Ultra Petroleum 10-Q 27 Oct 16 2016 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Oct. 19, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	Ultra Petroleum Corp.
Entity Central Index Key	1,022,646
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 1,918,659,990
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		153,398,599
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	UPLMQ

Consolidated Statement of Opera

Consolidated Statement of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Revenues [Abstract]
Natural gas sales	$ 170,996	$ 188,457	$ 425,878	$ 536,477
Oil sales	28,257	34,046	79,352	113,332
Oil and Gas Revenue	199,253	222,503	505,230	649,809
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Lease operating expenses	19,934	28,567	67,164	82,464
LGS operating lease expense	5,171	5,162	15,514	15,485
Production taxes	20,688	19,813	49,394	56,892
Gathering fees	21,159	23,114	65,112	65,359
Transportation charges	49	21,310	23,750	62,577
Depletion, depreciation and amoritzation	31,192	92,806	93,274	279,762
General and administrative	1,595	4,567	7,196	10,629
Costs and Expenses	99,788	195,339	321,404	573,168
Operating Income (Loss)	99,465	27,164	183,826	76,641
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Interest expense (excludes contractual interest expense of $46.8 million and $78.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively)	0	(43,137)	(66,565)	(128,426)
Gain (loss) on commodity derivatives	0	9,390	0	42,608
Deferred gain on sale of liquids gathering system	2,638	2,638	7,915	7,915
Litigation expense	0	0	0	(4,401)
Restructuring expenses	(28)	0	(7,176)	0
Other income (expense), net	(514)	(284)	(2,436)	(323)
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	2,096	(31,393)	(68,262)	(82,627)
Reorganization items, net	(3,109)	0	(25,292)	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	98,452	(4,229)	90,272	(5,986)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	45	(1,133)	(305)	(3,405)
Net Income (Loss)	$ 98,407	$ (3,096)	$ 90,577	$ (2,581)
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.64	$ (0.02)	$ 0.59	$ (0.02)
Fully Diluted Earnings per Share:
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.64	$ (0.02)	$ 0.59	$ (0.02)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	153,392	153,250	153,368	153,171
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	154,121	153,250	154,077	153,171

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 343,520	$ 4,143
Restricted cash	3,461	115
Oil and gas revenue receivable	66,892	61,881
Joint interest billing and other receivables	10,498	11,356
Deposits and retainers	13,453	236
Income tax receivable	5,384	5,150
Inventory	3,790	4,269
Other current assets	5,006	4,064
Total current assets	452,004	91,214
Oil And Gas Properties Net Using Full Cost Method Of Accounting [Abstract]
Proven	958,764	851,145
Property, plant and equipment, net	7,810	8,844
Deferred tax assets	0	1
Other noncurrent assets	1,653	835
Total assets	1,420,231	952,039
Current Liabilities [Abstract]
Accounts payable	24,336	93,415
Accrued liabilities	46,067	72,428
Production taxes payable	63,255	52,273
Current portion of long term debt	0	3,370,553
Interest payable	0	42,657
Capital cost accrual	9,761	20,571
Total current liabilities	143,419	3,651,897
Deferred gain on sale of liquids gathering system	118,380	126,295
Other long-term obligations	164,809	165,784
Liabilities not subject to compromise parent	426,608	3,943,976
Liabilities subject to compromise	3,889,544	0
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Common Stock, Value, Issued	507,807	502,050
Treasury Stock, Value	(49)	(176)
Retained loss	(3,403,679)	(3,493,811)
Total shareholders' deficit	(2,895,921)	(2,991,937)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 1,420,231	$ 952,039

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Common Stock, No Par Value
Common stock, shares authorized	unlimited	unlimited
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	153,395,431	153,255,989
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	153,395,431	153,255,989

Consolidated Statements of Cash

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net Income (Loss)	$ 90,577	$ (2,581)
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]
Depletion, depreciation and amoritzation	93,274	279,762
Deferred Income Tax Provision (Benefit)	1	(744)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives	0	84,675
Deferred gain on sale of liquids gathering system	(7,915)	(7,915)
Amounts charged against income before income tax benefit	3,967	5,509
Non-cash reorganization items, net	22,588	0
Other	6,618	6,295
Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract]
Restricted cash	(3,346)	2
Accounts receivable	(6,782)	49,604
Other current assets	(14,871)	(616)
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets	(818)	0
Accounts payable	(67,828)	(6,898)
Accrued liabilities	(3,102)	(4,469)
Production taxes payable	10,982	3,785
Interest payable	57,118	(4,577)
Other long-term obligations	(9,431)	7,040
Income taxes payable receivable	(234)	2,333
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	170,798	411,205
Investing Activities [Abstract]
Acquisition Costs	0	3,964
Oil and gas property expenditures	(189,511)	(390,874)
Change in capital cost accrual	(10,730)	(20,585)
Inventory	136	3,177
Purchase of Capital Assets	3	(669)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	(200,102)	(404,987)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Borrowings on long-term debt	369,000	936,000
Payments on long-term debt	0	(906,000)
Deferred financing costs	0	6
Repurchased shares - net share settlements	(319)	(2,507)
Payment of contingent consideration	0	(17,049)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	368,681	10,450
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)	339,377	16,668
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	4,143	8,919
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	$ 343,520	$ 25,587

Description of the Business

Description of the Business	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Description Of Business [Abstract]
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]	(All amounts in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars (except per share data) unless otherwise noted). DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS: Ultra Petroleum Corp. (the “Company”) is an independent oil and gas company engaged in the development, production, operation, exploration and acquisition of oil and natural gas properties. The Company is incorporated under the laws of Yukon, Canada. The Company’s principal business activities are developing its long-life natural gas reserves in the Green River Basin of Wyoming – the Pinedale and Jonah fields, its oil reserves in the Uinta Basin in Utah and its natural gas reserves in the Appalachian Basin of Pennsylvania.

Chapter 11 Proceedings, Ability

Chapter 11 Proceedings, Ability to Continue as a Going Concern Disclosure	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Liquidity And Going Concern Disclosure [Abstract]
Liquidity and Ability to Continue as a Going Concern [Text Block]	Chapter 11 Proceedings , Ability to Continue as a Going Con cern Chapter 11 Proceedings On April 29, 2016 (the “Petition Date”), to restructure their respective obligations and capital structures, the Company and each of its direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (the “Bankruptcy Court”). The Debtors’ chapter 11 cases are being jointly administered for procedural purposes under the caption In re Ultra Petroleum Corp., et al, Case No. 16-32202 (MI) ( Bankr . S.D. Tex.). Information about our chapter 11 cases is available at our website (www.ultra petroleum.com) and also at a website maintained by our claims agent, Epiq Systems (http://dm.epiq11.com/UPT/Docket). We are currently operating our business as a debtor-in-possession in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code an d orders of the Bankruptcy Court. After we filed our chapter 11 petitions, the Bankruptcy Court granted certain relief we requested enabling us to conduct our business activities in the ordinary course, including, among other things and subject to the term s and conditions of such orders, authorizing us to pay employee wages and benefits, pay taxes and certain governmental fees and charges, continue to operate our cash management system in the ordinary course, remit funds we hold from time to time for the be nefit of third parties (such as royalty owners), and pay the prepetition claims of certain of our vendors that hold liens under applicable non-bankruptcy law. For goods and services provided following the Petition Date, we intend to pay vendors in full un der normal terms. Subject to certain exceptions provided for in section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code, all judicial and administrative proceedings against us or our property were automatically enjoined, or stayed, as of the Petition Date. In addition, the filing of new judicial or administrative actions against us or our property for claims arising prior to the date on which our chapter 11 cases were filed were automatically enjoined. This prohibits, for example, our lenders or noteholders from pursuing cla ims for defaults under our debt agreements and our contract counterparties from pursuing claims for defaults under our contracts. Accordingly, unless the Bankruptcy Court agrees to lift the automatic stay, all of our prepetition liabilities and obligations should be settled or compromised under the Bankruptcy Code as part of our chapter 11 proceedings . Our operations and ability to execute our business remain subject to the risks and uncertainties described in Item 1A , “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report o n Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 and our Quarterly Report s on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2016 and June 30, 2016 . In addition, our assets, liabilities, including our capital structure , shareholders, officers and/or directors could change materially because of our chapter 11 cases. In addition, the description of our operations, properties and capital plans included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may not accurately reflect our operations, proper ties and capital plans after we emerge from chapter 11. Creditors’ Committees – Appointment & Formation On May 5, 2016, the United States Trustee for the Southern District of Texas appointed an official committee for unsecured creditors of all of the Debtors (the “ UCC ”). On September 26, 2016, the United States Trustee for the Southern District of Texas filed a Notice of Reconstitution of the UCC . In addition, certain other stakeholders have organized for purposes of participating in the Debtors’ chapter 11 cases: ( i ) on June 8, 2016, an informal ad hoc committee of unsecured creditors of our subsidiary, Ultra Resources, Inc., notified the Bankruptcy Court it had formed and identified its members ; (ii) on June 13, 2016, an informal ad hoc committee of the holders of senior notes is sued by the Company notified the Bankruptcy Court it had formed and identified its members ; and (iii) on July 20, 2016, an informal ad hoc committee of shareholders of the Company notified the Bankruptcy Court it had formed and identified its members . We expect each of the committees to be involved in our chapter 11 cases, and any disagreements with any of the committees may extend our chapter 11 cases, increase the cost of our chapter 11 cases, and/or delay our emergence from chapter 11. Exclusivity; Plan of Re organization The Bankruptcy Code provides chapter 11 debtors-in-possession with the exclusive right to file a plan of reorganization under chapter 11 through a period of time specified in the Bankruptcy Code, which period may be extended by the Bankruptcy Court. On July 27, 2016, we filed a motion seeking an extension of the exclusive chapter 11 plan filing period. At a hearing conducted on August 25, 2016, the Bankruptcy Court extended our exclusive right to file a plan of reorganization under chapter 11 through and including March 1, 2017, and to solicit acceptances of such plan through and including May 1, 2017, subject to our producing and delivering a long-term business plan prior to December 1, 2016. We plan to emerge from our chapter 11 cases after we obtain approval from the Bankruptcy Court for a chapter 11 plan of reorganization. Among other things, a chapter 11 plan of reorganization will determine the rights and satisfy the claims of our prepetition creditors and security holders. The terms and condition s of a chapter 11 plan of reorganization will be determined through negotiations with our stakeholders and, possibly, decisions by the Bankruptcy Court. Under the absolute priority scheme established by the Bankruptcy Code, unless our creditors agree othe rwise, all of our prepetition liabilities and postpetition liabilities must be satisfied in full before the holders of our existing common stock can receive any distribution or retain any property under a chapter 11 plan of reorganization. The ultimate rec overy to creditors and/or shareholders, if any, will not be determined until confirmation and implementation of a plan or plans of reorganization. We can give no assurance that any recovery or distribution of any amount will be made to any of our creditors or shareholders. Our plan of reorganization could result in any of the holders of our liabilities and/or securities, including our common stock, receiving no distribution on account of their interests and cancellation of their holdings. Moreover, a plan o f reorganization can be confirmed, under the Bankruptcy Code, even if the holders of our common stock vote against the plan and even if the plan provides that the holders of our common stock receive no distribution on account of their equity interests. Li abilities Subject to Compromise We have applied Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 852, Reorganizations, in preparing the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. In addition, the consolidated fina ncial statements presented here include amounts classified as “liabilities subject to compromise.” This amount represents estimates of known or potential prepetition claims expected to be resolved in connection with our chapter 11 proceedings. Additional a mounts may be included in liabilities subject to compromise in future periods if we elect to reject executory contracts and unexpired leases as part of our chapter 11 cases. Due to the uncertain nature of many of the potential claims, the magnitude of pote ntial claims is not reasonably estimable at this time. Potential claims not currently included with liabilities subject to compromise in our Consolidated Balance Sheets may be material. In addition, differences between amounts we are reporting as liabiliti es subject to compromise in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the amounts attributable to such matters claimed by our creditors or approved by the Bankruptcy Court may be material. We will continue to evaluate our liabilities throughout the chapter 11 process, and we plan to make adjustments in future periods as necessary and appropriate. Such adjustments may be material. Under the Bankruptcy Code, we may assume, assign, or reject certain executory contracts and unexpired leases, subject to the approv al of the Bankruptcy Court and certain other conditions. If we reject a contract or lease, such rejection generally (1) is treated as a prepetition breach of the contract or lease, (2) subject to certain exceptions, relieves the Debtors of performing their future obligations under such contract or lease, and (3) entitles the counterparty thereto to a prepetition general unsecured claim for damages caused by such deemed breach. If we assume an executory contract or unexpired lease, we are generally required to cure any existing monetary defaults under such contract or lease and provide adequate assurance of future performance to the counterparty. Accordingly, any description of an executory contract or unexpired lease in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, in cluding any quantification of our obligations under any such contract or lease, is wholly qualified by the rejection rights we have under the Bankruptcy Code. Further, nothing herein is or shall be deemed an admission with respect to any claim amounts or c alculations arising from the rejection of any executory contract or unexpired lease and we expressly preserve all of our rights with respect thereto. The following table summarizes the components of liabilities subject to compromise included in our Consoli dated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016 : September 30, 2016 Accounts payable $ 1,251 Accrued liabilities 6,333 Accrued interest payable 99,774 Debt 3,759,000 Other terminated contracts 23,186 Liabilities subject to compromise $ 3,889,544 Schedules and Statements – Magnitude of Potential Claims & Claims Resolution Process On June 8, 2016, each of the Debtors filed a Schedule of Assets and Liabilities and Statement of Financial Affairs (collectively, the “Schedules and Statements”) with the Bankruptcy Court setting forth, among other things, the assets and liabilities of the Debtors, subject to the assumptions filed in connection therewith. On October 14, 2016, Ultra Wyoming LGS, LLC (“ UWLGS ”), one of the Debtors and our indirect, wholly owned subsidiary, filed an amendment to its Schedules and Statements. The Schedules and Statements are subject to further amendment or modification. Certain holders of prepetition claims were required to file proofs of claim by the deadline for filing cert ain proofs of claims in the Debtors’ chapter 11 cases, which deadline was September 1, 2016, for prepetition general unsecured claims and October 26, 2016, for governmental claims. Differences between amounts scheduled by the Debtors and claims by credito rs will be investigated and resolved in connection with the claims resolution process. In light of the expected number of creditors, the claims resolution process may take considerable time to complete and we will likely continue after our emergence from b ankruptcy. Accordingly, the ultimate number and amount of allowed claims is not presently known, nor can the ultimate recovery with respect to allowed claims be presently ascertained. To the best of our knowledge, we have notified all of our known current or potential creditors that the Debtors have filed chapter 11 cases. The Schedules and Statements set forth, among other things, the assets and liabilities of each of the Debtors, including executory contracts to which each of the Debtors is a party, are subject to the qualifications and assumptions included therein and amendment or modification as our chapter 11 cases proceed. Through the claims resolution process, differences in amounts scheduled by the Debtors and claims filed by creditors will be inv estigated and resolved, including through the filing of objections with the Bankruptcy Court where appropriate. Many of the claims identified in the Schedules and Statements are listed as disputed, contingent or unliquidated. In addition, there are diffe rences between the amounts for certain claims listed in the Schedules and Statements and the amounts claimed by our creditors. Such differences, as well as other disputes and contingencies will be investigated and resolved as part of our claims resolution process in our chapter 11 cases. Please refer to Note 8 for additional information about contingent matters and commitments related to certain claims filed in our chapter 11 cases. Pursuant to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, some creditors who wished to assert prepetition claims against us and whose claim s ( i ) were not listed in the Schedules and Statements or (ii) were listed in the Schedules and Statements as disputed, contingent, or unliquidated, were required to file a proof of claim wi th the Bankruptcy Court prior to the bar date set by the court. The bar date for non-governmental creditors w as September 1, 2016, and the bar date for governmental creditors was October 26, 2016 . The claims filed against the Debtors to date are volumino us. Further, it is possible that claimants will file amended or modified claims in the future, including modifications or amendments to assign values to claims originally filed with no designated value. The amended or modified claims may be material. We plan to investigate and evaluate all filed claims in connection with our plan of reorganization. As a part of the claims resolution process, we anticipate working to resolve differences in amounts we listed in our Schedules and Statements and amounts of claims filed by our creditors. We have already identified, for example, claims that we believe should be disallowed by the Bankruptcy Court because they are duplicative, have been later amended or superseded, are without merit, are overstated or for other reasons. We will file objections with the Bankruptcy Court as necessary for claims we believe should be disallowed . Tax Att ributes; Net Operating Loss Carryforwards We have substantial tax net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes. Under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, our ability to use these net operating losses and other tax attributes may be limited if we experience a change of control, as determined under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, we obtained an order from the Bankruptcy Court that is intended to protect our ability to use our tax attributes by imposing certain notice procedures and tra nsfer restrictions on the trading of the Company’s common stock. In general, the order applies to any person or entity that, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns (or would beneficially own as a result of a proposed transfer) at least 4.5% of the Comp any’s common stock. Such persons are required to notify us and the Bankruptcy Court before effecting a transaction that might result in us losing the ability to use our tax attributes, and we have the right to seek an injunction to prevent the transaction if it might adversely affect our ability to use our tax attributes. Any purchase, sale or other transfer of our equity securities in violation of the restrictions of the order is null and void ab initio as an act in violation of a Bankruptcy Court order a nd would therefore confer no rights on a proposed transferee. Costs of Reorganization We have incurred and will continue to incur significant costs associated with our reorganization and the chapter 11 proceedings. We expect these costs, which are being expensed as incurred, will significantly affect our results of operations. In addition, a non-cash charge to write-off the unamortized debt issuance costs related to our funded indebtedness is included in “Reorganization items, net” as these debt instrumen ts are expected to be impacted by the pendency of the Company’s chapter 11 cases . For additional information about the costs of our reorganization and chapter 11 proceedings, see “Reorganization items, net” below. The following table summarizes the compon ents included in Reorganization items, net in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 : For the Three Months Ended For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 September 30, 2016 Professional fees(1) $ 3,215 $ 6,797 Deferred financing costs(2) - 18,742 Other(3) (106) (247) Total Reorganization items, net $ 3,109 $ 25,292 (1) The nine months ended September 30, 2016 includes $ 3.8 million directly related to accrued, unpaid professional fees associated with the chapter 11 filings . (2) A non-cash charge to write-off all of the unamortized debt issuance costs related to the unsecured Credit Agreement, unsecured Senior Notes issued by Ultra Resources, Inc., the unsecured 2018 Senior Notes issued by the Company and the unsecured 2024 Senior Notes issued by the Company is included in Reorganization items, net as these debt instruments are expected to be impacted by the pendency of the Company’s chapter 11 cases . (3) Cash interest income earned for the period after the Petition Date on excess cash over normal invested capital . Ability to Continue as a Going Concern The conden sed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been prepared on a going concern basis of accounting, which contemplates continuity of operations, realization of assets, and satisfaction of liabilities and commitme nts in the normal course of business. The condensed consolidated financial statements do not reflect any adjustments that might result from the outcome of our chapter 11 proceedings. We have significant indebtedness, all of which we have reclassified to li abilities subject to compromise at September 30, 2016 . Our level of indebtedness has adversely impacted and is continuing to adversely impact our financial condition. As a result of our financial condition, the defaults under our debt agreements, and the risks and uncertainties surrounding our chapter 11 proceedings, substantial doubt exists that we will be able to continue as a going concern .

Significant Accounting Policies

Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: The accompanying financial statements, other than the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2015 , are unaudited and were prepared from the Company’s records, but do not include all disclosures required by U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). Balance sheet data as of December 31, 2015 was derived from the Company’s audited financial statements. The Company’s management believes that these financial statements include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position and results of operations. All adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature unless specifically noted. The Company prepared these statements on a basis consistent with the Company’s annual au dited statements and Regulation S-X. Regulation S-X allows the Company to omit some of the footnote and policy disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles and normally included in annual reports on Form 10-K. You should read these inte rim financial statements together with the financial statements, summary of significant accounting policies and notes to the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K. Basis of presentation and principles of consolidation: The consolidated financi al statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. The Company presents its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. All inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation. (a) Cash and Cash Equivalents: The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. (b) Restricted Cash: Restricted cash represents cash received by the Company from production sold where t he final division of ownership of the production is unknown or in dispute. (c) Accounts Receivable: Accounts receivable are stated at the historical carrying amount net of write-offs and an allowance for uncollectible accounts. The carrying amount of the Company’s accounts receivable approximates fair value because of the short-term nature of the instruments. The Company routinely assesses the collectability of all material trade and other receivables. (d) Property, Plant and Equipment: Capital assets a re recorded at cost and depreciated using the declining-balance method based on their respective useful life. ( e ) Oil and N atural G as P roperties: The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for exploration and development activities as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Release No. 33-8995, Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting Requirements (“SEC Release No. 33-8995”) and Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 932, Extr active Activities – Oil and Gas (“FASB ASC 932”) . Under this method of accounting, the costs of unsuccessful, as well as successful, exploration and development activities are capitalized as oil and gas properties. This includes any internal costs that are directly related to exploration and development activities but does not include any costs related to production, general corporate overhead or similar activities. The carrying amount of oil and natural gas properties also includes estimated asset retireme nt costs recorded based on the fair value of the asset retirement obligation when incurred. Gain or loss on the sale or other disposition of oil and natural gas properties is not recognized, unless the gain or loss would significantly alter the relationshi p between capitalized costs and proved reserves of oil and natural gas attributable to a country. The sum of net capitalized costs and estimated future development costs of oil and natural gas properties are amortized using the units-of-production method based on the Company’s proved reserves. Oil and natural gas reserves and production are converted into equivalent units based on relative energy content. Asset retirement costs are included in the base costs for calculating depletion. Under the full cos t method, costs of unevaluated properties and major development projects expected to require significant future costs may be excluded from capitalized costs being amortized. The Company excludes significant costs until proved reserves are found or until it is determined that the costs are impaired. The Company reviews its unproved leasehold costs quarterly or when management determines that events or circumstances indicate that the recorded carrying value of the unevaluated properties may not be recoverable . The fair values of unproved properties are evaluated utilizing a discounted net cash flows model based on management’s assumptions of future oil and gas production, commodity prices, operating and development costs; as well as appropriate discount rates. The estimated prices used in the cash flow analysis are determined by management based on forward price curves for the related commodities, adjusted for average historical location and quality differentials. Estimates of cash flows related to probable and possible reserves are reduced by additional risk-weighting factors. The amount of any impairment is transferred to the capitalized costs being amortized. Companies that use the full cost method of accounting for oil and natural gas exploration and development activities are required to perform a ceiling test calculation each quarter. The full cost ceiling test is an impairment test prescribed by SEC Regulation S-X Rule 4-10. The ceiling test is performed quarterly, on a country-by-country basis, uti lizing the average of prices in effect on the first day of the month for the preceding twelve month period in accordance with SEC Release No. 33-8995. The ceiling limits such pooled costs to the aggregate of the present value of future net revenues attribu table to proved crude oil and natural gas reserves discounted at 10%, plus the lower of cost or market value of unproved properties, less any associated tax effects. If such capitalized costs exceed the ceiling, the Company will record a write-down to the extent of such excess as a non-cash charge to earnings. Any such write-down will reduce earnings in the period of occurrence and results in a lower depletion, depreciation and amortization (“DD&A”) rate in future periods. A write-down may not be reversed i n future periods even though higher oil and natural gas prices may subsequently increase the ceiling. The Company did not incur a ceiling test write-down for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 or 2015 . (f) Deferred Financing Costs: During the quarter ended June 30, 2016, a non-cash charge to write-off all of the unamortized debt issuance costs related to the unsecured Credit Agreement, unsecured Senior Notes (as defined below) issued by Ultra Resources, Inc., the unsecured 2018 Senior Note s (as defined below) issued by the Company and the unsecured 2024 Senior Notes (as defined below) issued by the Company is included in Reorganization items, net in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations as these debt instruments are expecte d to be impacted by the pendency of the Company’s chapter 11 cases. At December 31, 2015, other current assets includes costs associated with the issuance of our revolving credit facility while costs associated with the issuance of our Senior Notes, 2018 N otes and 2024 Notes are presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability. (g) Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities: The Company follows FASB ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“FASB ASC 815”). The Company records the fair value of its commodity derivatives as an asset or liability in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and records the changes in the fair value of its commodity derivatives in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company does not offset the value of its derivative arrangements with the same counterparty. (See Note 6). (h) Income Taxes: Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured u sing enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are recorded related to deferred tax assets based on the “more likely than not” criteria described in FASB ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes. In addition, the Company recognizes the financial statem ent benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. ( i ) Earnings Per Share: Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by adjusting the average number of common shares outstanding for the dilutive effect, if any, of common stock equiva lents. The Company uses the treasury stock method to determine the dilutive effect. Three Months Nine Months Ended September 30, Ended September 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 (Share amounts in 000's) Net income (loss) $ 98,407 $ (3,096) $ 90,577 $ (2,581) Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic 153,392 153,250 153,368 153,171 Effect of dilutive instruments 729 - 709 - Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted 154,121 153,250 154,077 153,171 Net income (loss) per common share - basic $ 0.64 $ (0.02) $ 0.59 $ (0.02) Net income (loss) per common share - diluted $ 0.64 $ (0.02) $ 0.59 $ (0.02) Number of shares not included in dilutive earnings per share that would have been anti-dilutive because the exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common shares (1)(2) 503 - 1,450 - (1) Due to the net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, 1.7 million shares for options and restricted stock units were anti-dilutive and excluded from the computation of net loss per share. (2) Due to the net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2015, 1.6 million shares for options and restricted stock units were anti-dilutive and excluded from the computation of net loss per share. (j) Use of Estimates: Preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the 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. Actual results could differ from those estimates. (k) Accounting for Share-Based Compensation: The Company measures and r ecognizes compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors, including employee stock options, based on estimated fair values in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. (l) Fair Value Ac counting: The Company follows FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“FASB ASC 820”), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This statement applies under other accounting topics that require or permit fair value measurements. See Note 7 for additional information. (m) Asset Retirement Obligation: The initial estimated retirement obligation of properties is recognized as a liabi lity with an associated increase in oil and gas properties for the asset retirement cost. Accretion expense is recognized over the estimated productive life of the related assets. If the fair value of the estimated asset retirement obligation changes, an a djustment is recorded to both the asset retirement obligation and the asset retirement cost. Revisions in estimated liabilities can result from revisions of estimated inflation rates, changes in service and equipment costs and changes in the estimated timi ng of settling asset retirement obligations. As a full cost company, settlements for asset retirement obligations for abandonment are adjusted to the full cost pool. The asset retirement obligation is included within other long-term obligations in the acc ompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. (n) Revenue Recognition: The Company generally sells oil and natural gas under both long-term and short-term agreements at prevailing market prices. The Company recognizes revenues when the oil and natural gas is delivered, which occurs when the customer has taken title and has assumed the risks and rewards of ownership, prices are fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. The Company accounts for oil and natural gas sales using the “entitleme nts method.” Under the entitlements method, revenue is recorded based upon the Company’s ownership share of volumes sold, regardless of whether it has taken its ownership share of such volumes. Any amount received in excess of the Company’s share is treate d as a liability. If the Company receives less than its entitled share, the underproduction is recorded as a receivable. Make-up provisions and ultimate settlements of volume imbalances are generally governed by agreements between the Company and its part ners with respect to specific properties or, in the absence of such agreements, through negotiation. The value of volumes over- or under-produced can change based on changes in commodity prices. The Company prefers the entitlements method of accounting for oil and natural gas sales because it allows for recognition of revenue based on its actual share of jointly owned production, results in better matching of revenue with related operating expenses, and provides balance sheet recognition of the estimated va lue of product imbalances. The Company’s imbalance obligations as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were immaterial. (o) Capitalized Interest: Interest is capitalized on the cost of unevaluated gas and oil properties that are excluded from amortization and actively being evaluated, if any. (p) Reclassifications: Certain amounts in the financial statements of prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period financial statement presentation. (q) Capital Cost Accrual: Th e Company accrues for exploration and development costs in the period incurred, while payment may occur in a subsequent period. (r) Deposits and Retainers : Deposits and retainers primarily consists of payments related to surety bonds. (s) Recent Accounti ng Pronouncements not yet Adopted: In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU No. 2016-09”) to simplify some of the provisions in stock compensation accounting. The update simplifies the accounting for a stock payment’s tax consequences and amends how excess tax benefits and a business’s payments to cover the tax bills for the shares’ recipients should be classified. T he amendments allow companies to estimate the number of stock awards expected to vest and revises the withholding requirements for classifying stock awards as equity. For public companies, the standard will take effect for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016 with earlier application permitted. The Company is still evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2016-09 on its financial position and results of operations . In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016 -02, Leases (“ASU No. 2016-02”). The guidance requires that lessees will be required to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for the rights and obligations created by all leases with terms of more than 12 months. The ASU will also require disclosures designed to give financial statement users information on the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. These disclosures include qualitative and quantitative information. For public companies, the standard will take e ffect for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018 with earlier application permitted. The Company is still evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2016-02 on its financial position and results of operations . In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (“ASU No. 2015-11”). Public companies will have to apply the amendments for reporting periods that start after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. This ASU requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The company does not expect the adoption of ASU No. 2015-11 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Interest—Imputation of Interest (Sub topic 835-30)—Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15, Interest—Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30)—Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements . These ASUs require capitalized debt issuance costs, except for those related to revolving credit facilities, to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability, rather than as an asset. The Company adopted these ASUs on January 1, 2016, using a retrospective approach. The adoption resulted in a reclassification that reduced current assets and current maturities of long-term debt by $ 19.4 million on the Company’s Consolidated Balan ce Sheet at December 31, 2015. A non-cash charge to write-off all of the unamortized debt issuance costs is included in Reorganization items, net at June 30, 2016 as the related debt instruments are expected to be impacted by the pendency of the Company’s chapter 11 cases . The FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) , ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net) , and ASU 2016-10, Revenue s from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing , which supersede the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition , and industry-specific guidance in Subtopic 932-605, Extractive Activitie s-Oil and Gas-Revenue Recognition and require an entity to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services . The Company is required to adopt the new standards in the first quarter of 2018 using one of two retrospective application methods. The Company is continuing to evaluate the provisions of these ASUs, and has not determined the impact these standards may have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures or decided upon the method of adoption . In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (“ASU No. 2014-15”) that requires management to evaluate whether there are conditions and events that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the financial statements are issued on both an interim and annual basis. Management is required to provide certain footnote disclosures if it concludes that substantial doubt exists or when its plans alleviate substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. ASU No. 2014-15 becomes ef fective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and for interim reporting periods thereafter. The Company does not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Oil and Gas Properties and Equi

Oil and Gas Properties and Equipment	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Oil And Gas Properties And Equipment [Abstract]
Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Industries Disclosures [Text Block]	2. OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES AND EQUIPMENT: September 30, December 31, 2016 2015 Proven Properties: Acquisition, equipment, exploration, drilling and abandonment costs $ 10,672,172 $ 10,480,165 Less: Accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization (9,713,408) (9,629,020) $ 958,764 $ 851,145

Long Term Liabilities

Long Term Liabilities	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Long Term Liabilities [Abstract]
Long-term Debt [Text Block]	3. DEBT AND OTHER LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS: September 30, December 31, 2016 2015 Total Debt: 6.125% Senior Notes due 2024 $ 850,000 $ 850,000 5.75% Senior Notes due 2018 450,000 450,000 Senior Notes issued by Ultra Resources, Inc. 1,460,000 1,460,000 Credit Agreement 999,000 630,000 Total current portion of long-term debt 3,759,000 3,390,000 Less: Deferred financing costs(1) - (19,447) Less: Liabilities subject to compromise(2) (See Note 1) (3,759,000) - Total current portion of long-term debt not subject to compromise $ - $ 3,370,553 Other long-term obligations: Other long-term obligations $ 164,809 $ 165,784 (1) A non-cash charge to write-off all of the unamortized debt issuance costs related to the unsecured Credit Agreement, unsecured Senior Notes issued by Ultra Resources, Inc., the unsecured 2018 Senior Notes issued by the Company and the unsecured 2024 Senior Notes issued by the Company is included in Reorganization items, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as these debt instruments are expected to be impacted by the pendency of the Company’s chapter 11 cases. (2) We have significant indeb tedness , all of which we have reclassified to liabilities subject to compromise at June 30, 2016 and continued to classify as liabilities subject to compromise at September 30, 2016 in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our level of indebtedness has advers ely impacted and is continuing to adversely impact our financial condition. As a result of our financial condition, the defaults under our debt agreements and the risks and uncertainties surrounding our chapter 11 proceedings, substantial doubt exists that we will be able to continue as a going concern. Ultra Resources, Inc. Bank indebtedness. Ultra Resources, Inc. (“Ultra Resources”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is a party to the Credit Agreement. Ultra Resources’ obligations under the Cred it Agreement are guaranteed by the Company and UP Energy Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Ultra Resources’ filing of the chapter 11 petitions described in Note 1 constituted an event of default that accelerated its obligations und er the Credit Agreement . Other events of default are also present with respect to the Credit Agreement, including a failure to make interest payments and, as described below, a failure to deliver annual audited consolidated financial statements without a going concern qualification, a failure to meet the minimum PV-9 ratio covenant and a failure to comply with the consolidated leverage covenant in the Credit Agreement at the end of the first quarter of 2016. The Credit Agreement provides that upon the acce leration of Ultra Resources’ obligations under the Credit Agreement, the outstanding balance of loans extended under the Credit Agreement comes due, unpaid interest accrued as of the time of the acceleration comes due, and any fees or other obligations of the borrower come due. Under the Bankruptcy Code, the creditors under the Credit Agreement are stayed from taking any action against Ultra Resources or any of the other Debtors as a result of the default . Prior to April 29, 2016, loans under the Credit A greement bore interest, at the borrower’s option, based on (A) a rate per annum equal to the prime rate or the weighted average fed funds rate on overnight transactions during the preceding business day plus a margin based on a grid of the borrower’s conso lidated leverage ratio, or (B) a base Eurodollar rate, substantially equal to the LIBOR rate, plus a margin based on a grid of the borrower’s consolidated leverage ratio. The Credit Agreement requires us to deliver annual audited, consolidated financial s tatements for the Company without a “going concern” or like qualification or explanation. On March 15, 2016, we delivered an audit report with respect to the financial statements in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K that included an explanatory paragraph expressing uncertainty as to our ability to continue as a “going concern.” The Credit Agreement contains a consolidated leverage covenant, pursuant to which Ultra Resources is required to maintain a maximum ratio of its total funded consolidated debt to its trailing four fiscal quarters’ EBITDAX of 3.5 to 1.0 . Based on Ultra Resources’ EBITDAX for the trailing four fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2016, we were not in compliance with this consolidated leverage covenant at March 31, 2016 (the ratio was 4.6 times at March 31, 2016). The Credit Agreement contains a PV-9 covenant, pursuant to which Ultra Resources is required to maintain a minimum ratio of the discounted net present value of its oil and gas properties to its total funded consolidated debt of 1.5 times . We were required to report whether we were in compliance with this covenant on April 1, 2016. Based on the PV-9 of its oil and gas properties at December 31, 2015, Ultra Resources failed to comply with the PV-9 ratio covenant under the Credit Ag reement (the ratio was 0.9 times at December 31, 2015). Senior Notes . Ultra Resources has outstanding $1.46 billion of senior notes (“Senior Notes”) which were issued pursuant to a certain Master Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 6, 2008 (as amen ded, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “MNPA”). The Senior Notes rank pari passu with the Credit Agreement. Payment of the Senior Notes is guaranteed by the Company and by UP Energy Corporation. The Senior Notes are subject to representations, warran ties, covenants and events of default similar to those in the Credit Agreement. Ultra Resources’ filing of the chapter 11 petitions described in Note 1 constituted an event of default that accelerated its obligations under the MNPA and the Senior Notes . Other events of default are also present with respect to the MNPA, including a failure to comply with the consolidated leverage covenant at the end of the first quarter of 2016 and a failure to make principal and interest payments due under the Ultra Re sources’ Senior Notes. The MNPA provides that upon the acceleration of Ultra Resources’ obligations under the MNPA and the Senior Notes, among other matters, the Senior Notes are deemed to have matured, the unpaid principal balance of the Senior Notes come s due, unpaid interest accrued as of the time of the acceleration comes due, and any applicable make-whole amount (as determined pursuant to the MNPA) comes due. Under the Bankruptcy Code, the creditors under the Senior Notes are stayed from taking any act ion against Ultra Resources or any of the other the Debtors as a result of the default. The MNPA contains a consolidated leverage covenant, pursuant to which Ultra Resources is required to maintain a maximum ratio of its total funded consolidated debt to its trailing four fiscal quarters’ EBITDAX of 3.5 to 1.0 . Based on Ultra Resources’ EBITDAX for the trailing four fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2016, we were not in compliance with this consolidated leverage covenant at March 31, 2016 (the ratio was 4.6 times at March 31, 2016). On March 1, 2016, we failed to make an interest payment of approximately $ 40.0 million and a principal payment of $ 62.0 million, each of which was due March 1, 2016 under the terms of the Senior Notes. We entered into a forbeara nce agreement related to the failure to make these payments with the holders of the Senior Notes, and we filed the chapter 11 petitions without making the payments before the forbearance period expired. Interest Expense . No interest expense has been reco gnized with respect to the Credit Agreement or the Senior Notes subsequent to the Petition Date. Ultra Petroleum Corp. Senior Notes The Company’s filing of the chapter 11 petitions described in Note 1 constituted an event of default that accelerated t he Company’s obligations under the 2024 Notes and the 2018 Notes. Additionally, other events of default, including cross-defaults, are present due to the failure to make interest payments and other matters. Under the indentures pursuant to which the 2024 Notes and the 2018 Notes, respectively, were issued, upon the acceleration of the Company’s obligations under the 2024 Notes and the 2018 Notes, among other matters, the 2024 Notes and the 2018 Notes, respectively, are deemed to have matured, the unpaid pr incipal balance of the 2024 Notes and the 2018 Notes, respectively, comes due, unpaid interest accrued as of the time of the acceleration comes due, and any applicable premiums (as determined pursuant to the indentures) comes due. Under the Bankruptcy Code , the creditors under the 2024 Notes and the 2018 Notes are stayed from taking any action against the Debtors as a result of the default. Senior Notes due 2024 : On September 18, 2014, the Company issued $850.0 million of 6.125% Senior Notes due 2024 (“20 24 Notes”). The 2024 Notes are general, unsecured senior obligations of the Company and mature on October 1, 2024. The 2024 Notes rank equally in right of payment to all existing and future senior indebtedness of the Company and effectively rank junior to all future secured indebtedness of the Company (to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness). The 2024 Notes are not guaranteed by the Company’s subsidiaries and, as a result, are structurally subordinated to the indebtedness and other obligations of the Company’s subsidiaries. The 2024 Notes are subject to covenants that restrict the Company’s ability to incur indebtedness, make distributions and other restricted payments, grant liens, use the proceeds of asset sales, make inv estments and engage in affiliate transactions. Interest due under the 2024 Notes is payable each April 1 and October 1. On April 1, 2016, we elected to defer making an interest payment on the 2024 Notes of approximately $ 26.0 million due April 1, 2016. Th e indenture governing the 2024 Notes provides a 30-day grace period for us to make this interest payment. We did not make this interest payment before the end of the grace period, which resulted in an event of default under the indenture governing the 2024 Notes. Senior Notes due 2018 : On December 12, 2013, the Company issued $450.0 million of 5.75% Senior Notes due 2018 (“2018 Notes”). The 2018 Notes are general, unsecured senior obligations of the Company and mature on December 15, 2018. The 2018 Not es rank equally in right of payment to all existing and future senior indebtedness of the Company and effectively rank junior to all future secured indebtedness of the Company (to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness). The 2018 Notes are not guaranteed by the Company’s subsidiaries and, as a result, are structurally subordinated to the indebtedness and other obligations of the Company’s subsidiaries. The 2018 Notes are subject to covenants that restrict the Company’s ability to incur indebtedness, make distributions and other restricted payments, grant liens, use the proceeds of asset sales, make investments and engage in affiliate transactions. Interest due under the 2018 Notes is payable each June 15 and December 15 . The C ompany’s filing of the chapter 11 petitions described in Note 1 constituted an event of default that accelerated the Company’s obligations under the 2024 Notes and the 2018 Notes. Additionally, other events of default, including cross-defaults resultin g from the acceleration of indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement and the Ultra Resources’ Senior Notes, are present due to the failure to make interest payments and other matters. Under the Bankruptcy Code, the creditors under the 2024 Notes and the 2018 Notes are stayed from taking any action against the Debtors as a result of the Company’s bankruptcy filings. Interest Expense . No interest expense has been recognized with respect to the 2024 Notes or the 2018 Notes subsequent to the Petitio n Date. Other long-term obligations: These costs primarily relate to the long-term portion of production taxes payable and asset retirement obligations.

Share Based Compensation

Share Based Compensation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Stock Based Compensation [Abstract]
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]	4. SHARE BASED COMPENSATION: Valuation and Expense Information Three Months Nine Months Ended September 30, Ended September 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Total cost of share-based payment plans $ 1,706 $ 3,963 $ 5,756 $ 8,247 Amounts capitalized in oil and gas properties and equipment $ 442 $ 1,283 $ 1,789 $ 2,738 Amounts charged against income, before income tax benefit $ 1,264 $ 2,680 $ 3,967 $ 5,509 Amount of related income tax benefit recognized in income before valuation allowance $ 503 $ 1,120 $ 1,579 $ 2,303 Changes in Stock Options and Stock Options Outstanding The following table summarizes the changes in stock options for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and the year ended December 31, 2015 : Weighted Number of Average Options Exercise Price (000's) (US Dollars) Balance, December 31, 2014 690 $ 25.68 to $ 98.87 Expired or forfeited (171) $ 25.68 to $ 75.18 Balance, December 31, 2015 519 $ 49.05 to $ 98.87 Expired or forfeited (109) $ 50.48 to $ 75.18 Balance, September 30, 2016 410 $ 49.05 to $ 98.87 Performance Share Plans : Long Term Incentive Plans. The Company offers a Long Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) in order to further align the interests of key employees with shareholders and to give key employees the opportunity to share in the long-term performance of the Company when specific corporate financial and operational goals are achieved. Each LTIP covers a performance period of three years. Under each LTIP, the Compensation Committee establishes a percentage of base salary for each participant that is multiplied by the participant’s base salary at the beginning of th e performance period and individual performance level to derive a Long Term Incentive Value as a “target” value. This “target” value corresponds to the number of shares of the Company’s common stock the participant is eligible to receive if the participant is employed by the Company through the date the award vests and if the target level for all performance measures are met. In addition, each participant is assigned threshold and maximum award levels in the event the Company’s actual performance is below o r above the target levels. Time-Based Measure and Performance-Based Measures . For each LTIP award, the Committee establishes time-based and performance-based measures at the beginning of each three-year performance period. For the LTIP awards in 2015 and 2014 , the Committee established the following performance -based measures: return on capital employed, debt level, and reserve replacement ratio. The fair value of the time-based and performance-based component of the LTIP award is based on the av erage high and low market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of award. Market-Based Measure . LTIP awards granted to officers during 2015 and 2014 , include a n additional performance metric, Total Shareholder Return. The grant-date fair value related to the market-based condition was calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation . Valuation Assumptions The Company estimates the fair value of the market condition related to the LTIP awards on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation with the following assumptions: 2015 LTIP 2014 LTIP Volatility of common stock 40.1% 39.0% Average volatility of peer companies 46.5% n/a Average correlation coefficient of peer companies 0.454 n/a Risk-free interest rate 1.02% 0.66% Stock-Based Compensation Cost : For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , the Company recognized $3.3 million in pre-tax compensation expense related to the 2014 and 2015 LTIP awards of restricted stock units as compared to $4.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 related to the 2013 , 2014 and 2015 LTIP awards of restricted stock units. The amounts recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 assume tha t performance objectives between less than threshold and up to maximum are attained for the 2014 and 2015 LTIP plans. If the Company ultimately attains these performance objectives, the associated total compensation, estimated at September 30, 2016 , for e ach of the three year performance periods is expected to be approximately $9.3 million and $10.1 million related to the 2014 and 2015 LTIP awards of restricted stock units, respectively. Based on the Company’s achievement r elative to the 2013 LTIP’s performance-based measures, and based on the continued employment with the Company by those participants who received a payment in connection with the 2013 LTIP relative to the 2013 LTIP’s time-based measures, during the first qu arter of 2016 the Compensation Committee approved payment of the 2013 LTIP. This was the first payment of an LTIP since our LTIPs were modified in 2013 to include time-based and performance-based measures. As such, the Compensation Committee elected to pay the time-based portion of the LTIP awards in cash at the award value and the performance-based portion of the LTIP awards in shares of our common stock. The 2013 LTIP award of restricted stock units was paid in shares of the Company’s stock to employe es during the first quarter of 2016 and totaled $3.8 million ( 132,843 net shares).

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]	5. INCOME TAXES: The Company’s overall effective tax rate on pre-tax income was different than the statutory rate of 35% due primarily to valuation allowances . The Company has recorded a valuation allowance against all deferred tax assets as of September 30, 2016 . Some or all of this valuation allowance may be reversed in future periods against future income. T he Company adopted ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes , on a prospective basis in 2015. As a result, the deferred tax assets and liabilities are classified as long-term in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016 and Dec ember 31, 2015.

Derivative Financial Instrument

Derivative Financial Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Derivative Financial Instruments [Abstract]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block]	6. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS: Objectives and Strategy: The Company’s major market risk exposure is in the pricing applicable to its natural gas and oil production. Realized pricing is currently driven primarily by the prevailing price for the Company’s natural gas production. Historically, prices received for natural gas production have been volatile and unpredictable. Pricing volatility is expected to continue. As a result of its hedging activities, the Company may realize prices that are less than or greater than the spot prices that it would have received otherwise. The Company relies on various types of derivative instruments to manage its exposure to commodity price risk and to provide a level of certainty in the Company’s forward cas h flows supporting the Company’s capital investment program. The Company’s hedging policy limits the amounts of resources hedged to not more than 50% of its forecast production without Board approval. Fair Value of Commodity Derivatives: FASB ASC 815 re quires that all derivatives be recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as either an asset or liability and be measured at fair value. Changes in the derivative’s fair value are recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteri a are met. The Company does not apply hedge accounting to any of its derivative instruments. Derivative contracts that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment are recorded as derivative assets and liabilities at fair value on the Consolidated Balan ce Sheets and the associated unrealized gains and losses are recorded as current income or expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Unrealized gains or losses on commodity derivatives represent the non-cash change in the fair value of these de rivative instruments and do not impact operating cash flows on the cash flow statement. Commodity Derivative Contracts: At September 30, 2016 , the Company had no open commodity derivative contracts to manage price risk on a portion of its production. The following table summarizes the pre-tax realized and unrealized (loss) gain the Company recognized related to its derivative instruments in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 : For the Three Months For the Nine Months Ended September 30, Ended September 30, Commodity Derivatives : 2016 2015 2016 2015 Realized gain on commodity derivatives-natural gas (1) $ - $ 45,300 $ - $ 127,283 Unrealized loss on commodity derivatives (1) - (35,910) - (84,675) Total gain on commodity derivatives $ - $ 9,390 $ - $ 42,608 (1) Included in gain on commodity derivatives in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The realized gain or loss on commodity derivatives relates to actual amounts received or paid or to be received or paid under the Company’s derivative contracts and t he unrealized gain or loss on commodity derivatives represents the change in the fair value of these derivative instruments over the remaining term of the contract.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]	7. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS: As required by FASB ASC 820, the Company defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and establishes a three level hierarchy for measuring fair value. Fair value meas urements are classified and disclosed in one of the following categories: Level 1 : Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 2 : Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilit ies in inactive markets, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, and inputs that are derived from observable market data by correlation or other means. Instruments categorized in Level 2 include non-exchange traded d erivatives such as over-the-counter forwards and swaps. Level 3 : Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, including situations where there is little, if a ny, market activity for the asset or liability . Fair Value of Financial Instruments The estimated fair value of financial instruments is the estimated amount at which the instrument could be exchanged currently between willing parties. The carrying amounts reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. The Company uses available market data and valuation methodologies to estimate the fair value of its debt. The valuation assumptions utilized to measure the fair value of the Company’s debt are considered Level 2 inputs. This disclosure is presented in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments, and does n ot impact the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. September 30, 2016(1) December 31, 2015 Carrying Estimated Carrying Estimated Amount Fair Value Amount Fair Value 7.31% Notes due March 2016, issued 2009 62,000 64,266 62,000 63,604 4.98% Notes due January 2017, issued 2010 116,000 122,371 116,000 113,420 5.92% Notes due March 2018, issued 2008 200,000 212,433 200,000 191,985 5.75% Notes due December 2018, issued 2013 450,000 389,123 450,000 111,451 7.77% Notes due March 2019, issued 2009 173,000 191,099 173,000 174,488 5.50% Notes due January 2020, issued 2010 207,000 219,783 207,000 185,052 4.51% Notes due October 2020, issued 2010 315,000 322,069 315,000 258,520 5.60% Notes due January 2022, issued 2010 87,000 92,099 87,000 73,034 4.66% Notes due October 2022, issued 2010 35,000 36,228 35,000 25,558 6.125% Notes due October 2024, issued 2014 850,000 741,912 850,000 206,321 5.85% Notes due January 2025, issued 2010 90,000 95,232 90,000 70,756 4.91% Notes due October 2025, issued 2010 175,000 183,614 175,000 115,911 Credit Facility due October 2016 999,000 999,000 630,000 630,000 $ 3,759,000 $ 3,669,229 $ 3,390,000 $ 2,220,100 (1) At September 30, 2016 , the debt included in the table above is a component of liabilities subject to compromise in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 1.

Legal Proceedings

Legal Proceedings	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Disclosure Legal Proceedings [Abstract]
Legal Proceedings [Text Block]	8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: The commencement of the chapter 11 proceedings automatically stayed certain actions against the Company, including actions to collect prepetition liabilities or to exercise control over the property of the Company’s bankruptcy estates, and the Company has obtained from the Bankruptcy Court authority to pay certain prepetition claims in the ordinary course of business notwithstanding the commencement of the chapte r 11 proceedings. A future plan of reorganization in the chapter 11 proceedings, when confirmed, will provide for the treatment of claims against the Company’s bankruptcy estates, including prepetition liabilities that have not otherwise been satisfied or addressed during the chapter 11 proceedings. Indebtedness Claims The chapter 11 filings by the Company and its various subsidiaries, including Ultra Resources, constituted events of default under the Company’s debt agreements. See Note 3 of this Quar terly Report on Form 10-Q for more information about the debt agreements. On or around September 1, 2016, many of the holders of this indebtedness filed proofs of claim with the Bankruptcy Court, asserting claims for the outstanding balance of the indebted ness, unpaid interest that had accrued by the petition dates, interest that has accrued since the petition dates (including interest at the default rates under the debt agreements), make-whole amounts, and other fees and obligations under the debt agreemen ts. At this time, we are not able to determine the likelihood or range of amounts attributable to claims for postpetition interest, make-whole amounts, or other fees and obligations under the debt agreements. We anticipate these claims will be resolved dur ing our chapter 11 proceedings, although it is possible resolution of some of these matters could occur after we emerge from chapter 11. Rockies Express Pipeline On February 26, 2016, we received a letter from Sempra Rockies Marketing, LLC (“Sempra”) all eging that we were in breach of our Capacity Release Agreement, dated March 5, 2009 (the “Capacity Agreement”), resulting from nonpayment of fees for transportation service and notifying us that Sempra was authorized to recall the capacity released to us u nder the Capacity Agreement and to pursue any claims for damages or other remedies to which Sempra was entitled. On March 8, 2016, we received a letter from Sempra notifying us that Sempra was exercising its alleged right to permanently recall the 50,000 M MBtu/day of capacity on the Rockies Express Pipeline pursuant to the Capacity Agreement and that the recall would be effective as of March 9, 2016. On August 25, 2016, Sempra filed a proof of claim with the Bankruptcy Court for $ 63.8 million. We intend to object to Sempra’s proof of claim. Our estimate of the potential exposure in connection with the Capacity Agreement and Sempra’s claim filed in our chapter 11 proceedings ranges from $ 4.2 million, which represents amounts Sempra paid to Rockies Express att ributable to the capacity released to us under the Capacity Agreement prior to Sempra’s recalling such capacity, to $ 63.8 million. We anticipate Sempra’s claims will be resolved through our chapter 11 proceedings. On April 4, 2016, we received a demand fo r payment and notice of enforcement from Rockies Express Pipeline LLC (“Rockies Express”) in connection with the transportation agreement related to the Rockies Express Pipeline, pursuant to which Rockies Express demanded payment from us of $ 303.2 million by April 20, 2016 . On April 14, 2016, Rockies Express filed a lawsuit against us in Harris County, Texas alleging breach of contract and seeking damages related to the alleged breach. On August 26, 2016, Rockies Express filed a proof of claim with the Ban kruptcy Court for $303.3 million. We intend to object to Rockies Express’ proof of claim. Our estimate of the potential exposure in connection with the Rockies Express lawsuit and proof of claim ranges from approximately $ 19.0 million , which represents acc rued, unpaid invoices during the first quarter prior to contract termination, to $ 303.3 million, which excludes potential interest, court costs and attorney fees. Rockies Express is a member of our official committee of unsecured creditors. We anticipate R ockies Express’ claims will be resolved through our chapter 11 proceedings. Royalties On April 19, 2016, the Company received a preliminary determination notice from the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (“ONRR”) asserting that the Company’s allocation of certain processing costs and plant fuel use at certain processing plants were impermissibly charged as deductions in the determination of royalties owed under Federal oil and gas leases. During the second quarter of 2016, the Company responded to the preliminary determination asserting the reasonableness of its allocation methodology of such costs, noting several matters we believed should have been considered in the preliminary determination notice. The ONRR unbundling review could ultimately result in an order for payment of additional royalties under the Company’s Federal oil and gas leases for current and prior periods. The Company is not able to determine the likelihood or range of any additional royalties or, if and when assessed, whether such a mounts would be material . Oil Sales Contract On April 29, 2016, the Company received a letter from counsel to Sunoco Partners Marketing & Terminals L.P. (“SPMT ”) asserting that (1) the Company had breached, by anticipatory repudiation, a contract for the purchase and sale of crude oil between Ultra Resources and SPMT and (2) the contract was terminated. In the letter, SPMT demanded payment for damages resulting from the breach in the amount of $ 38.6 million. On August 31, 2016, SPMT filed a proof of claim with the Bankruptcy Court for $ 16.9 million. We dispute SPMT’s positions in the letter and its proof of claim, and we intend to object to SPMT’s proof of claim. At this time, we are not able to determine the likelihood or range of damages owed to SPMT, if any, related to this matter, or, if and when such amounts are assessed, whether such amounts would be material. SPMT is a member of our official committee of un secured creditors. We anticipate SPMT’s claims will be resolved through our chapter 11 proceedings. On April 26, 2016, Big West Oil LLC (“Big West”) and the Company entered into a Temporary Suspension of Contracts and Interim Crude Oil Purchase and Sale A greement. Pursuant to the Interim Purchase Agreement, for a period of 180 days after the Petition Date (“Suspension Period”), the parties suspended performance under the Crude Contracts, provided that the Company would sell and deliver crude oil to Big Wes t during the suspension period. On October 10, 2016, Big West and the Company entered an extension of the Suspension Period through January 21, 2017. On August 30, 2016, Big West filed a proof of claim with the Bankruptcy Court for $ 32. 6 million related to lost profits associated with the Interim Purchase Agreement. We intend to object to Big West’s proof of claim. At this time, we are not able to determine the likelihood or range of damages owed to Big West, if any, or, if and when such amounts are assesse d, whether such amounts would be material. We anticipate Big West’s claims will be resolved through our chapter 11 proceedings. Other Claims The Company is currently involved in various routine disputes and allegations incidental to its business operatio ns. While it is not possible to determine the ultimate disposition of these matters, the Company believes that the resolution of all such pending or threatened litigation is not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position o r results of operations.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Schedule of Subsequent Events [Text Block]	9. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS: The Company has evaluated the period subsequent to September 30, 2016 for events that did not exist at the balance sheet date but arose after that date and determined that no subsequent events arose that should be disclosed in order to keep the financial statements from being misleading .

Supplemental Financial Statemen

Supplemental Financial Statement Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Supplemental Financial Statement Information [Abstract]
Condensed Financial Information Of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Text Block]	10. SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT INFORMATION: The following are the financial statements of Ultra Petroleum Corp. (the “Parent Company”), which are included to provide additional information with respect to the Parent Company’s results of operations, financial position and cash flows on a stand-alone basis: CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS For the Three Months Ended September 30, For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 General and administrative expense $ 272 $ 147 $ 334 $ 319 Other income (expense): Interest expense (excludes contractual interest expense of $19.5 million and $32.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively) - (20,267) (26,590) (60,802) Income from unconsolidated affiliates 98,756 12,464 191,792 39,709 Guarantee fee income - 5,784 6,073 17,240 Other (expense) income (13) (2,091) (64,840) (1,888) Reorganization items, net (19) - (15,758) - Income (loss) before income tax benefit 98,452 (4,257) 90,343 (6,060) Income tax expense (benefit) 45 (1,161) (234) (3,479) Net income (loss) $ 98,407 $ (3,096) $ 90,577 $ (2,581) CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET September 30, December 31, 2016 2015 ASSETS Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 254 $ 523 Accounts receivable 29,939 64,542 Other current assets 5,422 5,150 Total current assets 35,615 70,215 Other non-current assets - 24,197 Total assets $ 35,615 $ 94,412 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities: Current portion of long-term debt $ - $ 1,283,232 Interest payable - 14,166 Accrued and other current liabilities 536 - Total current liabilities 536 1,297,398 Advances from unconsolidated affiliates 1,591,269 1,788,951 Total liabilities not subject to compromise 1,591,805 3,086,349 Liabilities subject to compromise 1,339,732 - Total shareholders' deficit (2,895,922) (2,991,937) Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 35,615 $ 94,412 CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 2015 Net cash (used in) operating activities $ (23,927) $ (51,939) Investing Activities: Dividends received 24,089 73,021 Net cash provided by investing activities 24,089 73,021 Financing Activities: Shares re-issued from treasury (337) 4,712 Deferred financing costs - 6 Net share settlements (94) - Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (431) 4,718 (Decrease) increase in cash during the period (269) 25,800 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 523 772 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 254 $ 26,572

Significant Accounting Polici18

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Statement Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Policy Text Block]	(a) Cash and Cash Equivalents: The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Restricted Cash [Policy Text Block]	(b) Restricted Cash: Restricted cash represents cash received by the Company from production sold where t he final division of ownership of the production is unknown or in dispute.
Accounts Receivable [Policy Text Block]	(c) Accounts Receivable: Accounts receivable are stated at the historical carrying amount net of write-offs and an allowance for uncollectible accounts. The carrying amount of the Company’s accounts receivable approximates fair value because of the short-term nature of the instruments. The Company routinely assesses the collectability of all material trade and other receivables.
Property, Plant and Equipment [Policy Text Block]	(d) Property, Plant and Equipment: Capital assets a re recorded at cost and depreciated using the declining-balance method based on their respective useful life.
Oil And Natural Gas Properties [Policy Text Block]	( e ) Oil and N atural G as P roperties: The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for exploration and development activities as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Release No. 33-8995, Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting Requirements (“SEC Release No. 33-8995”) and Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 932, Extr active Activities – Oil and Gas (“FASB ASC 932”) . Under this method of accounting, the costs of unsuccessful, as well as successful, exploration and development activities are capitalized as oil and gas properties. This includes any internal costs that are directly related to exploration and development activities but does not include any costs related to production, general corporate overhead or similar activities. The carrying amount of oil and natural gas properties also includes estimated asset retireme nt costs recorded based on the fair value of the asset retirement obligation when incurred. Gain or loss on the sale or other disposition of oil and natural gas properties is not recognized, unless the gain or loss would significantly alter the relationshi p between capitalized costs and proved reserves of oil and natural gas attributable to a country. The sum of net capitalized costs and estimated future development costs of oil and natural gas properties are amortized using the units-of-production method based on the Company’s proved reserves. Oil and natural gas reserves and production are converted into equivalent units based on relative energy content. Asset retirement costs are included in the base costs for calculating depletion. Under the full cos t method, costs of unevaluated properties and major development projects expected to require significant future costs may be excluded from capitalized costs being amortized. The Company excludes significant costs until proved reserves are found or until it is determined that the costs are impaired. The Company reviews its unproved leasehold costs quarterly or when management determines that events or circumstances indicate that the recorded carrying value of the unevaluated properties may not be recoverable . The fair values of unproved properties are evaluated utilizing a discounted net cash flows model based on management’s assumptions of future oil and gas production, commodity prices, operating and development costs; as well as appropriate discount rates. The estimated prices used in the cash flow analysis are determined by management based on forward price curves for the related commodities, adjusted for average historical location and quality differentials. Estimates of cash flows related to probable and possible reserves are reduced by additional risk-weighting factors. The amount of any impairment is transferred to the capitalized costs being amortized. Companies that use the full cost method of accounting for oil and natural gas exploration and development activities are required to perform a ceiling test calculation each quarter. The full cost ceiling test is an impairment test prescribed by SEC Regulation S-X Rule 4-10. The ceiling test is performed quarterly, on a country-by-country basis, uti lizing the average of prices in effect on the first day of the month for the preceding twelve month period in accordance with SEC Release No. 33-8995. The ceiling limits such pooled costs to the aggregate of the present value of future net revenues attribu table to proved crude oil and natural gas reserves discounted at 10%, plus the lower of cost or market value of unproved properties, less any associated tax effects. If such capitalized costs exceed the ceiling, the Company will record a write-down to the extent of such excess as a non-cash charge to earnings. Any such write-down will reduce earnings in the period of occurrence and results in a lower depletion, depreciation and amortization (“DD&A”) rate in future periods. A write-down may not be reversed i n future periods even though higher oil and natural gas prices may subsequently increase the ceiling. The Company did not incur a ceiling test write-down for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 or 2015 .
Deferred Financing Costs [Policy Text Block]	(f) Deferred Financing Costs: During the quarter ended June 30, 2016, a non-cash charge to write-off all of the unamortized debt issuance costs related to the unsecured Credit Agreement, unsecured Senior Notes (as defined below) issued by Ultra Resources, Inc., the unsecured 2018 Senior Note s (as defined below) issued by the Company and the unsecured 2024 Senior Notes (as defined below) issued by the Company is included in Reorganization items, net in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations as these debt instruments are expecte d to be impacted by the pendency of the Company’s chapter 11 cases. At December 31, 2015, other current assets includes costs associated with the issuance of our revolving credit facility while costs associated with the issuance of our Senior Notes, 2018 N otes and 2024 Notes are presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability.
Derivatives [Policy Text Block]	(g) Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities: The Company follows FASB ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“FASB ASC 815”). The Company records the fair value of its commodity derivatives as an asset or liability in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and records the changes in the fair value of its commodity derivatives in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company does not offset the value of its derivative arrangements with the same counterparty. (See Note 6).
Income Tax [Policy Text Block]	(h) Income Taxes: Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured u sing enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are recorded related to deferred tax assets based on the “more likely than not” criteria described in FASB ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes. In addition, the Company recognizes the financial statem ent benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit.
Earnings Per Share [Policy Text Block]	( i ) Earnings Per Share: Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by adjusting the average number of common shares outstanding for the dilutive effect, if any, of common stock equiva lents. The Company uses the treasury stock method to determine the dilutive effect. Three Months Nine Months Ended September 30, Ended September 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 (Share amounts in 000's) Net income (loss) $ 98,407 $ (3,096) $ 90,577 $ (2,581) Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic 153,392 153,250 153,368 153,171 Effect of dilutive instruments 729 - 709 - Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted 154,121 153,250 154,077 153,171 Net income (loss) per common share - basic $ 0.64 $ (0.02) $ 0.59 $ (0.02) Net income (loss) per common share - diluted $ 0.64 $ (0.02) $ 0.59 $ (0.02) Number of shares not included in dilutive earnings per share that would have been anti-dilutive because the exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common shares (1)(2) 503 - 1,450 - (1) Due to the net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, 1.7 million shares for options and restricted stock units were anti-dilutive and excluded from the computation of net loss per share. (2) Due to the net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2015, 1.6 million shares for options and restricted stock units were anti-dilutive and excluded from the computation of net loss per share.
Use Of Estimates [Policy Text Block]	(j) Use of Estimates: Preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the 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. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Compensation Related Costs [Policy Text Block]	(k) Accounting for Share-Based Compensation: The Company measures and r ecognizes compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors, including employee stock options, based on estimated fair values in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation.
Fair Value Measurement [Policy Text Block]	(l) Fair Value Ac counting: The Company follows FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“FASB ASC 820”), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This statement applies under other accounting topics that require or permit fair value measurements. See Note 7 for additional information.
Asset Retirement Obligations and Environmental Cost [Policy Text Block]	(m) Asset Retirement Obligation: The initial estimated retirement obligation of properties is recognized as a liabi lity with an associated increase in oil and gas properties for the asset retirement cost. Accretion expense is recognized over the estimated productive life of the related assets. If the fair value of the estimated asset retirement obligation changes, an a djustment is recorded to both the asset retirement obligation and the asset retirement cost. Revisions in estimated liabilities can result from revisions of estimated inflation rates, changes in service and equipment costs and changes in the estimated timi ng of settling asset retirement obligations. As a full cost company, settlements for asset retirement obligations for abandonment are adjusted to the full cost pool. The asset retirement obligation is included within other long-term obligations in the acc ompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Revenue Recognition [Policy Text Block]	(n) Revenue Recognition: The Company generally sells oil and natural gas under both long-term and short-term agreements at prevailing market prices. The Company recognizes revenues when the oil and natural gas is delivered, which occurs when the customer has taken title and has assumed the risks and rewards of ownership, prices are fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. The Company accounts for oil and natural gas sales using the “entitleme nts method.” Under the entitlements method, revenue is recorded based upon the Company’s ownership share of volumes sold, regardless of whether it has taken its ownership share of such volumes. Any amount received in excess of the Company’s share is treate d as a liability. If the Company receives less than its entitled share, the underproduction is recorded as a receivable. Make-up provisions and ultimate settlements of volume imbalances are generally governed by agreements between the Company and its part ners with respect to specific properties or, in the absence of such agreements, through negotiation. The value of volumes over- or under-produced can change based on changes in commodity prices. The Company prefers the entitlements method of accounting for oil and natural gas sales because it allows for recognition of revenue based on its actual share of jointly owned production, results in better matching of revenue with related operating expenses, and provides balance sheet recognition of the estimated va lue of product imbalances. The Company’s imbalance obligations as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were immaterial.
Interest Expense [Policy Text Block]	(o) Capitalized Interest: Interest is capitalized on the cost of unevaluated gas and oil properties that are excluded from amortization and actively being evaluated, if any.
Reclassifications [Policy Text Block]	(p) Reclassifications: Certain amounts in the financial statements of prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period financial statement presentation.
Capital Cost Accrual [Policy Text Block]	(q) Capital Cost Accrual: Th e Company accrues for exploration and development costs in the period incurred, while payment may occur in a subsequent period.
Deposits And Retainers [Policy Text Block]	(r) Deposits and Retainers : Deposits and retainers primarily consists of payments related to surety bonds.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Policy Text Block]	(s) Recent Accounti ng Pronouncements not yet Adopted: In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU No. 2016-09”) to simplify some of the provisions in stock compensation accounting. The update simplifies the accounting for a stock payment’s tax consequences and amends how excess tax benefits and a business’s payments to cover the tax bills for the shares’ recipients should be classified. T he amendments allow companies to estimate the number of stock awards expected to vest and revises the withholding requirements for classifying stock awards as equity. For public companies, the standard will take effect for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016 with earlier application permitted. The Company is still evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2016-09 on its financial position and results of operations . In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016 -02, Leases (“ASU No. 2016-02”). The guidance requires that lessees will be required to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for the rights and obligations created by all leases with terms of more than 12 months. The ASU will also require disclosures designed to give financial statement users information on the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. These disclosures include qualitative and quantitative information. For public companies, the standard will take e ffect for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018 with earlier application permitted. The Company is still evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2016-02 on its financial position and results of operations . In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (“ASU No. 2015-11”). Public companies will have to apply the amendments for reporting periods that start after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. This ASU requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The company does not expect the adoption of ASU No. 2015-11 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Interest—Imputation of Interest (Sub topic 835-30)—Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15, Interest—Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30)—Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements . These ASUs require capitalized debt issuance costs, except for those related to revolving credit facilities, to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability, rather than as an asset. The Company adopted these ASUs on January 1, 2016, using a retrospective approach. The adoption resulted in a reclassification that reduced current assets and current maturities of long-term debt by $ 19.4 million on the Company’s Consolidated Balan ce Sheet at December 31, 2015. A non-cash charge to write-off all of the unamortized debt issuance costs is included in Reorganization items, net at June 30, 2016 as the related debt instruments are expected to be impacted by the pendency of the Company’s chapter 11 cases . The FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) , ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net) , and ASU 2016-10, Revenue s from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing , which supersede the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition , and industry-specific guidance in Subtopic 932-605, Extractive Activitie s-Oil and Gas-Revenue Recognition and require an entity to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services . The Company is required to adopt the new standards in the first quarter of 2018 using one of two retrospective application methods. The Company is continuing to evaluate the provisions of these ASUs, and has not determined the impact these standards may have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures or decided upon the method of adoption . In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (“ASU No. 2014-15”) that requires management to evaluate whether there are conditions and events that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the financial statements are issued on both an interim and annual basis. Management is required to provide certain footnote disclosures if it concludes that substantial doubt exists or when its plans alleviate substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. ASU No. 2014-15 becomes ef fective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and for interim reporting periods thereafter. The Company does not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Chapter 11 Proceedings, Abili19

Chapter 11 Proceedings, Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
ReorganizationsAbstract
Schedule Of Liabilities Subject To Compromise Table [Text Block]	September 30, 2016 Accounts payable $ 1,251 Accrued liabilities 6,333 Accrued interest payable 99,774 Debt 3,759,000 Other terminated contracts 23,186 Liabilities subject to compromise $ 3,889,544
Schedule Of Reorganization Items Table [Text Block]	For the Three Months Ended For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 September 30, 2016 Professional fees(1) $ 3,215 $ 6,797 Deferred financing costs(2) - 18,742 Other(3) (106) (247) Total Reorganization items, net $ 3,109 $ 25,292 (1) The nine months ended September 30, 2016 includes $ 3.8 million directly related to accrued, unpaid professional fees associated with the chapter 11 filings . (2) A non-cash charge to write-off all of the unamortized debt issuance costs related to the unsecured Credit Agreement, unsecured Senior Notes issued by Ultra Resources, Inc., the unsecured 2018 Senior Notes issued by the Company and the unsecured 2024 Senior Notes issued by the Company is included in Reorganization items, net as these debt instruments are expected to be impacted by the pendency of the Company’s chapter 11 cases . (3) Cash interest income earned for the period after the Petition Date on excess cash over normal invested capital .

Significant Accounting Polici20

Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Significant Accounting Policies Tables [Abstract]
Schedule Of Earnings Per Share	Three Months Nine Months Ended September 30, Ended September 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 (Share amounts in 000's) Net income (loss) $ 98,407 $ (3,096) $ 90,577 $ (2,581) Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic 153,392 153,250 153,368 153,171 Effect of dilutive instruments 729 - 709 - Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted 154,121 153,250 154,077 153,171 Net income (loss) per common share - basic $ 0.64 $ (0.02) $ 0.59 $ (0.02) Net income (loss) per common share - diluted $ 0.64 $ (0.02) $ 0.59 $ (0.02) Number of shares not included in dilutive earnings per share that would have been anti-dilutive because the exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common shares (1)(2) 503 - 1,450 - (1) Due to the net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, 1.7 million shares for options and restricted stock units were anti-dilutive and excluded from the computation of net loss per share. (2) Due to the net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2015, 1.6 million shares for options and restricted stock units were anti-dilutive and excluded from the computation of net loss per share.

Oil and Gas Properties and Eq21

Oil and Gas Properties and Equipment (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Oil And Gas Properties And Equipment Tables [Abstract]
Capitalized Costs Relating to Oil and Gas Producing Activities Disclosure [Text Block]	2. OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES AND EQUIPMENT: September 30, December 31, 2016 2015 Proven Properties: Acquisition, equipment, exploration, drilling and abandonment costs $ 10,672,172 $ 10,480,165 Less: Accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization (9,713,408) (9,629,020) $ 958,764 $ 851,145

Debt and Other Long Term Obliga

Debt and Other Long Term Obligations (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Outstanding Debt And Other Long Term Obligations Tables [Abstract]
Outstanding Debt And Other Long Term Obligations	3. DEBT AND OTHER LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS: September 30, December 31, 2016 2015 Total Debt: 6.125% Senior Notes due 2024 $ 850,000 $ 850,000 5.75% Senior Notes due 2018 450,000 450,000 Senior Notes issued by Ultra Resources, Inc. 1,460,000 1,460,000 Credit Agreement 999,000 630,000 Total current portion of long-term debt 3,759,000 3,390,000 Less: Deferred financing costs(1) - (19,447) Less: Liabilities subject to compromise(2) (See Note 1) (3,759,000) - Total current portion of long-term debt not subject to compromise $ - $ 3,370,553 Other long-term obligations: Other long-term obligations $ 164,809 $ 165,784 (1) A non-cash charge to write-off all of the unamortized debt issuance costs related to the unsecured Credit Agreement, unsecured Senior Notes issued by Ultra Resources, Inc., the unsecured 2018 Senior Notes issued by the Company and the unsecured 2024 Senior Notes issued by the Company is included in Reorganization items, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as these debt instruments are expected to be impacted by the pendency of the Company’s chapter 11 cases. (2) We have significant indeb tedness , all of which we have reclassified to liabilities subject to compromise at June 30, 2016 and continued to classify as liabilities subject to compromise at September 30, 2016 in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our level of indebtedness has advers ely impacted and is continuing to adversely impact our financial condition. As a result of our financial condition, the defaults under our debt agreements and the risks and uncertainties surrounding our chapter 11 proceedings, substantial doubt exists that we will be able to continue as a going concern.

Share Based Compensation (Table

Share Based Compensation (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Share Based Compensation Tables [Abstract]
Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Text Block]	4. SHARE BASED COMPENSATION: Valuation and Expense Information Three Months Nine Months Ended September 30, Ended September 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Total cost of share-based payment plans $ 1,706 $ 3,963 $ 5,756 $ 8,247 Amounts capitalized in oil and gas properties and equipment $ 442 $ 1,283 $ 1,789 $ 2,738 Amounts charged against income, before income tax benefit $ 1,264 $ 2,680 $ 3,967 $ 5,509 Amount of related income tax benefit recognized in income before valuation allowance $ 503 $ 1,120 $ 1,579 $ 2,303
Stock Option Activity TextBlock	Weighted Number of Average Options Exercise Price (000's) (US Dollars) Balance, December 31, 2014 690 $ 25.68 to $ 98.87 Expired or forfeited (171) $ 25.68 to $ 75.18 Balance, December 31, 2015 519 $ 49.05 to $ 98.87 Expired or forfeited (109) $ 50.48 to $ 75.18 Balance, September 30, 2016 410 $ 49.05 to $ 98.87
Valuation Assumptions	Valuation Assumptions The Company estimates the fair value of the market condition related to the LTIP awards on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation with the following assumptions: 2015 LTIP 2014 LTIP Volatility of common stock 40.1% 39.0% Average volatility of peer companies 46.5% n/a Average correlation coefficient of peer companies 0.454 n/a Risk-free interest rate 1.02% 0.66%

Derivative Financial Instrume24

Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Derivative Financial Instruments Tables [Abstract]
Gain or loss on derivative instruments	For the Three Months For the Nine Months Ended September 30, Ended September 30, Commodity Derivatives : 2016 2015 2016 2015 Realized gain on commodity derivatives-natural gas (1) $ - $ 45,300 $ - $ 127,283 Unrealized loss on commodity derivatives (1) - (35,910) - (84,675) Total gain on commodity derivatives $ - $ 9,390 $ - $ 42,608 (1) Included in gain on commodity derivatives in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Fair Value Measurements (Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Fair Value Measurements Tables [Abstract]
Schedule of Fair Value of Financial Instruments	September 30, 2016(1) December 31, 2015 Carrying Estimated Carrying Estimated Amount Fair Value Amount Fair Value 7.31% Notes due March 2016, issued 2009 62,000 64,266 62,000 63,604 4.98% Notes due January 2017, issued 2010 116,000 122,371 116,000 113,420 5.92% Notes due March 2018, issued 2008 200,000 212,433 200,000 191,985 5.75% Notes due December 2018, issued 2013 450,000 389,123 450,000 111,451 7.77% Notes due March 2019, issued 2009 173,000 191,099 173,000 174,488 5.50% Notes due January 2020, issued 2010 207,000 219,783 207,000 185,052 4.51% Notes due October 2020, issued 2010 315,000 322,069 315,000 258,520 5.60% Notes due January 2022, issued 2010 87,000 92,099 87,000 73,034 4.66% Notes due October 2022, issued 2010 35,000 36,228 35,000 25,558 6.125% Notes due October 2024, issued 2014 850,000 741,912 850,000 206,321 5.85% Notes due January 2025, issued 2010 90,000 95,232 90,000 70,756 4.91% Notes due October 2025, issued 2010 175,000 183,614 175,000 115,911 Credit Facility due October 2016 999,000 999,000 630,000 630,000 $ 3,759,000 $ 3,669,229 $ 3,390,000 $ 2,220,100

Supplemental Financial Statem26

Supplemental Financial Statement Information (Parent Company) (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Parent Company Financial Statements [Abstract]
Supplemental Statement Of Operations Disclosures [Text Block]	CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS For the Three Months Ended September 30, For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 General and administrative expense $ 272 $ 147 $ 334 $ 319 Other income (expense): Interest expense (excludes contractual interest expense of $19.5 million and $32.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively) - (20,267) (26,590) (60,802) Income from unconsolidated affiliates 98,756 12,464 191,792 39,709 Guarantee fee income - 5,784 6,073 17,240 Other (expense) income (13) (2,091) (64,840) (1,888) Reorganization items, net (19) - (15,758) - Income (loss) before income tax benefit 98,452 (4,257) 90,343 (6,060) Income tax expense (benefit) 45 (1,161) (234) (3,479) Net income (loss) $ 98,407 $ (3,096) $ 90,577 $ (2,581)
Supplemental Balance Sheet Disclosures [Text Block]	CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET September 30, December 31, 2016 2015 ASSETS Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 254 $ 523 Accounts receivable 29,939 64,542 Other current assets 5,422 5,150 Total current assets 35,615 70,215 Other non-current assets - 24,197 Total assets $ 35,615 $ 94,412 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities: Current portion of long-term debt $ - $ 1,283,232 Interest payable - 14,166 Accrued and other current liabilities 536 - Total current liabilities 536 1,297,398 Advances from unconsolidated affiliates 1,591,269 1,788,951 Total liabilities not subject to compromise 1,591,805 3,086,349 Liabilities subject to compromise 1,339,732 - Total shareholders' deficit (2,895,922) (2,991,937) Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 35,615 $ 94,412
Supplemental Cash Flow Statement Disclosures [Text Block]	CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 2015 Net cash (used in) operating activities $ (23,927) $ (51,939) Investing Activities: Dividends received 24,089 73,021 Net cash provided by investing activities 24,089 73,021 Financing Activities: Shares re-issued from treasury (337) 4,712 Deferred financing costs - 6 Net share settlements (94) - Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (431) 4,718 (Decrease) increase in cash during the period (269) 25,800 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 523 772 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 254 $ 26,572

Chapter 11 Proceedings, Abili27

Chapter 11 Proceedings, Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Liabilities Subject To Compromise [Abstract]
Accounts payable	$ 1,251		$ 1,251
Accrued liabilities	6,333		6,333
Accrued interest payable	99,774		99,774
Debt	3,759,000		3,759,000
Other terminated contracts	23,186		23,186
Liabilities subject to compromise	3,889,544		3,889,544		$ 0
Reorganization Items [Abstract]
Professional fees	3,215		6,797
Deferred financing costs	0		18,742
Other	(106)		(247)
Reorganization items, net	$ (3,109)	$ 0	$ (25,292)	$ 0

Chapter 11 Proceedings, Abili28

Chapter 11 Proceedings, Ability to Continue as a Going Concern Disclosure (Narratives) (Details)	Sep. 30, 2016
Chapter 11 Proceedings [Abstract]
NOL Order Beneficial Ownership Percentage	4.50%

Significant Accounting Polici29

Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Significant Accounting Policies Details [Abstract]
Accrued and unpaid professional fees			$ 3,800
Discount Rate Future Net Revenues			10.00%
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation [Abstract]
Net Income (Loss)	$ 98,407	$ (3,096)	$ 90,577	$ (2,581)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	153,392	153,250	153,368	153,171
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Share-based Payment Arrangements	729	0	709	0
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	154,121	153,250	154,077	153,171
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.64	$ (0.02)	$ 0.59	$ (0.02)
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.64	$ (0.02)	$ 0.59	$ (0.02)
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	503	1,600	1,450	1,700
Unamortized debt issuance costs reclassified					$ 19,400

Oil and Gas Properties and Eq30

Oil and Gas Properties and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Proven Properties [Abstract]
Acquisition, equipment, exploration, drilling and environmental costs	$ 10,672,172	$ 10,480,165
Capitalized Costs, Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization and Valuation Allowance for Relating to Oil and Gas Producing Activities	(9,713,408)	(9,629,020)
Proved	$ 958,764	$ 851,145

Debt and Other Long Term Obli31

Debt and Other Long Term Obligations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Short-term Debt [Abstract]
6.125% Senior Notes due 2024	$ 850,000	$ 850,000
5.75% Senior Notes due 2018	450,000	450,000
Senior Notes issued by Ultra Resources Inc	1,460,000	1,460,000
Credit Agreement	999,000	630,000
Current portion of long term debt	3,759,000	3,390,000
Deferred financing costs	0	(19,447)
Liabilities Subject To Compromise Debt Only	(3,759,000)	0
Total current portion of long term debt not subject to compromise	0	3,370,553
Other long-term obligations [Abstract]
Other long-term obligations	$ 164,809	$ 165,784

Debt And Other Long Term Obli32

Debt And Other Long Term Obligations (Narratives) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Apr. 01, 2016USD ($)	Mar. 01, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Ultra Resources Inc Bank Indebtednesss [Abstract]
Credit Agreement Consolidated Leverage Covenant	3.5 to 1.0
Credit Agreement Consolidated Leverage Ratio	4.6
Restrictive covenants present value Ultra Resources Inc Credit Agreement					1.5 times
Debt Instrument Restrictive Covenants Present Value Ratio					0.9
Ultra Resources Inc Senior Notes [Abstract]
Senior Notes issued by Ultra Resources Inc				$ 1,460,000	$ 1,460,000
Senior Notes Consolidated Leverage Covenant	3.5 to 1.0
Senior Notes Consolidated Leverage Covenant Ratio	4.6
Interest payment due Senior Notes Ultra Resources Inc			$ 40,000
Principal payment due Senior Notes Ultra Resources Inc			$ 62,000
Ultra Petroleum Corp Senior Notes
Senior Notes Ultra Petroleum Corp Due 2024				$ 850,000	850,000
Senior Notes Ultra Petroleum Corp Due 2024 Interest Rate				6.125%
Interest payment due Ultra Petroleum Corp Senior Notes due 2024		$ 26,000
Senior Notes Ultra Petroleum Corp Due 2018				$ 450,000	$ 450,000
Senior Notes Ultra Petroleum Corp Due 2018 Interest Rate				5.75%

Share Based Compensation (Detai

Share Based Compensation (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Valuation And Expense Information [Abstract]
Total cost of share based payment plans	$ 1,706	$ 3,963	$ 5,756	$ 8,247
Amounts capitalized in oil and gas properties and equipment	442	1,283	1,789	2,738
Amounts charged against income before income tax benefit	1,264	2,680	3,967	5,509
Amount of related income tax benefit recognized in income before valuation allowance	$ 503	$ 1,120	$ 1,579	$ 2,303
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit			$ 49.05		$ 49.05	$ 25.68
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit			$ 98.87		$ 98.87	$ 98.87
Expired or forfeited			(109)		(171)
Exercise Price, Lower Range Limit Expired or Forfeited			$ 50.48		$ 25.68
Exercise Price, Upper Range Limit Expired or Forfeited			$ 75.18		$ 75.18
Number Of Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options			519	690	690
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options	410		410		519	690

TSR Share Based Compensation (D

TSR Share Based Compensation (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Long Term Incentive 2015 Plan [Member]
Total Shareholder Return Assumptions [Line Items]
Volatility of common stock	40.10%
Average volatility of peer companies	46.50%
Average correlation coefficient of peer companies	0.454
Risk-free interest rate	1.02%
Long Term Incentive 2014 Plan [Member]
Total Shareholder Return Assumptions [Line Items]
Volatility of common stock	39.00%
Risk-free interest rate	0.66%

Share Based Compensation (Narra

Share Based Compensation (Narratives) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Share Based Compensation Details [Abstract]
Long Term Incentive Program Period	$ 3.3	$ 4.7
Long Term Incentive Program Total 2014 Program	9.3
Long Term Incentive Program Total 2015 Program	10.1
Long Term Incentive Program Total 2013 Program	$ 3.8
Long Term Incentive Program Total 2013 Program Shares	132,843

Income Taxes (Details)

Income Taxes (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Statement Income Taxes Details [Abstract]
Statutory tax rate	35.00%

Derivative Financial Instrume37

Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Commodity Derivatives [Abstract]
Realized (loss) gain on commodity derivatives - natural gas	$ 0	$ 45,300	$ 0	$ 127,283
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives	0	(35,910)	0	(84,675)
Gain loss on commodity derivatives	$ 0	$ 9,390	$ 0	$ 42,608

Derivative Financial Instrumens

Derivative Financial Instrumens (Details 1)	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Commodity Derivatives Authorization [Abstract]
Commodity Derivatives Board Authorization	50.00%

Fair Value Measurments Debt Ins

Fair Value Measurments Debt Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total outstanding debt	$ 3,759,000	$ 3,390,000
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	3,669,229	2,220,100
Notes Due 2018 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total outstanding debt	200,000	200,000
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 212,433	191,985
Debt Instruments Interest Rates	5.92%
Notes Due December 2018 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total outstanding debt	$ 450,000	450,000
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 389,123	111,451
Debt Instruments Interest Rates	5.75%
Notes Due 2016 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total outstanding debt	$ 62,000	62,000
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 64,266	63,604
Debt Instruments Interest Rates	7.31%
Notes Due 2019 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total outstanding debt	$ 173,000	173,000
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 191,099	174,488
Debt Instruments Interest Rates	7.77%
Notes Due 2017 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total outstanding debt	$ 116,000	116,000
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 122,371	113,420
Debt Instruments Interest Rates	4.98%
Notes Due January 2020 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total outstanding debt	$ 207,000	207,000
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 219,783	185,052
Debt Instruments Interest Rates	5.50%
Notes Due January 2022 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total outstanding debt	$ 87,000	87,000
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 92,099	73,034
Debt Instruments Interest Rates	5.60%
Notes Due January 2025 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total outstanding debt	$ 90,000	90,000
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 95,232	70,756
Debt Instruments Interest Rates	5.85%
Notes Due October 2020 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total outstanding debt	$ 315,000	315,000
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 322,069	258,520
Debt Instruments Interest Rates	4.51%
Notes Due October 2022 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total outstanding debt	$ 35,000	35,000
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 36,228	25,558
Debt Instruments Interest Rates	4.66%
Notes Due October 2024 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total outstanding debt	$ 850,000	850,000
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 741,912	206,321
Debt Instruments Interest Rates	6.125%
Notes Due October 2025 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total outstanding debt	$ 175,000	175,000
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 183,614	115,911
Debt Instruments Interest Rates	4.91%
Credit Facility
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total outstanding debt	$ 999,000	630,000
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 999,000	$ 630,000

Commitments and Contingencies (

Commitments and Contingencies (Narratives) (Details) MMBTU in Thousands, $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)MMBTU
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]
Sempra capacity | MMBTU	50
Demand For Payment Sempra	$ 63.8
Contingency Lower Range Sempra	4.2
Contingency Upper Range Sempra	63.8
Demand for payment Rockies Express	303.2
Contingency Lower Range REX	19
Contingency Upper Range REX	303.3
Demand For Payment Sunoco	38.6
Sunoco Proof Of Claim	16.9
Big West Proof Of Claim	$ 32.6

Supplemental Financial Informat

Supplemental Financial Information (Parent - Statement of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
General and administrative	$ 1,595	$ 4,567	$ 7,196	$ 10,629
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Other income (expense), net	(514)	(284)	(2,436)	(323)
Income (loss) before income taxes	98,452	(4,229)	90,272	(5,986)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	45	(1,133)	(305)	(3,405)
Net Income (Loss)	98,407	(3,096)	90,577	(2,581)
Parent [Member]
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
General and administrative	272	147	334	319
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Interest expense (excludes contractual interest expense of $19.5 million and $32.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively)	0	20,267	26,590	60,802
Income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates	98,756	12,464	191,792	39,709
Guaranty fee income	0	5,784	6,073	17,240
Other income (expense), net	(13)	(2,091)	(64,840)	(1,888)
Reorganization items parent, net	(19)	0	(15,758)	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	98,452	(4,257)	90,343	(6,060)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	45	(1,161)	(234)	(3,479)
Net Income (Loss)	$ 98,407	$ (3,096)	$ 90,577	$ (2,581)

Supplemental Financial Inform42

Supplemental Financial Information (Parent - Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 343,520	$ 4,143	$ 25,587	$ 8,919
Other current assets	5,006	4,064
Total current assets	452,004	91,214
Other noncurrent assets	1,653	835
Total assets	1,420,231	952,039
Current Liabilities [Abstract]
Current portion of long term debt	0	3,370,553
Interest payable	0	42,657
Accrued and other current liabilities	46,067	72,428
Total current liabilities	143,419	3,651,897
Liabilities not subject to compromise parent	426,608	3,943,976
Total shareholders' deficit	(2,895,921)	(2,991,937)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,420,231	952,039
Parent [Member]
Current Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	254	523	$ 26,572	$ 772
Accounts receivable	29,939	64,542
Other current assets	5,422	5,150
Total current assets	35,615	70,215
Other noncurrent assets	0	24,197
Total assets	35,615	94,412
Current Liabilities [Abstract]
Current portion of long term debt	0	1,283,232
Interest payable	0	14,166
Accrued and other current liabilities	536	0
Total current liabilities	536	1,297,398
Advances from unconsolidated affiliates	1,591,269	1,788,951
Liabilities not subject to compromise parent	1,591,805	3,086,349
Liabilities subject to compromise parent	1,339,732	0
Total shareholders' deficit	(2,895,922)	(2,991,937)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 35,615	$ 94,412

Supplemental Financial Inform43

Supplemental Financial Information (Parent - Cash Flow Statement) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	$ 170,798	$ 411,205
Investing Activities [Abstract]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	(200,102)	(404,987)
Financing Activities [Abstract]
Payments of Financing Costs	0	(6)
Repurchased shares - net share settlements	319	2,507
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	368,681	10,450
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)	339,377	16,668
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	4,143	8,919
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	343,520	25,587
Parent [Member]
Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	(23,927)	(51,939)
Investing Activities [Abstract]
Dividends received	24,089	73,021
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	24,089	73,021
Financing Activities [Abstract]
Shares reissued from treasury	(337)	4,712
Payments of Financing Costs	0	6
Repurchased shares - net share settlements	(94)	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	(431)	4,718
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)	(269)	25,800
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	523	772
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	$ 254	$ 26,572