of year	$	71,017		$	62,191		$	44,653
	Sales of oil and gas, net of production costs		(23,179	)		(21,747	)		(19,406	)
	Net change in prices and production costs		2,543			(4,548	)		1,401
	Net change in future development costs		--			--			--
	Extensions and discoveries		54,360			23,297			26,574
	Purchase of reserves in place		--			2,573			3,082
	Sale of reserves in place		--			(13,573	)		(1,947	)
	Revisions of previous quantity estimates		(2,961	)		(5,927	)		(3,158	)
	Development costs incurred during year		8,344			22,808			14,930
	Previously estimated development costs incurred		(6,414	)		(9,706	)		(2,719	)
	Net change in income taxes		(4,245	)		7,261			(4,270	)
	Accretion of discount		7,647			7,254			5,207
	Changes in production rates, timing and other		(2,259	)		1,134			(2,156	)
	Balance at end of year	$	104,853		$	71,017		$	62,191

ASSETS_HELD_FOR_SALE_Tables

ASSETS HELD FOR SALE (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
ASSETS HELD FOR SALE [Abstract]	'
Results of Operations and Assets and Liabilities of Disposal Groups	'
	The Company's real estate operations for the years ending December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 have been classified as discontinued operations in the current financial statements.   Results of discontinued operations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 were as follows:
		(In thousands)
		For the years ending December 31,
		2013		2012			2011
	Revenues	$	1,271	$	2,037		$	2,147
	Operating expenses		844		1,885			1,468
	Impairment		--		2,955			3,063
			844		4,840			4,531
	Income (loss) before income taxes		427		(2,803	)		(2,384	)
	Income tax benefit from (provision for)		--		1,009			(245	)
	Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	$	427	$	(1,794	)	$	(2,629	)

OTHER_LIABILITIES_AND_DEBT_Tab

OTHER LIABILITIES AND DEBT (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
OTHER LIABILITIES AND DEBT [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Other Liability and Debt	'
	As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, USE had current and long term liabilities associated with the following funding commitments:
		(In thousands)
		December 31,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Other liabilities and debt:
	Other liabilities
	Deferred rent	$	11	$	12
	Remington Escrow		95		--
	Employee health insurance self funding		58		32
		$	164	$	44
	Other long term liabilities:
	Accrued executive retirement costs	$	741	$	771
	Debt:
	Credit Facility - collateralized by
	oil and gas reserves, at 2.46%	$	9,000	$	10,000
	Long term Debt
	Real estate note - collateralized by
	property, interest at 5.5%		--		9,621
	Real estate note - collateralized by
	property, interest at 6%		--		200
			9,000		19,821
	Less current portion		--		(526	)
	Totals	$	9,000	$	19,295

INCOME_TAXES_Tables

INCOME TAXES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
INCOME TAXES [Abstract]	'
Components of Income Tax Expense (benefit)	'
	The provision for income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 consists of the following:
		(in thousands)
		Years ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Current income tax expense (benefit)
	Federal	$	--		$	--		$	--
	State		--			--			--
		$	--		$	--		$	--
	Deferred income tax expense (benefit)
	Federal	$	--		$	(1,093	)	$	(3,316	)
	State		--			(64	)		(195	)
		$	--		$	(1,157	)	$	(3,511	)
Effective Income Tax Reconciliation	'
	The effective income tax rate differs from the U.S. Federal Statutory income tax rate due to the following:
		(in thousands)
		Years ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Federal statutory income tax rate	$	(2,509	)	$	(4,164	)	$	(2,828	)
	State income taxes, net of federal benefit		(158	)		(245	)		(166	)
	Incentive stock options		43			12			246
	Percent depletion carryover		(174	)		(177	)		(807	)
	Valuation analysis		2,717			3,512			--
	Other		81			(95	)		44
		$	--		$	(1,157	)	$	(3,511	)
Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	'
	The components of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Deferred tax assets:
	Net operating loss	$	6,930		$	2,899
	Derivative instruments		96			(170	)
	Asset retirement obligation		294			247
	Stock based compensation		228			313
	Deferred compensation		385			382
	Alternative minimum tax credit		706			706
	Contribution carryover		37			37
	Equity investments		643			(91	)
	Percentage depletion carryover		2,421			2,100
		$	11,740		$	6,423
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Property and equipment		(5,446	)		(2,854	)
	State tax		(9	)		--
	Marketable securities		(16	)		(57	)
		$	(5,471	)	$	(2,911	)
	Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)		6,269			3,512
	Less: Valuation Allowance		(6,269	)		(3,512	)
	Deferred tax liability	$	--		$	--

SEGMENTS_AND_MAJOR_CUSTOMERS_T

SEGMENTS AND MAJOR CUSTOMERS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
SEGMENTS AND MAJOR CUSTOMERS [Abstract]	'
Summary of Result of Operations and Total Assets by Segment	'
	Our operating segments are reflected in the tables below:
		(In thousands)
		For the years ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Revenues:
	Oil and gas	$	33,647		$	32,534		$	30,958
	Total revenues		33,647			32,534			30,958
	Operating expenses:
	Oil and gas		29,920			30,870			25,549
	Mineral properties		3,045			2,899			2,364
	Total operating expenses		32,965			33,769			27,913
	Interest expense:
	Oil and gas		264			169			268
	Mineral properties		12			24			36
	Total interest expense		276			193			304
	Operating income (loss)
	Oil and gas	$	3,463		$	1,495		$	5,141
	Mineral properties		(3,057	)		(2,923	)		(2,400	)
	Operating income (loss)
	from identified segments		406			(1,428	)		2,741
	General and administrative expenses		(5,673	)		(9,109	)		(8,261	)
	Add back interest expense		276			193			304
	Other revenues and expenses		(2,695	)		849			(717	)
	Income (loss) before income taxes
	and discontinued operations	$	(7,686	)	$	(9,495	)	$	(5,933	)
	Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense:
	Oil and gas	$	13,623		$	14,893		$	13,997
	Mineral properties		126			127			102
	Corporate		149			437			494
	Total Depreciation, depletion
	and amortization expense	$	13,898		$	15,457		$	14,593
		(In thousands)
		December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Assets by segment
	Oil and gas	$	97,418		$	93,839		$	109,141
	Mineral		20,739			20,747			20,755
	Corporate		8,644			26,241			32,543
	Total assets	$	126,801		$	140,827		$	162,439

SHAREHOLDERS_EQUITY_Tables

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY [Abstract]	'
Summary of Employee Stock Option Plans activity in all plans	'
	A summary of the Employee Stock Option Plans activity in all plans for the year ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:
			For the years ended December 31,
			2013								2012								2011
			Employee Options				Weighted Average Exercise Price				Employee Options				Weighted Average Exercise Price				Employee Options				Weighted Average Exercise Price
	Outstanding at beginning
	of the year			2,259,282			$	3.8				2,318,399			$	3.94				3,011,647			$	3.87
	Granted			270,000			$	2.08				150,000			$	2.32				--			$	--
	Forfeited			--			$	--				(10,000	)		$	2.32				--			$	--
	Expired			(28,333	)		$	4.68				(194,950	)		$	4.47				(200,000	)		$	3.9
	Exercised			--			$	--				(4,167	)		$	2.52				(493,248	)		$	3.51
	Outstanding at year end			2,500,949			$	3.6				2,259,282			$	3.8				2,318,399			$	3.94
	Exercisable at year end			2,137,619			$	3.85				2,119,282			$	3.9				2,108,399			$	3.84
	Weighted average fair
	value of options
	granted during
	the year						$	1.2							$	1.3							$	--
Summary of Information about Employee Stock Options Outstanding and Exercisable	'
	The following table summarizes information about employee stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2013:
	Grant Price Range				Employee Options Outstanding at December 31, 2013				Weighted average remaining contractual life in years				Weighted average exercise price				Employee Options exercisable at December 31, 2013				Weighted average exercise price
	$	2.08				270,000				9.5			$	2.08				--			$	--
	$	2.09 - $2.32				140,000				8.53			$	2.32				46,670			$	2.32
	$	2.33 - $2.46				386,869				0.5			$	2.46				386,869			$	2.46
	$	2.47 - $2.52				405,312				4.73			$	2.52				405,312			$	2.52
	$	2.53 - $3.86				273,768				1.79			$	3.86				273,768			$	3.86
	$	3.87 - $4.97				1,025,000				3.57			$	4.97				1,025,000			$	4.97
						2,500,949				4			$	3.6				2,137,619			$	3.85
Summary of Number of Options Available For Grant and Intrinsic Value of Options Outstanding	'
	The following table sets forth the number of options available for grant as well as the intrinsic value of the options outstanding and exercisable at:
			At December 31,
			2013				2012				2011
	Available for future grant			790,000				1,060,000				--
	Intrinsic value of options exercised		$	--			$	4,000			$	888,000
	Aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding		$	1,661,000			$	--			$	351,000
	Aggregate intrinsic value of options exercisable		$	1,073,000			$	--			$	351,000
Director Stock Award Plan Activity	'
	Director Option Plan.  As of December 31, 2013, there were 146,000 director options outstanding to purchase shares of USE's common stock.  USE values these options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and expenses that value over various terms based on the nature of the award.  Activity for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 for director options is presented in the following table:
			For the years ended December 31,
			2013								2012								2011
			Director Options				Weighted Average Exercise Price				Director Options				Weighted Average Exercise Price				Director Options				Weighted Average Exercise Price
	Outstanding at beginning
	of the period			150,000			$	3.05				210,000			$	3.1				320,000			$	2.95
	Granted			36,000			$	2.08				80,000			$	2.78				20,000			$	4.19
	Forfeited			--			$	--				--			$	--				(20,000	)		$	2.52
	Expired			(40,000	)		$	2.6				(120,000	)		$	3.05				(5,000	)		$	3.9
	Exercised			--			$	--				(20,000	)		$	2.52				(105,000	)		$	2.92
	Outstanding at period end			146,000			$	2.93				150,000			$	3.05				210,000			$	3.1
	Exercisable at period end			56,668			$	3.46				63,335			$	3.01				183,334			$	2.91
	Weighted average fair
	value of options
	granted during
	the period						$	1.2							$	1.59							$	2.34
Summary of Information About Directors Plan	'
	The following table summarizes information about director options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2013:
	Grant Price Range				Director Options Outstanding at December 31, 2013				Weighted average remaining contractual life in years				Weighted average exercise price				Director Options exercisable at December 31, 2013				Weighted average exercise price
	$	2.08				36,000				9.5			$	2.08				--			$	--
	$	2.09 - $2.32				10,000				8.53			$	2.32				3,334			$	2.32
	$	2.33 - $2.52				10,000				4.73			$	2.52				10,000			$	2.52
	$	2.53 - $2.85				60,000				8.22			$	2.85				20,000			$	2.85
	$	2.86 - $4.19				20,000				7.48			$	4.19				13,334			$	4.19
	$	4.20 - $5.04				10,000				6.48			$	5.04				10,000			$	5.04
						146,000				8.1			$	2.93				56,668			$	3.46
Summary of Director Options Available For Grant and Intrinsic Value of Options Outstanding	'
	The following table sets forth the number of options available for grant as well as the intrinsic value of the options outstanding and exercisable at:
			At December 31,
			2013				2012				2011
	Available for future grant			131,359				126,526				164,099
	Intrinsic value of options exercised		$	--			$	17,000			$	14,000
	Aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding		$	142,000			$	--			$	31,000
	Aggregate intrinsic value of options exercisable		$	35,000			$	--			$	31,000
Summary of Valuation Assumptions in Stock Option and Warrant Valuation	'
	USE has computed the fair values of its employee and director options using the Black Scholes pricing model and the following weighted average assumptions:
		For the years ended December 31,
		2013	2012	2011
	Risk-free interest rate	1.66%	0.82% to 1.41%	1.77%
	Expected lives (years)	6.0	5.0 to 6.0	6.0
	Expected volatility	62.59%	61.87% to 63.59%	59.64%
	Expected dividend yield	--	--	--

SELECTED_QUARTERLY_FINANCIAL_D1

SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited) [Abstract]	'
Selected Quarterly Financial Data	'
		(In thousands except per share data)
		Three Months Ended
		December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,
		2013			2013			2013			2013
	Operating revenues	$	9,271		$	8,582		$	7,915		$	7,879
	Operating income (loss)	$	692		$	359		$	118		$	(6,160	)
	Income (loss) before income tax and discontinued operations	$	(1,217	)	$	(706	)	$	367		$	(6,130	)
	Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	$	--		$	--		$	--		$	--
	Discontinued operations, net of tax	$	(3	)	$	(128	)	$	206		$	232
	Net income (loss)	$	(1,220	)	$	(834	)	$	573		$	(5,898	)
	Loss per share, basic
	Continuing operations	$	(0.04	)	$	(0.03	)	$	0.01		$	(0.22	)
	Discontinued operations		--			--			0.01			0.01
		$	(0.04	)	$	(0.03	)	$	0.02		$	(0.21	)
	Basic weighted average shares outstanding		27,682,602			27,682,602			27,682,272			27,667,102
	Loss per share, diluted
	Continuing operations	$	(0.04	)	$	(0.03	)	$	0.01		$	(0.22	)
	Discontinued operations		--			--			0.01			0.01
		$	(0.04	)	$	(0.03	)	$	0.02		$	(0.21	)
	Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		27,682,602			27,682,602			27,682,272			27,667,102
		(In thousands except per share data)
		Three Months Ended
		December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,
		2012			2012			2012			2012
	Operating revenues	$	8,038		$	7,639		$	8,522		$	8,335
	Operating (loss)	$	(5,880	)	$	(2,709	)	$	(991	)	$	(712	)
	Income (loss) before income tax and discontinued operations	$	(6,079	)	$	(3,155	)	$	624		$	(833	)
	Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	$	(1,302	)	$	1,285		$	(379	)	$	388
	Discontinued operations, net of tax	$	(548	)	$	(75	)	$	(1,235	)	$	64
	Net income (loss)	$	(7,929	)	$	(1,945	)	$	(990	)	$	(381	)
	Loss per share, basic
	Continuing operations	$	(0.27	)	$	(0.07	)	$	0.01		$	(0.01	)
	Discontinued operations		(0.02	)		--			(0.05	)		--
		$	(0.29	)	$	(0.07	)	$	(0.04	)	$	(0.01	)
	Basic weighted average shares outstanding		27,475,813			27,468,355			27,460,483			27,438,584
	Loss per share, diluted
	Continuing operations	$	(0.27	)	$	(0.07	)	$	0.01		$	(0.01	)
	Discontinued operations		(0.02	)		--			(0.05	)		--
		$	(0.29	)	$	(0.07	)	$	(0.04	)	$	(0.01	)
	Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		27,475,813			27,468,355			27,460,483			27,438,584
		(In thousands except per share data)
		Three Months Ended
		December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,
		2011			2011			2011			2011
	Operating revenues	$	8,846		$	8,408		$	7,025		$	6,679
	Operating income (loss)	$	(736	)	$	(689	)	$	(723	)	$	(3,068	)
	Income (loss) before income tax and discontinued operations	$	(2,443	)	$	1,022		$	420		$	(4,932	)
	Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	$	2,671		$	(892	)	$	(618	)	$	2,594
	Discontinued operations, net of tax	$	(3,019	)	$	138		$	123		$	129
	Net income (loss)	$	(2,791	)	$	268		$	(75	)	$	(2,209	)
	Income (loss) per share, basic
	Continuing operations	$	0.01		$	--		$	(0.01	)	$	(0.08	)
	Discontinued operations		(0.12	)		0.01			0.01			--
		$	(0.11	)	$	0.01		$	--		$	(0.08	)
	Basic weighted average shares outstanding		27,288,470			27,259,174			27,220,049			27,186,438
	Income (loss) per share, diluted
	Continuing operations	$	0.01		$	--		$	(0.01	)	$	(0.08	)
	Discontinued operations		(0.12	)		0.01			0.01			--
		$	(0.11	)	$	0.01		$	--		$	(0.08	)
	Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		27,288,470			27,862,098			27,866,544			27,186,438

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT3

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Mar. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2011

Jun. 30, 2011

Mar. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Center

Operator

Operator

Operator

Marketable Securities [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Unrealized gains in the marketable securities

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$45,000

$159,000

'

'

Accounts Receivable [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Bad debt expense related to multifamily housing project

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

13,000

'

'

Reserve for uncollectable receivables

0

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

'

'

Valuation of Equity Method Investment [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Non-cash impairment charge on equity method investment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,160,000

0

0

'

Equity method investment at carrying value

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

Oil & Gas properties [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Unproved

7,478,000

'

'

'

9,169,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7,478,000

9,169,000

'

'

Wells in progress

0

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

'

'

Proved

136,521,000

'

'

'

119,919,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

136,521,000

119,919,000

'

'

Oil & Gas properties

143,999,000

'

'

'

129,088,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

143,999,000

129,088,000

'

'

Less accumulated depreciation depletion and amortization

-57,077,000

'

'

'

-43,454,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-57,077,000

-43,454,000

'

'

Net book value

86,922,000

'

'

'

85,634,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

86,922,000

85,634,000

'

'

Mining properties

20,739,000

'

'

'

20,739,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

20,739,000

20,739,000

'

'

Building, land and equipment

8,334,000

'

'

'

8,469,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

8,334,000

8,469,000

'

'

Less accumulated depreciation

-4,135,000

'

'

'

-4,034,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-4,135,000

-4,034,000

'

'

Net book value

4,199,000

'

'

'

4,435,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4,199,000

4,435,000

'

'

Net properties and equipment

111,860,000

'

'

'

110,808,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

111,860,000

110,808,000

'

'

Oil and Gas Properties [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Capitalized costs excluded from amortized cost pool

7,478,000

'

'

'

9,200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7,478,000

9,200,000

'

'

Capitalized costs related to unevaluated properties included in the amortization base

0

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

'

'

Period after which costs will be added to the full cost amortization pool for properties

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'2 years

'

'

'

Percentage of discount used for future net revenue (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

10.00%

'

'

'

Period for calculating unescalated average prices prior to the end of reporting period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'12 months

'

'

'

Number of cost centers for quarterly ceiling test for oil and gas

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1

'

'

'

Price per barrel for oil at ceiling test (in dollars per barrel)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

96.78

'

'

'

Price for natural gas at ceiling test (dollars per MMbtu)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.67

'

'

'

Proved property impairments

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5,828,000

5,189,000

0

'

Mineral Properties [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Costs associated with Mount Emmons beginning of year

'

'

'

20,739,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

20,739,000

'

'

'

Development costs

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

0

0

Costs at the end of the period

20,739,000

'

'

'

20,739,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

20,739,000

20,739,000

'

'

Reconciliation of total liability for asset retirement obligations [Roll Forward]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Beginning asset retirement obligation

'

'

'

686,000

'

'

'

510,000

'

'

'

'

686,000

510,000

'

'

Accretion of discount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

38,000

34,000

'

'

Liabilities incurred

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

131,000

142,000

'

'

Liabilities settled

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-43,000

0

'

'

Ending asset retirement obligation

812,000

'

'

'

686,000

'

'

'

510,000

'

'

'

812,000

686,000

510,000

'

Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assets held for sale

0

'

'

'

17,051,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

17,051,000

'

'

Liabilities held for sale

0

'

'

'

10,022,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

10,022,000

'

'

Revenue Recognition [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Period of payment received after date of production, minimum

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'30 days

'

'

'

Period of payment received after date of production, maximum

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'90 days

'

'

'

Concentration Risk [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of major operators

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3

2

1

'

Assumptions [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Risk free interest rate (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.66%

'

1.77%

'

Expected lives

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'6 years

'

'6 years

'

Expected volatility (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

62.59%

'

59.64%

'

Expected dividend yield (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

'

Weighted-average dilutive and anti-dilutive securities [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Dilutive (in shares)

27,682,602

27,682,602

27,682,272

27,667,102

27,475,813

27,468,355

27,460,483

27,438,584

27,288,470

27,862,098

27,866,544

27,186,438

'

'

'

'

Shares held by the ESOP (in shares)

877,399

'

'

'

824,123

'

'

'

684,643

'

'

'

877,399

824,123

684,643

'

Stock Options [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assumptions [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Risk free interest rate, minimum (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.82%

'

'

Risk free interest rate (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.66%

'

1.77%

'

Risk free interest rate, maximum (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.41%

'

'

Expected lives

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'6 years

'

'6 years

'

Expected volatility, minimum (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

61.87%

'

'

Expected volatility (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

62.59%

'

59.64%

'

Expected volatility, maximum (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

63.59%

'

'

Expected dividend yield (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.00%

'

0.00%

'

Weighted-average dilutive and anti-dilutive securities [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Dilutive (in shares)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

0

'

Anti-dilutive (in shares)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

872,185,000

0

969,631,000

'

Statoil and Zavanna [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Concentration Risk [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Credit risk, percentage (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

38.00%

57.00%

'

'

Contango Oil & Gas [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Concentration Risk [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Credit risk, percentage (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

32.00%

'

'

'

NGL [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Concentration Risk [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Credit risk, percentage (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

18.00%

32.00%

74.00%

'

Remington Village [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assets held for sale

0

'

'

'

15,167,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

15,167,000

'

'

Liabilities held for sale

0

'

'

'

10,022,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

10,022,000

'

'

Corporate Aircraft and Facilities [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assets held for sale

0

'

'

'

1,884,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

1,884,000

'

'

Minimum [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assumptions [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Risk free interest rate, minimum (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.82%

'

'

Expected lives

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'5 years

'

'

Expected volatility, minimum (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

61.87%

'

'

Minimum [Member] | Stock Options [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assumptions [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Expected lives

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'5 years

'

'

Maximum [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assumptions [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Risk free interest rate, maximum (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.41%

'

'

Expected lives

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'6 years

'

'

Expected volatility, maximum (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

63.59%

'

'

Maximum [Member] | Stock Options [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assumptions [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Expected lives

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'6 years

'

'

Mt. Emmons Property [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Oil & Gas properties [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Mining properties

20,739,000

'

'

'

20,739,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

20,739,000

20,739,000

'

'

Mineral Properties [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Costs associated with Mount Emmons beginning of year

'

'

'

20,739,000

'

'

'

20,739,000

'

'

'

'

20,739,000

20,739,000

'

'

Development costs

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

'

'

Costs at the end of the period

20,739,000

'

'

'

20,739,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

20,739,000

20,739,000

'

'

Mining Properties [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Reconciliation of total liability for asset retirement obligations [Roll Forward]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Ending asset retirement obligation

175,000

'

'

'

162,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

175,000

162,000

'

'

Oil and Gas Wells [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Reconciliation of total liability for asset retirement obligations [Roll Forward]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Ending asset retirement obligation

$637,000

'

'

'

$524,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$637,000

$524,000

'

'

Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Office Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Estimated useful lives

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'3 years

'

'

'

Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Office Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Estimated useful lives

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'5 years

'

'

'

Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Field Tools and Hand Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Estimated useful lives

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'5 years

'

'

'

Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Field Tools and Hand Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Estimated useful lives

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'7 years

'

'

'

Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Vehicles and Trucks [Member] | Minimum [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Estimated useful lives

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'3 years

'

'

'

Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Vehicles and Trucks [Member] | Maximum [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Estimated useful lives

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'7 years

'

'

'

Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Heavy Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Estimated useful lives

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'7 years

'

'

'

Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Heavy Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Estimated useful lives

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'10 years

'

'

'

Buildings and Improvements [Member] | Service Buildings [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Estimated useful lives

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'20 years

'

'

'

Buildings and Improvements [Member] | Corporate Headquarter Building [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Estimated useful lives

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'45 years

'

'

'

Standard Steam Trust LLC [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Ownership interest (in hundredths)

19.54%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

19.54%

'

'

'

FAIR_VALUE_Details

FAIR VALUE (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]	'		'
Commodity risk management assets	$14,000		$472,000
Available for sale securities	69,000		183,000
Assets held for sale	'		17,051,000
Total assets	83,000		17,706,000
Commodity risk management liability	280,000		0
Other accrued liabilities	741,000	[1]	771,000	[1]
Total	1,021,000		771,000
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'		'
Beginning of period	17,051,000		'
Sale of Assets	-17,051,000		'
Revision of value	0		'
End of period	0		'
Summary of fair value and unrealized gain of investments by major security type [Abstract]	'		'
Cost	24,000		24,000
Unrealized Gain	45,000		159,000
Fair Value,	69,000		183,000
Fair value and carrying value of debt	9,000,000		'
Available for Sale Securities [Member]	'		'
Summary of fair value and unrealized gain of investments by major security type [Abstract]	'		'
Cost	24,000		24,000
Unrealized Gain	45,000		159,000
Fair Value,	69,000		183,000
Other Accrued Liabilities [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]	'		'
Beginning of period	771,000		'
Additions and Payments	-30,000		'
Revision of value	0		'
Ending of period	741,000		'
Asset Held For Sale [Member] | Remington Village [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'		'
Beginning of period	15,167,000		'
Sale of Assets	-15,167,000		'
Revision of value	0		'
End of period	0		'
Asset Held For Sale [Member] | Corporate Aircraft [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'		'
Beginning of period	1,884,000		'
Sale of Assets	-1,884,000		'
Revision of value	0		'
End of period	0		'
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'		'
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]	'		'
Commodity risk management assets	0		0
Available for sale securities	69,000		183,000
Assets held for sale	'		0
Total assets	69,000		183,000
Commodity risk management liability	0		0
Other accrued liabilities	0	[1]	0	[1]
Total	0		0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'		'
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]	'		'
Commodity risk management assets	14,000		472,000
Available for sale securities	0		0
Assets held for sale	'		0
Total assets	14,000		472,000
Commodity risk management liability	280,000		0
Other accrued liabilities	0	[1]	0	[1]
Total	280,000		0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'		'
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]	'		'
Commodity risk management assets	0		0
Available for sale securities	0		0
Assets held for sale	'		17,051,000
Total assets	0		17,051,000
Commodity risk management liability	0		0
Other accrued liabilities	741,000	[1]	771,000	[1]
Total	$741,000		$771,000
[1]	Other accrued liabilities is the company's liability for its executive retirement program

COMMODITY_PRICE_RISK_MANAGEMEN2

COMMODITY PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'
Realized derivative gain (loss)	($338)	$21	($1,974)
Unrealized derivative gain (loss)	-737	1,070	1,126
Total realized and unrealized derivative gain (loss)	-1,075	1,091	-848
Current Asset [Member] | Crude Oil Costless Collars [Member]	'	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'
Derivative Assets, Fair Value	14	472	'
Current Liability [Member] | Crude Oil Costless Collars [Member]	'	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'
Derivative Liabilities, Fair Value	$280	$0	'
Crude Oil Costless Collar 01/01/14 - 06/30/14 [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'
Counterparty	'Wells Fargo	'	'
Basis	'WTI	'	'
Quantity (barrels per day)	300	'	'
Crude Oil Costless Collar 01/01/14 - 06/30/14 [Member] | Put Option [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'
Strike Price (in dollars per barrel)	90	'	'
Crude Oil Costless Collar 01/01/14 - 06/30/14 [Member] | Call Option [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'
Strike Price (in dollars per barrel)	95	'	'
Crude Oil Costless Collar 01/01/14 - 06/30/14 (2) [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'
Counterparty	'Wells Fargo	'	'
Basis	'WTI	'	'
Quantity (barrels per day)	300	'	'
Crude Oil Costless Collar 01/01/14 - 06/30/14 (2) [Member] | Put Option [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'
Strike Price (in dollars per barrel)	90	'	'
Crude Oil Costless Collar 01/01/14 - 06/30/14 (2) [Member] | Call Option [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'
Strike Price (in dollars per barrel)	97.25	'	'
Crude Oil Costless Collar 07/01/14 - 12/31/14 [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'
Counterparty	'Wells Fargo	'	'
Basis	'WTI	'	'
Quantity (barrels per day)	300	'	'
Crude Oil Costless Collar 07/01/14 - 12/31/14 [Member] | Put Option [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'
Strike Price (in dollars per barrel)	90	'	'
Crude Oil Costless Collar 07/01/14 - 12/31/14 [Member] | Call Option [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'
Strike Price (in dollars per barrel)	98.4	'	'

SUPPLEMENTAL_FINANCIAL_INFORMA2

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION ON OIL AND NATURAL GAS EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Oil & Gas properties [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Unproved oil and gas properties	$7,478	$9,169	'	'
Proved oil and gas properties	136,521	119,919	'	'
Total capitalized costs	143,999	129,088	'	'
DD&A per equivalent BOE (in dollars per BOE)	32.06	33.49	31.64	'
Undeveloped properties [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Acquisitions	2,067	271	5,006	134
Exploration	0	0	0	0
Development	0	0	0	0
Undeveloped property costs	2,067	271	5,006	134
Total Acquisitions	7,478	'	'	'
Total Exploration	0	'	'	'
Total Development	0	'	'	'
Total undeveloped property costs	7,478	9,200	'	'
Property acquisition costs:	'	'	'	'
Proved	445	2,987	1,288	'
Unproved	1,760	1,416	10,679	'
Exploration costs	9,138	10,943	32,788	'
Development costs	9,403	20,134	4,550	'
Total costs incurred	20,746	35,480	49,305	'
Results of operations from oil and natural gas producing activities [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Oil and gas revenues	33,647	32,534	30,958	'
Operating expenses	10,469	10,788	11,552	'
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	13,623	14,893	13,997	'
Impairment	5,828	5,189	0	'
Total operating expenses	29,920	30,870	25,549	'
Operating income	3,727	1,664	5,409	'
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to USE's ownership interests in proved oil and natural gas reserves [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Future cash inflows	330,245	237,148	259,533	'
Future costs:	'	'	'	'
Production	-129,392	-96,616	-77,813	'
Development	-37,739	-21,461	-42,972	'
Future income tax expense	-14,500	-8,483	-19,790	'
Future net cash flows	148,614	110,588	118,958	'
10% discount factor	-43,761	-39,571	-56,767	'
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows	104,853	71,017	62,191	'
Period for calculating unescalated average prices prior to the end of reporting period	'12 months	'	'	'
Discount factor (in hundredths)	10.00%	'	'	'
Changes in standardized measure of future net cash flows relating to proved oil and natural gas reserves [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Balance at beginning of year	71,017	62,191	44,653	'
Sales of oil and gas, net of production costs	-23,179	-21,747	-19,406	'
Net change in prices and production costs	2,543	-4,548	1,401	'
Net change in future development costs	0	0	0	'
Extensions and discoveries	54,360	23,297	26,574	'
Purchase of reserves in place	0	2,573	3,082	'
Sale of reserves in place	0	-13,573	-1,947	'
Revisions of previous quantity estimates	-2,961	-5,927	-3,158	'
Development costs incurred during year	8,344	22,808	14,930	'
Previously estimated development costs incurred	-6,414	-9,706	-2,719	'
Net change in income taxes	-4,245	7,261	-4,270	'
Accretion of discount	7,647	7,254	5,207	'
Changes in production rates, timing and other	-2,259	1,134	-2,156	'
Balance at end of year	$104,853	$71,017	$62,191	$44,653
Oil (BBLS) [Member]	'	'	'	'
Proved Developed and Undeveloped Reserves [Roll forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning of year	2,613,643	2,737,969	'	'
Revisions of previous quantity estimates	-162,957	-145,596	'	'
Extensions, discoveries and improved recoveries	1,352,746	763,125	'	'
Purchase of reserves in place	0	75,948	'	'
Sales of reserves in place	0	-444,272	'	'
Production	-343,719	-373,531	'	'
End of year	3,459,713	2,613,643	2,737,969	'
Proved developed reserves at end of year	1,875,528	1,770,659	'	'
Pricing used in cash flow estimates (in BBLS or MCFE)	96.78	94.71	96.19	'
Natural Gas or NGL (MCFE) [Member]	'	'	'	'
Proved Developed and Undeveloped Reserves [Roll forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning of year	1,798,088	2,744,128	'	'
Revisions of previous quantity estimates	382,690	-481,583	'	'
Extensions, discoveries and improved recoveries	678,412	369,169	'	'
Purchase of reserves in place	0	30,457	'	'
Sales of reserves in place	0	-437,057	'	'
Production	-487,282	-427,026	'	'
End of year	2,371,908	1,798,088	2,744,128	'
Proved developed reserves at end of year	1,701,282	1,420,295	'	'
Pricing used in cash flow estimates (in BBLS or MCFE)	3.67	2.757	4.12	'

INVESTMENT_IN_STANDARD_STEAM_T1

INVESTMENT IN STANDARD STEAM TRUST, LLC (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]	'	'	'
Equity gain (loss) in unconsolidated investment	($104,000)	($359,000)	($211,000)
Impairment of equity investment	2,160,000	0	0
Standard Steam Trust LLC [Member]	'	'	'
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]	'	'	'
Ownership percentage (in hundredths)	19.54%	'	'
Equity gain (loss) in unconsolidated investment	-104,000	'	'
Impairment of equity investment	$2,200,000	'	'

ASSETS_HELD_FOR_SALE_Details

ASSETS HELD FOR SALE (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Mar. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2011

Jun. 30, 2011

Mar. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Sep. 11, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Real Estate Operations [Member]

Real Estate Operations [Member]

Real Estate Operations [Member]

Remington Village Multifamily [Member]

Remington Village Multifamily [Member]

Corporate Aircraft [Member]

Facilities [Member]

Corporate Aircraft and Facilities [Member]

Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assets held for sale

$0

'

'

'

$17,051,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$0

$17,051,000

'

'

'

'

'

$15,200,000

'

'

$1,900,000

Selling price of asset

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

15,000,000

'

'

'

'

Commercial note due

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

9,500,000

'

'

'

'

Net proceeds on transaction

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5,000,000

'

'

'

'

(Loss) on sale of discontinued of operations

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-120,000

0

0

'

'

'

-120,000

'

-1,000

697,000

'

Depreciation of assets held for sale not recorded

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

660,000

896,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,900,000

767,000

'

Results of discontinued operations [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,271,000

2,037,000

2,147,000

'

'

'

'

'

Operating expenses

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

844,000

1,885,000

1,468,000

'

'

'

'

'

Impairment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

2,955,000

3,063,000

'

'

'

'

'

Total operating expenses

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

844,000

4,840,000

4,531,000

'

'

'

'

'

Income (loss) before income taxes

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

427,000

-2,803,000

-2,384,000

'

'

'

'

'

Income tax benefit from (provision for)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

1,009,000

-245,000

'

'

'

'

'

Total discontinued operations

($3,000)

($128,000)

$206,000

$232,000

($548,000)

($75,000)

($1,235,000)

$64,000

($3,019,000)

$138,000

$123,000

$129,000

$307,000

($1,794,000)

($2,629,000)

$427,000

($1,794,000)

($2,629,000)

'

'

'

'

'

OTHER_LIABILITIES_AND_DEBT_Det

OTHER LIABILITIES AND DEBT (Details) (USD $)

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Jan. 21, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Jan. 31, 2009

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Jun. 30, 2010

Subsequent Event [Member]

Credit Facility - collateralized by oil and gas reserves, at 2.46% [Member]

Credit Facility - collateralized by oil and gas reserves, at 2.46% [Member]

Real estate note - collateralized by property, interest at 5.5% [Member]

Real estate note - collateralized by property, interest at 5.5% [Member]

Real estate note - collateralized by property, interest at 6% [Member]

Real estate note - collateralized by property, interest at 6% [Member]

USE and TCM [Member]

USE and TCM [Member]

USE and TCM [Member]

Federal Funds Effective Rate [Member]

LIBO rate for the three prior months [Member]

LIBO rate for the three prior months [Member]

LIBO rate for the three prior months [Member]

Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Real estate note - collateralized by property, interest at 6% [Member]

Real estate note - collateralized by property, interest at 6% [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Other liabilities [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Deferred rent

$11,000

$12,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Remington Escrow

95,000

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Employee health insurance self funding

58,000

32,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Other current liabilities

164,000

44,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Other long term liabilities [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Accrued executive retirement costs

741,000

771,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt

9,000,000

19,821,000

'

9,000,000

10,000,000

0

9,621,000

0

200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Less current portion

0

-526,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Totals

9,000,000

19,295,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest rate (in hundredths)

'

'

'

2.76%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Stated interest rate (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

5.50%

'

6.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Borrowing capacity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

100,000,000

'

Expiration date of senior credit facility

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

30-Jul-17

'

Borrowing base

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

25,000,000

12,000,000

Description of variable rate basis

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'Federal Funds Effective Rate

'LIBO rate for the three prior months

'

'

'

'

Basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.50%

'

2.25%

3.25%

'

'

Maturity term of senior credit facility

'

'

'

'

'

'5 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'6 months

'

Commitment fee percentage (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.50%

'

Percentage of outstanding loans and loan commitments held by lenders required, minimum (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

67.00%

'

Principal negative financial covenants

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'The principal negative financial covenants (measured at various times as provided in the Credit Agreement) do not permit (i) the Interest Coverage Ratio (Interest Expense to EBITDAX) to be less than 3.0 to 1; (ii) Total Debt to EBITDAX to be greater than 3.5 to 1; and (iii) the Current Ratio (current assets plus unused lender commitments under the Borrowing Base) to be less than 1.0 to 1.0.

'

Minimum interest coverage ratio (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.00%

'

Maximum total debt to EBITDAX ratio (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.50%

'

Minimum current ratio (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.00%

'

Amount borrowed

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

9,000,000

'

Purchase price of land

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Payment for acquisition of land

'

'

1,200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Periodic payment on debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

400,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Company's portion of purchase price (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

50.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Repayment of debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

TCM interest in the land (in hundredths)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

50.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amount borrowed

'

'

'

'

'

$10,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Term for balloon payment

'

'

'

'

'

'5 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'6 months

'

INCOME_TAXES_Details

INCOME TAXES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current income tax expense (benefit) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Federal	$0	$0	$0
State	0	0	0
Total current income tax expense (benefit)	0	0	0
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	'	'	'
Federal	0	-1,093,000	-3,316,000
State	0	-64,000	-195,000
Total deferred income tax expense (benefit)	0	-1,157,000	-3,511,000
Effective income tax reconciliation [Abstract]	'	'	'
Federal statutory income tax rate	-2,509,000	-4,164,000	-2,828,000
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	-158,000	-245,000	-166,000
Incentive stock options	43,000	12,000	246,000
Percent depletion carryover	-174,000	-177,000	-807,000
Valuation allowance	2,717,000	3,512,000	0
Other	81,000	-95,000	44,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	-1,157,000	-3,511,000
Deferred tax assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net operating loss	6,930,000	2,899,000	'
Derivative instruments	96,000	-170,000	'
Asset retirement obligation	294,000	247,000	'
Stock based compensation	228,000	313,000	'
Deferred compensation	385,000	382,000	'
Alternative minimum tax credit	706,000	706,000	'
Contribution carryover	37,000	37,000	'
Equity investments	643,000	-91,000	'
Percentage depletion carryover	2,421,000	2,100,000	'
Total deferred tax assets	11,740,000	6,423,000	'
Deferred tax liabilities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Property and equipment	-5,446,000	-2,854,000	'
State tax	-9,000	0	'
Marketable securities	-16,000	-57,000	'
Total deferred tax liabilities	-5,471,000	-2,911,000	'
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)	6,269,000	3,512,000	'
Less: Valuation Allowance	-6,269,000	-3,512,000	'
Deferred tax liability	0	0	'
Increase in deferred tax assets	5,300,000	'	'
Increase in deferred tax liability	2,800,000	'	'
Increase in net deferred tax assets	3,000,000	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net operating loss carryovers	18,300,000	'	'
Tax deductions for compensation expense	'	2,600,000	'
Net operating loss carry back period	'2 years	'	'
Net operating loss carry forward period	'20 years	'	'
Adjustments for uncertain tax positions	'	0	'
Penalties and interest accrued related to uncertain tax positions	'	0	'
Federal [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net operating loss carryovers	$20,900,000	'	'

SEGMENTS_AND_MAJOR_CUSTOMERS_D

SEGMENTS AND MAJOR CUSTOMERS (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Mar. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2011

Jun. 30, 2011

Mar. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Segment

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of operating segments

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2

'

'

Segment Reporting Information, Results of operations [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$33,647

$32,534

$30,958

Total operating expenses

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

32,965

33,769

27,913

Total interest expenses

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

276

193

304

Operating income (loss) from identified segments

692

359

118

-6,160

-5,880

-2,709

-991

-712

-736

-689

-723

-3,068

-4,991

-10,344

-5,216

General and administrative expenses

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-5,673

-9,109

-8,261

Add back Interest expenses

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

276

193

304

Other revenues and expenses:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-2,695

849

-717

Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations

-1,217

-706

367

-6,130

-6,079

-3,155

624

-833

-2,443

1,022

420

-4,932

-7,686

-9,495

-5,933

Depreciation depletion and amortization expense [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total depreciation, depletion and amortization expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

13,898

15,457

14,593

Assets by segment [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total Assets

126,801

'

'

'

140,827

'

'

'

162,439

'

'

'

126,801

140,827

162,439

Oil and Gas [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information, Results of operations [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

33,647

32,534

30,958

Total operating expenses

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

29,920

30,870

25,549

Total interest expenses

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

264

169

268

Operating income (loss) from identified segments

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,463

1,495

5,141

Add back Interest expenses

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

264

169

268

Depreciation depletion and amortization expense [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total depreciation, depletion and amortization expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

13,623

14,893

13,997

Assets by segment [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total Assets

97,418

'

'

'

93,839

'

'

'

109,141

'

'

'

97,418

93,839

109,141

Mineral properties [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information, Results of operations [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total operating expenses

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,045

2,899

2,364

Total interest expenses

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

12

24

36

Operating income (loss) from identified segments

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-3,057

-2,923

-2,400

Add back Interest expenses

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

12

24

36

Depreciation depletion and amortization expense [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total depreciation, depletion and amortization expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

126

127

102

Assets by segment [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total Assets

20,739

'

'

'

20,747

'

'

'

20,755

'

'

'

20,739

20,747

20,755

Corporate [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Depreciation depletion and amortization expense [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total depreciation, depletion and amortization expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

149

437

494

Assets by segment [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total Assets

8,644

'

'

'

26,241

'

'

'

32,543

'

'

'

8,644

26,241

32,543

Reportable Segment [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information, Results of operations [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Operating income (loss) from identified segments

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$406

($1,428)

$2,741

SHAREHOLDERS_EQUITY_Details

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Value of stock options exercised	'	$0	($208,000)
Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Shares reserved for authorization (in shares)	1,200,000	'	'
Percentage of outstanding shares reserved for issuance (in hundredths)	25.00%	'	'
Number of options available for grant and intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable [Abstract]	'	'	'
Available for future grant (in shares)	790,000	1,060,000	0
Intrinsic value of option exercised	0	4,000	888,000
Aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding	1,661,000	0	351,000
Aggregate intrinsic value of options exercisable	1,073,000	0	351,000
Employee Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'
Options [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Outstanding beginning balance (in shares)	2,259,282	2,318,399	3,011,647
Granted (in shares)	270,000	150,000	0
Forfeited (in shares)	0	-10,000	0
Expired (in shares)	-28,333	-194,950	-200,000
Exercised (in shares)	0	-4,167	-493,248
Outstanding ending balance (in shares)	2,500,949	2,259,282	2,318,399
Exercisable (in shares)	2,137,619	2,119,282	2,108,399
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning Balance (in dollars per share)	$3.80	$3.94	$3.87
Granted (in dollars per share)	$2.08	$2.32	$0
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	$0	$2.32	$0
Expired (in dollar per share)	$4.68	$4.47	$3.90
Exercised (in dollars per share)	$0	$2.52	$3.51
Ending Balance (in dollars per share)	$3.60	$3.80	$3.94
Exercisable (in dollars per share)	$3.85	$3.90	$3.84
Weighted average fair value of options granted during the period (in dollars per share)	$1.20	$1.30	$0
Employee Stock Options [Member] | Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Proceeds from stock options exercised	'	'	34,000
Shares surrendered upon stock option exercise (in shares)	'	3,097	368,804
Value of stock options exercised	'	10,000	1,900,000
Share-based compensation expense	120,000	33,000	947,000
Total unrecognized expense for the option plan	370,000	'	'
Director Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'
Options [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Outstanding beginning balance (in shares)	150,000	210,000	320,000
Granted (in shares)	36,000	80,000	20,000
Forfeited (in shares)	0	0	-20,000
Expired (in shares)	-40,000	-120,000	-5,000
Exercised (in shares)	0	-20,000	-105,000
Outstanding ending balance (in shares)	146,000	150,000	210,000
Exercisable (in shares)	56,668	63,335	183,334
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning Balance (in dollars per share)	$3.05	$3.10	$2.95
Granted (in dollars per share)	$2.08	$2.78	$4.19
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	$0	$0	$2.52
Expired (in dollar per share)	$2.60	$3.05	$3.90
Exercised (in dollars per share)	$0	$2.52	$2.92
Ending Balance (in dollars per share)	$2.93	$3.05	$3.10
Exercisable (in dollars per share)	$3.46	$3.01	$2.91
Weighted average fair value of options granted during the period (in dollars per share)	$1.20	$1.59	$2.34
Director Stock Options [Member] | Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Proceeds from stock options exercised	'	50,000	62,000
Shares surrendered upon stock option exercise (in shares)	'	'	62,104
Value of stock options exercised	'	'	245,000
Share-based compensation expense	64,000	69,000	6,000
Total unrecognized expense for the option plan	90,000	'	'
Number of options available for grant and intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable [Abstract]	'	'	'
Available for future grant (in shares)	131,359	126,526	164,099
Intrinsic value of option exercised	0	17,000	14,000
Aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding	142,000	0	31,000
Aggregate intrinsic value of options exercisable	$35,000	$0	$31,000
2001 Incentive Stock Option Plan [Member] | Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Term of the plan	'10 years	'	'
2012 Equity Plan [Member] | Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Term of the plan	'10 years	'	'

SHAREHOLDERS_EQUITY_Options_Ou

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY, Options Outstanding and Exercisable and Weighted Average Fair Value Assumptions Used (Details) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value Assumptions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Risk free interest rate (in hundredths)	1.66%	'	1.77%
Expected lives	'6 years	'	'6 years
Expected volatility (in hundredths)	62.59%	'	59.64%
Expected dividend yield (in hundredths)	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Minimum [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value Assumptions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Risk free interest rate, minimum (in hundredths)	'	0.82%	'
Expected lives	'	'5 years	'
Expected volatility, minimum (in hundredths)	'	61.87%	'
Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value Assumptions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Risk free interest rate, maximum (in hundredths)	'	1.41%	'
Expected lives	'	'6 years	'
Expected volatility, maximum (in hundredths)	'	63.59%	'
Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value Assumptions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Risk free interest rate, minimum (in hundredths)	'	0.82%	'
Risk free interest rate (in hundredths)	1.66%	'	1.77%
Risk free interest rate, maximum (in hundredths)	'	1.41%	'
Expected lives	'6 years	'	'6 years
Expected volatility, minimum (in hundredths)	'	61.87%	'
Expected volatility (in hundredths)	62.59%	'	59.64%
Expected volatility, maximum (in hundredths)	'	63.59%	'
Expected dividend yield (in hundredths)	0.00%	'	0.00%
Stock Options [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value Assumptions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Expected lives	'	'5 years	'
Stock Options [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value Assumptions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Expected lives	'	'6 years	'
Employee Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	2,500,949	'	'
Weighted average remaining contractual life	'4 years	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	3.6	'	'
Exercisable at end of period (in shares)	2,137,619	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	3.85	'	'
Employee Stock Options [Member] | $2.08 [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercise price range upper range limit (in dollars per share)	2.08	'	'
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	270,000	'	'
Weighted average remaining contractual life	'9 years 6 months	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	2.08	'	'
Exercisable at end of period (in shares)	0	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	0	'	'
Employee Stock Options [Member] | $2.09 - $2.32 [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercise price range lower range limit (in dollars per share)	2.09	'	'
Exercise price range upper range limit (in dollars per share)	2.32	'	'
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	140,000	'	'
Weighted average remaining contractual life	'8 years 6 months 11 days	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	2.32	'	'
Exercisable at end of period (in shares)	46,670	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	2.32	'	'
Employee Stock Options [Member] | $2.33-$2.46 [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercise price range lower range limit (in dollars per share)	2.33	'	'
Exercise price range upper range limit (in dollars per share)	2.46	'	'
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	386,869	'	'
Weighted average remaining contractual life	'0 years 6 months	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	2.46	'	'
Exercisable at end of period (in shares)	386,869	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	2.46	'	'
Employee Stock Options [Member] | $2.47 - $2.52 [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercise price range lower range limit (in dollars per share)	2.47	'	'
Exercise price range upper range limit (in dollars per share)	2.52	'	'
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	405,312	'	'
Weighted average remaining contractual life	'4 years 8 months 23 days	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	2.52	'	'
Exercisable at end of period (in shares)	405,312	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	2.52	'	'
Employee Stock Options [Member] | $2.53 - $3.86 [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercise price range lower range limit (in dollars per share)	2.53	'	'
Exercise price range upper range limit (in dollars per share)	3.86	'	'
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	273,768	'	'
Weighted average remaining contractual life	'1 year 9 months 14 days	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	3.86	'	'
Exercisable at end of period (in shares)	273,768	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	3.86	'	'
Employee Stock Options [Member] | $3.87 - $4.97 [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercise price range lower range limit (in dollars per share)	3.87	'	'
Exercise price range upper range limit (in dollars per share)	4.97	'	'
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	1,025,000	'	'
Weighted average remaining contractual life	'3 years 6 months 25 days	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	4.97	'	'
Exercisable at end of period (in shares)	1,025,000	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	4.97	'	'
Director Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	146,000	'	'
Weighted average remaining contractual life	'8 years 1 month 6 days	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	2.93	'	'
Exercisable at end of period (in shares)	56,668	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	3.46	'	'
Director Stock Options [Member] | $2.08 [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercise price range upper range limit (in dollars per share)	2.08	'	'
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	36,000	'	'
Weighted average remaining contractual life	'9 years 6 months	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	2.08	'	'
Exercisable at end of period (in shares)	0	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	0	'	'
Director Stock Options [Member] | $2.09 - $2.32 [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercise price range lower range limit (in dollars per share)	2.09	'	'
Exercise price range upper range limit (in dollars per share)	2.32	'	'
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	10,000	'	'
Weighted average remaining contractual life	'8 years 6 months 11 days	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	2.32	'	'
Exercisable at end of period (in shares)	3,334	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	2.32	'	'
Director Stock Options [Member] | $2.47 - $2.52 [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercise price range lower range limit (in dollars per share)	2.33	'	'
Exercise price range upper range limit (in dollars per share)	2.52	'	'
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	10,000	'	'
Weighted average remaining contractual life	'4 years 8 months 23 days	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	2.52	'	'
Exercisable at end of period (in shares)	10,000	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	2.52	'	'
Director Stock Options [Member] | $4.20 - $5.04 [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercise price range lower range limit (in dollars per share)	4.2	'	'
Exercise price range upper range limit (in dollars per share)	5.04	'	'
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	10,000	'	'
Weighted average remaining contractual life	'6 years 5 months 23 days	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	5.04	'	'
Exercisable at end of period (in shares)	10,000	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	5.04	'	'
Director Stock Options [Member] | $2.53 - $2.85 [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercise price range lower range limit (in dollars per share)	2.53	'	'
Exercise price range upper range limit (in dollars per share)	2.85	'	'
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	60,000	'	'
Weighted average remaining contractual life	'8 years 2 months 19 days	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	2.85	'	'
Exercisable at end of period (in shares)	20,000	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	2.85	'	'
Director Stock Options [Member] | $2.86 - $4.19 [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercise price range lower range limit (in dollars per share)	2.86	'	'
Exercise price range upper range limit (in dollars per share)	4.19	'	'
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	20,000	'	'
Weighted average remaining contractual life	'7 years 5 months 23 days	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	4.19	'	'
Exercisable at end of period (in shares)	13,334	'	'
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	4.19	'	'

SHAREHOLDERS_EQUITY_Options_Av

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY, Options Available for Grant and Intrinsic Value (Details) (Stock Options [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Number of options available for grant and intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable, current and former directors [Abstract]	'	'	'
Available for future grant (in shares)	790,000	1,060,000	0
Intrinsic value of options exercised	$0	$4,000	$888,000
Aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding	1,661,000	0	351,000
Aggregate intrinsic value of options exercisable	1,073,000	0	351,000
Director Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'
Number of options available for grant and intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable, current and former directors [Abstract]	'	'	'
Available for future grant (in shares)	131,359	126,526	164,099
Intrinsic value of options exercised	0	17,000	14,000
Aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding	142,000	0	31,000
Aggregate intrinsic value of options exercisable	$35,000	$0	$31,000

SHAREHOLDERS_EQUITY_Employee_S

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (Details) (1989 Employee Stock Ownership Plan [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
	H
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'	'
Term of eligibility	'1 year	'	'
Minimum hours required in the term of service for eligibility	1,000	'	'
Initial vesting percentage (in hundredths)	20.00%	'	'
Vesting period	'3 years	'	'
Service period requirement to be Fully Vested	'8 years	'	'
Annual vesting percentage (in hundredths)	20.00%	'	'
Maximum employee's total compensation paid as basis for contribution into ESOP	$255,000	$250,000	$245,000
Estimated fair value of shares not vested in ESOP	14,000	'	'
Shares contributed to ESOP (in shares)	53,276	161,624	98,958
Share price of shares included in ESOP (in dollars per share)	$3.76	$1.50	$2.91
ESOP contribution expense	$200,000	$242,000	$287,000
Minimum [Member]	'	'	'
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'	'
ESOP funding percentages (in hundredths)	10.00%	'	'
Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'	'
ESOP funding percentages (in hundredths)	15.00%	'	'

COMMITMENTS_CONTINGENCIES_AND_1

COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
	Employee
	Executive
Water Rights Litigation Mt. Emmons Project [Abstract]	'	'	'
Period for proposal submission	'6 years	'	'
401(K) Plan [Abstract]	'	'	'
Matching percentage on an employee's salary deferrals (in hundredths)	50.00%	'	'
Maximum matching on an employee's salary deferrals	$4,000	'	'
401 (k) expense	46,000	54,000	57,000
Assumptions [Line Items]	'	'	'
Number of executives included in the plan	2	'	'
Mandatory retirement age	'70 years	'	'
Number of employees with agreements for payment of severance in event of change of control	1	'	'
Leases, Operating [Abstract]	'	'	'
Operating Leases, Minimum Payments Receivable, Monthly	8,000	'	'
Rental income under the agreements	96,000	170,000	101,000
Future minimum receipts for non-cancelable operating leases	101,000	'	'
Executive Officers [Member]	'	'	'
Assumptions [Line Items]	'	'	'
Shares authorized under the plan per each officer (in shares)	20,000	'	'
Shares issued under the plan (in shares)	30,000	60,000	75,000
Period used to compute supplemental retirement salary	'5 years	'	'
Minimum years of service for eligibility in plan (in years)	'15 years	'	'
Minimum age requirement	'60 years	'	'
Value of executive retirement account funded	1,200,000	'	'
Compensation expense	99,000	80,000	72,000
Accrued liability for executive retirement	865,000	903,000	947,000
Surviving spouse of the former Chairman and Founder [Member]	'	'	'
Assumptions [Line Items]	'	'	'
Number of years salary to be paid under the plan	'1 year	'	'
Percentage of final salary of wages to be paid in supplemental board approved plan	50.00%	'	'
Number of years the plan covers a portion of salary	'4 years	'	'
Distributions paid	0	0	57,000
Former General Counsel [Member]	'	'	'
Assumptions [Line Items]	'	'	'
Annual payment	85,000	'	'
Former CFO/Treasurer/V.P. Finance [Member]	'	'	'
Assumptions [Line Items]	'	'	'
Distributions paid	$122,000	$122,000	'
Brigham Oil & Gas, LP [Member]	'	'	'
Gas and Oil Acreage [Line Items]	'	'	'
Working interest percentage (in hundredths)	47.20%	'	'
Dimmit Wood Properties Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Gas and Oil Acreage [Line Items]	'	'	'
Working interest percentage (in hundredths)	30.00%	'	'
Gross acres acquired in acquisition (in acres)	800.77	'	'

SELECTED_QUARTERLY_FINANCIAL_D2

SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited) [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	$9,271	$8,582	$7,915	$7,879	$8,038	$7,639	$8,522	$8,335	$8,846	$8,408	$7,025	$6,679	'	'	'
Operating income (loss)	692	359	118	-6,160	-5,880	-2,709	-991	-712	-736	-689	-723	-3,068	-4,991	-10,344	-5,216
Income (loss) before income tax and discontinued operations	-1,217	-706	367	-6,130	-6,079	-3,155	624	-833	-2,443	1,022	420	-4,932	-7,686	-9,495	-5,933
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	0	0	0	0	-1,302	1,285	-379	388	2,671	-892	-618	2,594	0	-44	-3,755
Discontinued operations, net of taxes	-3	-128	206	232	-548	-75	-1,235	64	-3,019	138	123	129	307	-1,794	-2,629
Net income (loss)	($1,220)	($834)	$573	($5,898)	($7,929)	($1,945)	($990)	($381)	($2,791)	$268	($75)	($2,209)	($7,379)	($11,245)	($4,807)
Income (loss) per share, basic [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	($0.04)	($0.03)	$0.01	($0.22)	($0.27)	($0.07)	$0.01	($0.01)	$0.01	$0	($0.01)	($0.08)	'	'	'
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$0	$0	$0.01	$0.01	($0.02)	$0	($0.05)	$0	($0.12)	$0.01	$0.01	$0	'	'	'
Income (loss) per share, basic (in dollars per share)	($0.04)	($0.03)	$0.02	($0.21)	($0.29)	($0.07)	($0.04)	($0.01)	($0.11)	$0.01	$0	($0.08)	'	'	'
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	27,682,602	27,682,602	27,682,272	27,667,102	27,475,813	27,468,355	27,460,483	27,438,584	27,288,470	27,259,174	27,220,049	27,186,438	'	'	'
Income (loss) per shares, diluted [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	($0.04)	($0.03)	$0.01	($0.22)	($0.27)	($0.07)	$0.01	($0.01)	$0.01	$0	($0.01)	($0.08)	'	'	'
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$0	$0	$0.01	$0.01	($0.02)	$0	($0.05)	$0	($0.12)	$0.01	$0.01	$0	'	'	'
Income (loss) per share, diluted (in dollars per share)	($0.04)	($0.03)	$0.02	($0.21)	($0.29)	($0.07)	($0.04)	($0.01)	($0.11)	$0.01	$0	($0.08)	'	'	'
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	27,682,602	27,682,602	27,682,272	27,667,102	27,475,813	27,468,355	27,460,483	27,438,584	27,288,470	27,862,098	27,866,544	27,186,438	'	'	'

SUBSEQUENT_EVENTS_Details

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Details) (Subsequent Event [Member], Thomson Creek Metals [Member], USD $)	Jan. 21, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	acre
Subsequent Event [Member] | Thomson Creek Metals [Member]	'
Subsequent Event [Line Items]	'
Percentage interest acquired (in hundredths)	50.00%
Acres acquired	160
Cost of acquisition	$1.20