Dakota Plains 10-Q 12 Nov 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_And_Entity_Informatio

Document And Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Nov. 11, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'
Entity Registrant Name	'Dakota Plains Holdings, Inc.	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001367311	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	42,850,577

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CURRENT ASSETS	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$443,341	$2,340,083
Accounts Receivable	110,187	'
Income Taxes Receivable	154,105	'
Prepaid Expenses	226,001	30,632
Due from Related Party	76,489	81,175
Deferred Tax Asset	2,306,000	1,414,000
Total Current Assets	3,316,123	3,865,890
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT	'	'
Land	3,166,849	3,166,849
Site Development	2,308,114	2,329,660
Other Property and Equipment	219,775	45,292
Total Property and Equipment	5,694,738	5,541,801
Less - Accumulated Depreciation	556,756	424,833
Total Property and Equipment, Net	5,137,982	5,116,968
PREFERRED DIVIDEND RECEIVABLE	126,029	819,178
FINANCE COSTS, NET	141,982	184,225
DEPOSITS	14,300	'
DEFERRED TAX ASSET	1,811,000	2,441,000
Total Assets	39,087,454	39,664,657
CURRENT LIABILITIES	'	'
Accounts Payable	355,365	239,674
Accrued Expenses	122,831	232,905
Income Taxes Payable	'	1,028,000
Deferred Rental Income	12,617	20,679
Promissory Notes	4,605,300	'
Total current liabilities	5,096,113	1,521,258
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES	'	'
Promissory Notes, Net of Debt Discount	21,271,607	25,614,683
Other Noncurrent Liabilities	16,000	'
Deferred Rental Income	154,567	165,434
Total Long-Term Liabilities	21,442,174	25,780,117
Total Liabilities	26,538,287	27,301,375
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 13)	'	'
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	'	'
Preferred Stock - Par Value $.001; 10,000,000 Shares Authorized; None Issued or Outstanding	'	'
Common Stock - Par Value $.001; 100,000,000 Shares Authorized; 42,850,577 and 41,839,433 Issued and Outstanding, Respectively	42,850	41,839
Additional Paid-In Capital	19,680,446	17,432,904
Accumulated Deficit	-7,174,129	-5,111,461
Total Stockholders' Equity	12,549,167	12,363,282
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	39,087,454	39,664,657
Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]	'	'
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT	'	'
INVESTMENT	18,191,681	5,331,599
Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions Marketing, LLC [Member]	'	'
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT	'	'
INVESTMENT	10,195,519	21,905,797
Dakota Plains Services, LLC [Member]	'	'
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT	'	'
INVESTMENT	$152,838	'

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]	'	'
Preferred stock, par value	$0.00	$0.00
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock, shares authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	42,850,577	41,839,433
Common stock, shares outstanding	42,850,577	41,839,433

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
REVENUES	'	'	'	'
Rental Income - Related Party	$76,758	$51,407	$271,527	$209,619
OPERATING EXPENSES	'	'	'	'
General and Administrative Expenses	1,940,378	804,043	5,930,221	2,148,578
Depreciation and Amortization	47,065	41,378	131,923	123,935
Total Operating Expenses	1,987,443	845,421	6,062,144	2,272,513
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS	-1,910,685	-794,014	-5,790,617	-2,062,894
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)	'	'	'	'
Interest Expense (Net of Interest Income)	-970,962	-893,891	-2,762,175	-29,219,829
Total Other Income (Expense)	-1,413,078	1,071,146	2,445,949	-17,645,326
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES	-3,323,763	277,132	-3,344,668	-19,708,220
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)	-1,266,000	105,474	-1,282,000	-7,365,541
NET INCOME (LOSS)	-2,057,763	171,658	-2,062,668	-12,342,679
Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share - Basic	($0.05)	$0	($0.05)	($0.31)
Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share - Diluted	($0.05)	$0	($0.05)	($0.31)
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Basic	42,033,077	40,809,389	41,770,880	39,350,940
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Diluted	42,033,077	42,478,827	41,770,880	39,350,940
Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Investment	644,133	533,973	3,423,054	2,590,875
Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions Marketing, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Investment	-1,100,564	1,431,064	1,572,326	8,983,628
Dakota Plains Services, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Investment	$14,315	'	$212,744	'

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Net Loss	($2,062,668)	($12,342,679)
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Loss to Net Cash Used in Operating Activities	'	'
Depreciation and Amortization	131,923	123,935
Amortization of Debt Discount	262,224	'
Amortization of Finance Costs	52,026	'
Loss on Derivative Liability	'	27,311,800
Deferred Income Taxes	-262,000	-7,369,000
Share-Based Consulting Fees	280,714	'
Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Rental Income	-21,638	45,440
Non-Cash Rental Income	-9,719	-38,910
Amortization of Deferred Rent	-2,000	'
Share-Based Compensation	2,430,665	373,959
Changes in Working Capital and Other Items:	'	'
Increase in Accounts Receivable	-110,187	'
Increase in Income Taxes Receivable	-154,105	'
Increase in Prepaid Expenses	-90,137	-48,704
Increase in Other Current Assets	'	-13,000
Decrease in Due from Related Party	4,686	'
Increase in Accounts Payable	146,491	189,627
Decrease in Income Taxes Payable	-1,028,000	'
Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Expenses	-116,074	1,034,392
Decrease in Deferred Rental Income	-8,062	-104,485
Increase in Other Assets	-14,300	'
Net Cash Used In Operating Activities	-5,778,285	-2,412,128
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Purchases of Property and Equipment	-159,737	-6,417
Net Cash Provided By Investing Activities	4,459,384	1,059,224
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Finance Costs Paid	-9,783	'
Repurchase of Common Stock	-568,058	'
Net Cash Used In Financing Activities	-577,841	'
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	-1,896,742	-1,352,904
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - BEGINNING OF PERIOD	2,340,083	1,753,665
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - END OF PERIOD	443,341	400,761
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information	'	'
Cash Paid During the Period for Interest	2,392,404	808,525
Cash Paid During the Period for Income Taxes	189,054	2,985
Non-Cash Financing and Investing Activities:	'	'
Purchase of Property and Equipment Paid Subsequent to Period End	'	30,800
Satisfaction of Derivative Liability with Common Stock	'	5,187,850
Promissory Notes Issued to Satisfy Derivative Liability	'	27,663,950
Purchase of Other Assets Paid Subsequent to Period End	'	208,335
Fair Value of Warrants Issued for Consulting Fees	208,663	'
Preferred Dividend Receivable	372,604	375,343
Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions Marketing, LLC [Member]	'	'
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Loss to Net Cash Used in Operating Activities	'	'
Income from Investment	-1,572,326	-8,983,628
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Cash Received from Joint Venture	12,910,000	'
Preferred Dividends Received from Investment	1,065,753	'
Dakota Plains Services, LLC [Member]	'	'
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Loss to Net Cash Used in Operating Activities	'	'
Income from Investment	-212,744	'
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Cash Received from Joint Venture	59,906	'
Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]	'	'
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Loss to Net Cash Used in Operating Activities	'	'
Income from Investment	-3,423,054	-2,590,875
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Cash Received from Joint Venture	583,462	1,065,641
Cash Paid for Investment	($10,000,000)	'

Consolidated_Statement_Of_Stoc

Consolidated Statement Of Stockholders' Equity (USD $)

Board Of Directors [Member]

Board Of Directors [Member]

Board Of Directors [Member]

Board Of Directors [Member]

Executive [Member]

Executive [Member]

Executive [Member]

Executive [Member]

Common Stock [Member]

Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]

Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]

Total

Common Stock [Member]

Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]

Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]

Common Stock [Member]

Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]

Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]

Balance at Dec. 31, 2011

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$37,014

$10,158,044

($3,110,791)

$7,084,267

Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

37,014,018

'

'

'

Acquisition of MCT Holding Corporation

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

640

-640

'

'

Acquisition of MCT Holding Corporation, shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

640,200

'

'

'

Issuance of common shares pursuant to exercise of warrants, shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,386,578

'

'

'

Issuance of common shares pursuant to exercise of warrants

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,387

-2,387

'

'

Share-Based Compensation

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

477,604

'

477,604

Issuance of Restricted Common Shares, shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

38,437

'

'

'

Issuance of Restricted Common Shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

38

-38

'

'

Issuance of Common Shares Pursuant to Debt Restructure

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,757

6,130,435

'

6,132,192

Issuance of Common Shares Pursuant to Debt Restructure, Shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,757,075

'

'

'

Issuance of common shares related to agreements, shares

3,125

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Issuance of common shares related to agreements

3

24,997

'

25,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Warrants Issued Included in Debt Discount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

644,889

'

644,889

Net Loss

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-2,000,670

-2,000,670

Balance at Dec. 31, 2012

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

41,839

17,432,904

-5,111,461

12,363,282

Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

41,839,433

'

'

41,839,433

Share-Based Compensation

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,232,948

'

1,232,948

Issuance of Restricted Common Shares, shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

794,063

'

'

'

Issuance of Restricted Common Shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

794

-794

'

'

Issuance of common shares related to agreements, shares

308,108

'

'

'

62,500

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Issuance of common shares related to agreements

308

1,139,692

'

1,140,000

63

234,937

'

235,000

'

208,663

'

208,663

Common Shares Surrendered, shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-153,527

'

'

'

Common Shares Surrendered

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-154

-567,904

'

-568,058

Net Loss

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-2,062,668

-2,062,668

Balance at Sep. 30, 2013

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$42,850

$19,680,446

($7,174,129)

$12,549,167

Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2013

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

42,850,577

'

'

42,850,577

Organization_And_Nature_Of_Bus

Organization And Nature Of Business	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Organization And Nature Of Business [Abstract]	'
Organization And Nature Of Business	'
	1	Organization and Nature of Business
	On March 22, 2012, Dakota Plains Holdings, Inc., formerly known as MCT Holding Corporation ("DP" or the "Company"), Dakota Plains, Inc., a Minnesota corporation engaged in the crude oil transportation business ("Dakota Plains"), and DP Acquisition Corporation, a Minnesota corporation ("Merger Subsidiary") entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"). Under the Merger Agreement, the Merger Subsidiary merged with and into Dakota Plains (the "Initial Merger"), the separate corporate existence of the Merger Subsidiary ceased, and Dakota Plains continued as the surviving corporation and as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. See Note 12 for details of Initial Merger.
	Dakota Plains, Inc. (formerly Dakota Plains Transport, Inc.) was formed in November 2008 to participate in the ownership and operation of a transloading facility near New Town, North Dakota through which producers, transporters, and marketers may transload crude oil and related products from and onto the Canadian Pacific Railway. Dakota Plains Transloading, LLC ("DPT"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, was formed in April 2011 primarily to fulfill the original purposes of Dakota Plains Transport, Inc. In December 2011, Dakota Plains, Inc. transferred all of its assets and liabilities, excluding its equity interest in its wholly owned subsidiaries and its real property, to DPT.
	Dakota Plains Marketing, LLC ("DPM"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company was formed in April 2011 primarily to engage in the purchase, sale, storage, transport and marketing of hydrocarbons produced within North Dakota to or from refineries and other end-users or persons.
	Dakota Plains Trucking, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company was formed in September 2012 primarily to engage in the transportation by road of hydrocarbons and materials used or produced in the extraction of hydrocarbons to or from refineries and other end-users or persons, wherever located.
	The Company is governed by a board of directors and managed by its officers.

Summary_Of_Significant_Account

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	'
	2	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	The financial information included herein is unaudited, except for the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2012, which has been derived from the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012. However, such information includes all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments and change in accounting principles), which are in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for an entire year.
	Certain information, accounting policies, and footnote disclosures normally included in the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") have been omitted in this Form 10-Q pursuant to certain rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012.
	New Accounting Pronouncements
	From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") that are adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date. If not discussed, management believes that the impact of recently issued standards, which are not yet effective, will not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements upon adoption.
	Joint Venture Equity Investment
	The equity method is used to account for investments in joint ventures where the Company has significant influence, representing equity ownership of not more than 50%. As further described in Note 3, the Company's equity investments consist of 50% owned Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC ("DPTS") joint venture, 50% owned DPTS Marketing LLC ("DPTSM") joint venture, and 50% owned Dakota Plains Services, LLC ("DPS") joint venture. DPTS, DPTSM, and DPS have December 31 fiscal year ends, and the Company records its 50% share of the joint ventures' net income or loss based on their most recent interim financial statements. The Company's share of the joint ventures' operating results for each reporting period is adjusted for the Company's share of intercompany transactions. Such transactions primarily relate to rental agreements. Any significant unrealized intercompany profits or losses are eliminated in applying the equity method of accounting.
	The Company follows applicable authoritative guidance whereby declines in estimated investment fair value below carrying value assessed as other than temporary are recognized as a charge to earnings to reduce carrying value to estimated fair value. The Company periodically evaluates its equity investments for possible declines in value and determines if declines are other than temporary based on, among other factors, the sufficiency and outcome of equity investee performed impairment assessments (which includes third party appraisals and other analyses), the amount and length of time that fair value may have been below carrying value, near-term and longer-term operating and financial prospects of equity investees, and the Company's intent and ability to hold the equity investments for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery.
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	The Company considers highly liquid investments with insignificant interest rate risk and original maturities to the Company of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist primarily of interest-bearing bank accounts and money market funds. The Company's cash positions represent assets held in checking and money market accounts. These assets are generally available to the Company on a daily or weekly basis and are highly liquid in nature. Due to the balances being greater than $250,000, the Company does not have FDIC coverage on the entire amount of bank deposits. The Company believes this risk of loss is minimal.
	Property and Equipment
	Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives.
	Estimated useful lives are as follows:
	Site development		15 years
	Other Property and Equipment		3 - 5 years
	Land		—
	Expenditures for replacements, renewals, and betterments are capitalized. Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Depreciation and amortization expense was $131,923 and $47,065 for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $123,935 and $41,378 for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2012, respectively.
	Impairment
	FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 360-10-35-21 requires that long-lived assets to be held and used be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. There was no impairment recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.
	Environmental Accrual
	Accruals for estimated costs for environmental obligations generally are recognized no later than the date when the Company identifies what cleanup measures, if any, are likely to be required to address the environmental conditions. Included in such obligations are the estimated direct costs to investigate and address the conditions, and the associated engineering, legal and consulting costs. In making these estimates, the Company considers information that is currently available, existing technology, enacted laws and regulations, and its estimates of the timing of the required remedial actions. Such accruals are initially measured on a discounted basis — and are adjusted as further information becomes available or circumstances change — and are accreted up over time. The Company has recorded no liability for environmental obligations as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. Any required environmental accruals would be accounted for by DPTS, DPTSM and DPS.
	Income Taxes
	The Company accounts for income taxes under FASB ASC 740-10-30. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based upon differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. Accounting standards require the consideration of a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets if it is "more likely than not" that some component or all of the benefits of deferred tax assets will not be realized.
	The tax effects from an uncertain tax position can be recognized in the consolidated financial statements only if the position is more likely than not of being sustained if the position were to be challenged by a taxing authority. The Company has examined the tax positions taken in its tax returns and determined that there are no uncertain tax positions. As a result, the Company has recorded no uncertain tax liabilities in its condensed consolidated balance sheet.
	Stock-Based Compensation
	The Company records expenses associated with the fair value of stock-based compensation. For fully vested and restricted stock grants the Company calculates the stock-based compensation expense based upon estimated fair value on the date of grant. For stock warrants and options, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to calculate stock-based compensation at the date of grant. Option pricing models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected price volatility. Changes in these assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate.
	Stock Issuance
	The Company records the stock-based compensation awards issued to non-employees and other external entities for goods and services at either the fair market value of the goods received or services rendered or the instruments issued in exchange for such services, whichever is more readily determinable, using the measurement date guidelines enumerated in FASB ASC 505-50-30.
	Earnings Per Share
	Basic earnings per share ("EPS") excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to Company stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if common stock equivalents were exercised or converted to common stock. The dilutive effect of common stock equivalents is calculated using the treasury stock method. When a loss from continuing operations exists, all potentially dilutive securities are anti-dilutive and therefore excluded from the computation of diluted EPS. As the Company had a loss for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the potentially dilutive shares are anti-dilutive and thus not added into the EPS calculation.
	The reconciliation of the denominators used to calculate basic EPS and diluted EPS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
			Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
			September 30,				September 30,
			2013		2012		2013		2012
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic			42,033,077		40,809,389		41,770,880		39,350,940
	Plus: Potentially dilutive common shares
	Stock options, warrants and restricted stock			—		1,669,438		—		—
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted			42,033,077		42,478,827		41,770,880		39,350,940
	Stock options, warrants and restricted stock excluded from EPS due to the anti-dilutive effect			948,457		2,166		933,871		1,668,935
	The following stock options, warrants and restricted stock represent potentially dilutive shares as of September 30, 2013 and 2012:
			September 30,
			2013		2012
	Restricted Stock			817,500		545,000
	Stock Options			415,625		265,625
	Stock Warrants			2,771,000		1,700,000
	Total Potentially Dilutive Shares			4,004,125		2,510,625
	Fair Value Measures
	The Company measures fair value using a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. Fair value is 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, essentially an exit price, based on the highest and best use of the asset or liability. The levels of the fair value hierarchy are:
		Level 1 – Quoted market prices in active markets which are accessible at measurement date for identical assets or liabilities;
		Level 2 – Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities;
		Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities and less observable from objective sources.
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Such significant estimates include recoverability of property and equipment and equity investments, depreciable lives for property and equipment, inputs in the valuation of certain equity transactions, and accounting for income taxes. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
	Principles of Consolidation
	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Dakota Plains Holdings, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Joint_Ventures

Joint Ventures	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Joint Ventures [Abstract]	'
Joint Ventures	'
	3	Joint Ventures
	Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC
	On November 9, 2009, the Company entered into a joint venture with Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC ("PTS"). The Company and PTS each own 50% of the outstanding member units of Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC. The joint venture was formed to engage in the acquisition, construction and operation of a petroleum transloading facility in New Town, North Dakota ("Transloading Facility").
	Each of the members of Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC was required to make an initial capital contribution of $50,000. Each member received 1,000 member units for their initial capital contribution, for a total of 2,000 member units issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2013.
	On August 30, 2013, the Board of Governors of DPTS Marketing LLC authorized a distribution to each member simultaneously in the amount of $10 million, which was used by its members to fund capital contributions to Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC in order to increase the funds available for the Pioneer Project Facility Reserve.
	As part of the joint venture agreement, the Company owns the transloading facility and certain equipment acquired and leases the property to Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC.
	The operations of the transloading facility commenced in November 2009. Under provisions of the member control agreement the profits and losses of Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC are split 50/50, pro rata based on the number of member units outstanding. The cash payments from the joint venture also are paid pro rata based on the number of member units outstanding.
	In December 2011, Dakota Plains transferred all of its assets and liabilities, excluding its equity interest in its wholly owned subsidiaries and its real property, to Dakota Plains Transloading, LLC ("DPT"). DPT is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company that was formed in August 2011. The primary purpose of DPT is to participate in the ownership and operation of the transloading facility near New Town, North Dakota through which producers, transporters, and marketers may transload crude oil and related products from and onto the Canadian Pacific Railway.
	On June 1, 2012, DPT entered into an amended and restated member control agreement with Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC and PTS. The amended and restated member control agreement, among other things, incorporated all previous amendment and supplements, extended the initial term through December 31, 2021, and provided for the initial term to automatically extend in two-year intervals unless and until terminated. On August 30, 2012, the parties amended the amended and restated member control agreement to permit certain other ventures. On June 17, 2013, the parties further amended the amended and restated member control agreement to, among other things, extend the initial term through December 31, 2026.
	The Company accounts for this joint venture using the equity method of accounting. The income or loss from the joint venture is included in other income on the condensed consolidated statements of operations, and the Company has recorded an investment in Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC on its condensed consolidated balance sheet.
	Supplemental Agreement
	In September 2010, the Company entered into a Supplemental Agreement to the Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC member control agreement ("Supplemental Agreement"). The purpose of the Supplemental Agreement was to obtain access to site improvements and certain additional transloading equipment necessary to fulfill certain transloading contracts. Under this Supplemental Agreement the Company agreed to provide funds for the site improvements. The total costs incurred for these site improvements were $1,299,201. These costs have been capitalized as property and equipment on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet.
	As part of the Supplemental Agreement, PTS was required to pay all costs for the acquisition of four new transloaders. The total cost of these transloaders was $658,012, with an estimated residual value of $131,602 at the end of the initial Agreement term for a net cost incurred of $526,410.
	To reflect the economics of the $526,410 of costs incurred, the Company recognized rental income of $9,719 and $38,909 for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $1,972 and $(1,584) for the three month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The remaining monthly rental income will be recognized by the Company through December 31, 2026. No cash will be received related to this rental income; the rental income recorded is being treated as an increase in the Company's investment in the joint venture.
	In order to render fair and equitable the leases for the additional expenditures by the members relating to the site improvements and new equipment, the Supplemental Agreement included a provision that the Company would receive 75% of the cash distributions from Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC until the Company had been reimbursed. The additional expenditures would also incur interest at an interest rate of 7% per annum until paid in full. After the Company was reimbursed and received the required interest, the cash distributions reverted back to the 50/50 split as per the original agreement. Only the cash distributions were changed under the Supplemental Agreement, the profit and loss allocations remained the same as the original member control agreement. As of September 30, 2013 the Company had been reimbursed for the additional expenditures related to the Supplemental Agreement.
	In the first quarter of 2013, the Company settled an outstanding invoice related to the costs incurred as part of the Supplemental Agreement. The invoice was settled for $21,546 less than the original invoice amount. Based on this the total additional expenditures incurred by the Company were $772,791.
	The Company will report the $386,396, 50% of the costs incurred in excess of amounts incurred by PTS, as rental income over the life of the joint venture and $386,395 will be included as income from investment in Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC as the related expense is recorded by DPTS. Rental income related to the Supplemental Agreement was $8,156 and $59,045 for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $2,542 and $5,170 for the three month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company has received $167,184 and $186,113, respectively, in lease payments in excess of the amount reported as revenue. This amount is included as deferred rental income on the condensed consolidated balance sheet with the amount to be earned in the next twelve months recorded as a current liability. There were no future lease payments receivable related to this agreement as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.
	The unaudited financial statements of Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC are summarized as follows:
			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
			September 30,						September 30,
			2013			2012			2013		2012
	Sales		$	3,356,844		$	4,162,436		$	12,906,617	$	11,591,616
	Net Earnings			1,134,752			965,134			6,303,055		4,762,514
	Company's Share of Equity in Net Earnings			567,376			482,567			3,151,527		2,381,257
			September 30,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Total Assets		$	41,237,144		$	13,652,679
	Total Liabilities			4,739,791			2,617,257
	Share of Equity in Net Assets			18,248,676			5,517,711
	The differences between the Company's share of equity in the net assets of DPTS and the investment in DPTS as shown on the condensed consolidated balance sheet is due to 50% of the deferred rental income entered into with DPTS being eliminated through the investment in DPTS. Since 50% of the rental income received from DPTS is eliminated and reported through income from DPTS on the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations, 50% of the deferred rental income received under the terms of the lease agreements is eliminated against the investment in DPTS.
	DPTS commenced construction on the Pioneer Project on March 25, 2013. The Pioneer Project will represent a significant expansion of the transloading facility. Completion of the Pioneer Project is expected in December 2013, and the total cost of the project is estimated to be $50 million, which will be funded equally by the members of DPTS. The Company contributed $10 million to DPTS in September 2013 and has secured financing for its remaining portion of the project (see Note 8).
	DPTS Marketing LLC
	The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Dakota Plains Marketing, LLC, entered into a joint venture with PTS. The Company and PTS each own 50% of the outstanding member units of DPTS Marketing LLC. The joint venture was formed to engage in the purchase, sale, storage, transport and marketing of hydrocarbons produced within North Dakota to or from refineries and other end-users or persons and to conduct trading activities.
	Each of the members of DPTS Marketing LLC was required to make an initial capital contribution of $100. Each member received 1,000 member units for their initial capital contribution, for a total of 2,000 member units issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2013.
	Each of the members of DPTS Marketing LLC was also required to make an initial Member Preferred Contribution of $10,000,000 to support the trading activities of the joint venture. Upon written agreement of all the members, the members will make such additional Member Preferred Contributions as are agreed upon. All Member Preferred Contributions made shall entitle the member to receive a cumulative preferred return of 5% per annum, which preferred return will be paid in cash on a quarterly basis subject to there being cash available. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company reported a preferred dividend receivable of $126,029 and $819,178, respectively, on its condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company received a payment of $1.1 million related to the cumulative preferred return from DPTS Marketing LLC in September 2013. This payment was for the cumulative preferred return from the date of the initial $10 million contribution through June 30, 2013.
	The operations of DPTS Marketing LLC commenced in May 2011. Under the member control agreement, the profits and losses of DPTS Marketing LLC are split 50/50, pro rata based on the number of member units outstanding. The cash payments from the joint venture will also be paid pro rata based on the number of member units outstanding. The Company received priority cash distribution payments from DPTS Marketing LLC of $2.9 million during the nine month period ended September 30, 2013. The Company had received no priority cash distributions payments prior to 2013. On August 30, 2013 DPTS Marketing LLC made a distribution to each member simultaneously in the amount of $10 million.
	On June 1, 2012, DPM entered into an amended and restated member control agreement with DPTS Marketing LLC and PTS. The amended and restated member control agreement, among other things, incorporated all previous amendment and supplements, extended the initial term through December 31, 2021, and provided for the initial term to automatically extend in two-year intervals unless and until terminated. On August 30, 2012, the parties amended the amended and restated member control agreement to permit certain other ventures. On June 17, 2013, the parties further amended the amended and restated member control agreement to extend the initial term through December 31, 2026.
	The Company accounts for this joint venture using the equity method of accounting. The income or loss from the joint venture is included in other income on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and the Company has recorded an investment in DPTS Marketing LLC on its condensed consolidated balance sheet.
	The unaudited financial statements of DPTS Marketing LLC are summarized as follows:
			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
			September 30,						September 30,
			2013			2012			2013		2012
	Sales		$	9,115,703		$	24,204,483		$	44,234,110	$	59,330,940
	Net Earnings (Loss)			(2,201,127	)		2,862,128			3,144,653		17,967,255
	Company's Share of Equity in Net Earnings (Loss)			(1,100,564	)		1,431,064			1,572,326		8,983,628
			September 30,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Total Assets		$	31,332,147		$	49,399,386
	Total Liabilities			10,941,108			5,587,792
	Share of Equity in Net Assets			10,195,519			21,905,797
	Dakota Plains Services, LLC
	The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Dakota Plains Trucking, LLC, entered into a joint venture with JPND II, LLC ("JPND"). The Company and JPND each own 50% of the outstanding member units of Dakota Plains Services, LLC. The joint venture was formed to engage in the transportation by road of hydrocarbons and materials used or produced in the extraction of hydrocarbons to or from refineries and other end-users or persons, wherever located, and any other lawful activities as the board of governors may determine from time to time.
	JPND made an initial capital contribution of $650,000 to Dakota Plains Services, LLC. The Company was not required to make a capital contribution. Each member received 1,000 member units, for a total of 2,000 member units issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2013.
	The member control agreement of Dakota Plains Services, LLC includes a provision that JPND will receive all distributions from the joint venture until the aggregate amount of distributions received is equal to their initial capital contribution. The cash distributions will be split 50/50 after JPND has received distributions equal to its capital contribution. The Company received a tax distribution from Dakota Plains Services, LLC in June 2013.
	The operations of Dakota Plains Services, LLC commenced in September 2012, under provisions of the member control agreement the profits and losses of Dakota Plains Services, LLC are split 50/50, pro rata based on the number of member units outstanding.
	The initial term of the joint venture is until December 31, 2022, and the term will automatically extend in two-year renewal periods unless and until terminated.
	The Company accounts for this joint venture using the equity method of accounting. The income or loss from the joint venture is included in other income on the condensed consolidated statements of operations, and the Company has recorded an investment in Dakota Plains Services, LLC on its condensed consolidated balance sheet. As required by GAAP, the Company recognized its pro rata share of the net income from Dakota Plains Services, LLC for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 less the unrecognized losses from the year ended December 31, 2012. The Company did not recognize the loss from Dakota Plains Services, LLC for the year ended December 31, 2012 or decrease its investment in Dakota Plains Services, LLC below zero as of December 31, 2012. GAAP prohibits the Company from reducing the investment below zero unless the Company is obligated to provide financial support to Dakota Plains Services, LLC.
	The unaudited financial statements of Dakota Plains Services, LLC are summarized as follows:
			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
			September 30,						September 30,
			2013			2012			2013		2012
	Sales		$	3,805,769		$	99,431		$	10,902,636	$	99,431
	Net Earnings (Loss)			28,630			(99,757	)		617,639		(99,757	)
Company's Share of Equity in Net Earnings			14,315			—			212,744		—
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
Total Assets		$	7,836,756		$	3,136,159
Total Liabilities			6,852,652			2,469,833
Share of Equity in Net Assets			152,838			—

Lease_Agreement_Related_Party

Lease Agreement - Related Party	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Lease Agreement [Abstract]	'
Lease Agreement - Related Party	'
	4	Lease Agreement – Related Party
	In November 2009, our predecessor entered into an operating lease agreement with Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC (See Note 3). Under the lease agreement, the Company received monthly lease payments of $19,161 through May 2012. Effective June 1, 2012, the operating lease agreement was amended to increase the monthly lease payment to $31,881 for the duration of the Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC amended and restated member control agreement. Effective January 1, 2013, the Company and Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC increased the monthly lease payment to $60,470 for the duration of the Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC amended and restated member control agreement. Effective July 1, 2013, the Company and Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC decreased the monthly lease payment to $48,162 for the duration of the Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC amended and restated member control agreement. The lease agreement includes provisions which allow the Company to collect additional rents if the Company incurs certain additional costs related to the equipment and the transloading facility. Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC is responsible for all personal property and real property taxes upon the alterations and trade fixtures on the premises and the property during the term of the lease. The lessee is responsible for all costs and expenses to perform all maintenance and repair of the premises, and to acquire expansion, improvements or additions to the premises. The lessee is also responsible for payment of all utilities and other miscellaneous expenses during the term of the lease agreement.
	In accordance with equity method requirements described in Note 3, 50% is recognized as rental income and 50% is included in income from investment from Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC. Accordingly, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, $253,653 of the $507,306 in rent payments was recognized as rental income and $253,653 was included in income from investment in Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC and for the three months ended September 30, 2013, $72,243 of the $144,486 in rent payments was recognized as rental income and $72,243 was included in income from investment in Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, $111,665 of the $223,330 in rent payments was recognized as rental income and $111,665 was included in income from investment in Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC and for the three months ended September 30, 2012, $47,822 of the $95,643 in rent payments was recognized as rental income and $47,821 was included in income from investment in Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC.

Lease_Agreement

Lease Agreement	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Lease Agreement [Abstract]	'
Lease Agreement	'
	5	Lease Agreement
	In July 2013, the Company entered into a lease agreement with UNIMIN Corporation to lease certain land owned by the Company in New Town, North Dakota. Under the lease agreement, beginning in January 2014, the Company will receive monthly lease payments of $10,000 through December 2023, with annual increases of 3% starting January 2016. The lease agreement includes a provision that allows UNIMIN the option to renew and extend the term of the lease for four additional periods of five years each. In addition, all improvements to the land, including rail tracks and the sand facility, revert to the Company upon termination of the lease.

Preferred_Stock_And_Common_Sto

Preferred Stock And Common Stock	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Preferred Stock And Common Stock [Abstract]	'
Preferred Stock And Common Stock	'
	6	Preferred Stock and Common Stock
	The Company has authorized 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a par value of $0.001 per share. Shares of preferred stock may be issued in one or more series with rights and restrictions as may be determined by the Company. No shares of preferred stock have been designated or issued.
	In February 2013, the Company issued 12,500 shares of common stock to an executive. These shares were valued at $50,000 or $4.00 per share, the market value of the shares of common stock on the date of issuance, and expensed as general and administrative expenses.
	In June 2013, the Company issued 50,000 shares of common stock to an executive. These shares were valued at $185,000 or $3.70 per share, the market value of the shares of common stock on the date of issuance, and expensed as general and administrative expenses.
	In June 2013, the Company issued an aggregate 308,108 shares of common stock to its non-employee directors for prior and future service to the Company. These shares were valued at $1,140,000 or $3.70 per share, the market value of the shares of common stock on the date of issuance. The Company recorded general and administrative expenses of $1,040,000 and $100,000 for the nine and three month periods ended September 30, 2013, respectively, related to this stock issuance.

StockBased_Compensation_And_Wa

Stock-Based Compensation And Warrants	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Stock-Based Compensation And Warrants [Abstract]	'
Stock-Based Compensation And Warrants	'
	7	Stock-Based Compensation and Warrants
	The Company accounts for stock-based compensation under the provisions of FASB ASC 718-10-55. This standard requires the Company to record an expense associated with the fair value of the stock-based compensation. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to calculate stock-based compensation at the date of grant. Option pricing models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected volatility. For warrants and options granted to employees and directors, the Company uses the simplified method to determine the expected term of the warrants and options due to the lack of sufficient historical data. Changes in these assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate. The fair value of the warrants and options are recognized as compensation or interest expense over the vesting term.
	Warrants
	Warrants Granted November 1, 2012
	On November 1, 2012, the Company issued warrants to a consultant, pursuant to a consulting agreement, to purchase a total of 50,000 shares of common stock exercisable at $3.28 per share. The total fair value of the warrants was calculated using the Black-Scholes valuation model based on factors present at the time the warrants were issued. The warrants can be exercised at any time until the warrants expire on November 1, 2016. The consulting agreement terminates on November 1, 2013. The Company recorded general and administrative expense of $57,556 and $15,697 for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, related to these warrants.
	The following assumptions were used for the Black-Scholes model:
	Risk free rates		0.73%
	Dividend yield		0.00%
	Expected volatility		48.70%
	Weighted average expected warrant life		4 Years
	The "fair market value" at the date of issuance for the warrants issued using the formula relied upon for calculating the fair value of warrants is as follows:
	Weighted average fair value per share		$	1.26
	Total warrants granted			50,000
	Total weighted average fair value of warrants granted		$	62,788
	Warrants Granted January 1, 2013
	On January 1, 2013, the Company issued warrants to a consultant, pursuant to a consulting agreement, to purchase a total of 100,000 shares of common stock exercisable at $3.25 per share. The total fair value of the warrants was calculated using the Black-Scholes valuation model based on factors present at the time the warrants were issued. The warrants can be exercised at any time until the warrants expire on February 15, 2018. The consulting agreement terminated on May 31, 2013. The Company recorded general and administrative expense of $145,875 and $0 for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, related to these warrants.
	The following assumptions were used for the Black-Scholes model:
	Risk free rates		0.72%
	Dividend yield		0.00%
	Expected volatility		51.97%
	Weighted average expected warrant life		5 Years
	The "fair market value" at the date of issuance for the warrants issued using the formula relied upon for calculating the fair value of warrants is as follows:
	Weighted average fair value per share		$	1.46
	Total warrants granted			100,000
	Total weighted average fair value of warrants granted		$	145,875
	The table below reflects the status of warrants outstanding at September 30, 2013:
	Issue Date		Common			Exercise		Expiration
			Shares			Price		Date
	1-Feb-11			1,000,000		$	0.285	31-Jan-21
	22-Feb-11			600,000			2.5	22-Feb-16
	5-Apr-11			100,000			2.5	5-Apr-16
	1-Nov-12			50,000			3.28	1-Nov-16
	2-Nov-12			921,000			4	31-Oct-17
	1-Jan-13			100,000			3.25	15-Feb-18
	Total			2,771,000
	Outstanding Warrants
		•	No warrants were forfeited or expired during the nine month period ended September 30, 2013.
		•	The Company recorded general and administrative expense of $217,868 and $15,697 for the nine and three month periods ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $50,381 and $16,794 for the nine and three month periods ended September 30, 2012, respectively, related to these warrants.
		•	There are 2,771,000 warrants that are exercisable at September 30, 2013.
		•	No warrants were exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
	Stock Options
	In February 2013, the Company granted stock options under its 2011 Equity Incentive Plan to its Chief Executive Officer to purchase a total of 200,000 shares of common stock exercisable at $4.07 per share. The total fair value of the options was calculated using the Black-Scholes valuation model based on factors present at the time the options were granted. The options vest over 36 months with 66,666 options vesting on February 8, 2014 and 66,667 vesting on February 8, 2015 and 2016. The Company recorded general and administrative expense of $123,592 and $46,347 for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, related to these options.
	The following assumptions were used for the Black-Scholes model to value the options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2013:
	Risk free rates		0.84%
	Dividend yield		0.00%
	Expected volatility		39.14% to 52.43%
	Weighted average expected stock option life		4 to 5 Years
	The following summarizes activities concerning outstanding options to purchase shares of the Company's common stock as of and for the nine month period ended September 30, 2013:
		•	No options were exercised or forfeited in the nine month period ended September 30, 2013.
		•	No options expired during the nine month period ended September 30, 2013.
		•	Options covering 215,625 shares are exercisable and outstanding at September 30, 2013.
		•	There is $202,285 of compensation expense that will be recognized through February 2016 relative to the options that had been granted as of September 30, 2013.
		•	There were 200,000 unvested options at September 30, 2013.
	Restricted Stock Awards
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company issued 794,063 restricted shares of common stock as compensation to officers, employees, and consultants of the Company. The restricted shares vest over various terms with all restricted shares vesting no later than February 2016. As of September 30, 2013, there was $2.1 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock. This compensation expense will be recognized over the remaining vesting period of the grants. The Company has assumed a zero percent forfeiture rate for restricted stock. The Company recorded general and administrative expense of $1,094,919 and $465,076 for the nine and three month periods ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $274,532 and $109,844 for the nine and three month periods ended September 30, 2012, respectively, related to restricted share grants.
	The following table reflects the outstanding restricted stock awards and activity related thereto for the nine month period ended September 30, 2013:
			Nine Month Period Ended
			30-Sep-13
			Number of			Weighted-Average
			Shares			Grant Price
	Restricted Stock Awards:
	Restricted Shares Outstanding at the Beginning of Period			568,437		$	1.36
	Shares Granted			794,063			3.81
Lapse of Restrictions			(545,000	)		1.28
Restricted Shares Outstanding at September 30, 2013			817,500		$	3.8

Promissory_Notes

Promissory Notes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Promissory Notes [Abstract]	'
Promissory Notes	'
	8	Promissory Notes
	On November 1, 2011, the Company entered into an Exchange and Loan Agreement with the holders of certain senior and junior promissory notes ("Old Notes"). As part of the Exchange and Loan Agreement the holders of the Old Notes agreed to exchange their notes for new promissory notes and extend the term of the promissory notes. The total value of these new notes was $9 million and all unpaid accrued interest and principal were payable on March 31, 2013 (the "New Notes"). The New Notes bore interest at the rate of 12% per annum, with interest payable in arrears on the last day of each fiscal quarter.
	The New Notes included an additional payment provision that provided that upon public listing of the Company if the initial trading price, as defined in the Exchange and Loan Agreement, exceeds $2.50, then the holder would be entitled to receive an additional payment equal to the remainder, to the extent positive, of (x) the unpaid principal amount of the promissory note multiplied by the initial trading price and divided by $2.50 minus (y) the unpaid principal amount of the promissory note. The holders of the New Notes could elect to receive the additional payment either (i) a number of shares of the Company's common stock equal to the additional payment divided by $4.00, or (ii) a subordinated promissory note having a principal amount equal to the additional payment, bearing no interest for three calendar months after issuance and 12% simple annual interest thereafter, due and payable on the one-year anniversary of the issue date of such promissory note. With the public listing of the Company in March 2012, the additional payment due to the holders of the notes under this provision was $32,851,800.
	The additional payment provision in the New Notes was considered an embedded derivative, and was recorded as a derivative liability with a re-measurement as of each reporting date.
	On April 21, 2012, the embedded derivative was satisfied with the issuance of promissory notes in the aggregate amount of $27,663,950 and 1,296,963 shares of the Company's common stock. The fair value of the embedded derivative was $32,851,800 at April 21, 2012. The increase in the fair value of the embedded derivative during the nine months ended September 30, 2012, $27,311,800, was recorded as interest expense on the condensed consolidated statement of operations.
	Private Placement of Debt
	On November 2, 2012, the Company issued promissory notes in the amount of $6,140,000. The issuance of these promissory notes resulted in net proceeds to the Company of approximately $5,945,000, net of commissions and finance costs paid. The promissory notes bear interest at the rate of 12% per annum, with interest paid in arrears on the last day of each fiscal quarter. All principal and accrued interest are due and payable on October 31, 2015.
	In conjunction with the issuance of the promissory notes the Company issued warrants to purchase 921,000 shares of our common stock, exercisable at $4.00 per share. The warrants expire on October 31, 2017.
	The Company recorded $1,048,889 of debt discount against these promissory notes representing the allocation of the relative fair value to the warrants issued. The debt discount will be amortized over the term of the promissory notes using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method. For the nine and three month periods ended September 30, 2013, the company recognized interest expense of $262,224 and $87,408, respectively, related to the amortization of this debt discount.
	The Company incurred finance costs of $195,062 related to these notes, which will be amortized over the term of the notes and included in interest expense on the condensed consolidated statement of operations. The interest expense recorded for the nine and three month period ended September 30, 2013 was $48,765 and $16,255, respectively.
	Amended Election, Exchange and Loan Agreements
	In addition, on November 2, 2012, pursuant to the Amended Election, Exchange and Loan Agreements; the Company repaid the outstanding principal to a holder of the New Notes in the amount of $500,000. The term of the remaining $8.5 million in New Notes was extended using two different maturity dates. $4,605,300 of the New Notes was extended to March 1, 2014 and $3,894,700 was extended to October 31, 2015. All of the holders of the New Notes agreed to surrender and void the $27,663,950 of promissory notes and 1,296,963 shares of the Company's common stock received April 21, 2012, related to the additional payment provision in the New Notes.
	As a result of the revaluation of the additional payment provision and revised elections of the holders, the Company issued promissory notes in the aggregate of $11,965,300 and 1,757,075 shares of its common stock. These promissory notes bear interest at the rate of 12% per annum, with interest paid in arrears on the last day of each fiscal quarter. All principal and accrued interest are due and payable on October 31, 2015.
	As of September 30, 2013, the Company had the following outstanding promissory notes:
	Maturity Date		Principal Amount
	1-Mar-14		$	4,605,300
	31-Oct-15			22,000,000
	Total outstanding principal		$	26,605,300
	Unamortized debt discount at September 30, 2013			(728,393	)
	Promissory notes, net of debt discount		$	25,876,907
	All promissory notes bear interest at the rate of 12% per annum, with interest paid in arrears on the last day of each fiscal quarter.
	Pioneer Project
	On June 17, 2013, Dakota Plains Transloading, LLC ("Borrower'), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a credit agreement ("Credit Agreement') with World Fuel Services Corporation. The Credit Agreement provides the Borrower with a $20 million delayed draw term loan facility (the "Facility") to finance the Borrower's share of improvements to be made to the Pioneer Terminal in New Town, North Dakota. The availability period for draws under the Facility expires on September 30, 2014 and maturity date of the Facility is December 31, 2026. The Facility is secured by a mortgage on a majority of the land owned by the Company in New Town, North Dakota as well as a pledge of the equity owned by the Borrower in Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC.
	During the availability period, a loan under the Facility bears interest at a rate per annum equal to either (i) nine percent (9%), at any time when the aggregate unpaid principal amounts of the loans outstanding is less than $10 million, or (ii) twelve percent (12%), at any time the aggregate unpaid principal amount of loans outstanding is greater than or equal to $10 million. After the expiration of the availability period, a loan under the Facility bears interest at a rate per annum equal to (i) six percent (6%), at any time when the aggregate unpaid principal amount of loans outstanding is less than $5 million, (ii) nine percent (9%), at any time when the aggregate unpaid principal amount of loans outstanding is less than $10 million, or (iii) twelve percent (12%), at any time the aggregate unpaid principal amounts of the loans outstanding is greater than or equal to $10 million. There were no borrowings under the Facility at September 30, 2013.
	The Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, including covenants that restrict the right of the Borrower to incur indebtedness, merge, lease, sell or otherwise dispose of assets, make investments and grant liens on their assets.
	The Credit Agreement contains customary events of default, the occurrence of which would permit World Fuel Services Corporation to terminate its commitment and accelerate loans under the Facility, including failure to make payments under the Facility, failure to comply with covenants in the Credit Agreement and other loan documents, cross default to other material indebtedness of the Company, failure of the Company or Borrower to pay or discharge material judgments, bankruptcy of the Company or the Borrower, and a change in control of the Company or the Borrower.
	The Company incurred finance costs of $9,783 related to the Credit Agreement, which will be amortized over the term of the notes and included in interest expense on the condensed consolidated statement of operations. The interest expense recorded for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2013 was $3,261 and 2,446, respectively.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Taxes [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	9	Income Taxes
	The Company utilizes the asset and liability approach to measuring deferred tax assets and liabilities based on temporary differences existing at each balance sheet date using currently enacted tax rates in accordance with FASB ASC 740-10-30. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment.
	The income tax benefit for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 consists of the following:
			Nine Months Ended
			September 30,
			2013			2012
	Current Income Taxes		$	(1,042,000	)	$	3,459
	Deferred Income Taxes
	Federal			(207,000	)		(6,699,000	)
	State			(33,000	)		(670,000	)
	Total Benefit		$	(1,282,000	)	$	(7,365,541	)
	The Company has no liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits.
	The Company's policy is to recognize potential interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits within income tax expense. For the nine month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company did not recognize any interest or penalties in the condensed consolidated statement of operations, nor did the Company have any interest or penalties accrued in the condensed consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, relating to unrecognized benefits
	The 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009 tax years remain open to examination for federal income tax purposes and by the other major taxing jurisdictions to which the Company is subject.

Financial_Instruments

Financial Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Financial Instruments [Abstract]	'
Financial Instruments	'
	10	Financial Instruments
	The Company's financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, accounts payable, and promissory notes. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, and accounts payable approximate fair value because of their immediate or short-term maturities.

Fair_Value

Fair Value	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value [Abstract]	'
Fair Value	'
	11	Fair Value
	FASB ASC 820-10-55 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP and enhances disclosures about fair value measurements. Fair value is defined under FASB ASC 820-10-55 as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value under FASB ASC 820-10-55 must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The standard describes a fair value of hierarchy based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value.
	As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company has no financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Level 2 liabilities consist of the promissory notes (see Note 8).

Merger_Agreement

Merger Agreement	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Merger Agreement [Abstract]	'
Merger Agreement	'
	12	Merger Agreement
	As of March 22, 2012, the issued and outstanding common stock of Dakota Plains before the Initial Merger was converted into the right to receive an aggregate of 37,014,018 shares of the Company's common stock, all of which were "restricted securities" under Rule 144. Of those shares, 530,000 were restricted shares of the Company's common stock issued under certain employment agreements in exchange for 530,000 shares of similarly restricted Dakota Plains' common stock. In addition, the outstanding options issued by Dakota Plains before the Initial Merger were converted into options to purchase an aggregate of 250,000 shares of the Company's common stock and the outstanding warrants issued by Dakota Plains before the Initial Merger were converted into warrants to purchase an aggregate of 4,150,000 shares of the Company's common stock. The shareholders of the Company before the Initial Merger retained 640,200 shares of common stock, representing approximately 1.7% of its outstanding shares of common stock immediately after the Initial Merger.
	In March 2012, Dakota Plains Holdings, Inc., the surviving corporation from the Initial Merger and then a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, merged with and into MCT Holding Corporation (the "Second Merger"). Pursuant to the plan of merger governing the Second Merger, the Company changed its name from "MCT Holding Corporation" to "Dakota Plains Holdings, Inc."

Commitments_And_Contingencies

Commitments And Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]	'
Commitments And Contingencies	'
	13	Commitments and Contingencies
	Lac-Mégantic, Quebec
	On July 6, 2013, a freight train operated by Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway ("MMA") with 72 tank cars carrying approximately 50,000 barrels of crude oil derailed in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec. The derailment resulted in significant loss of life, damage to the environment from spilled crude oil and extensive property damage. DPTSM (a crude oil marketing joint venture in which the Company indirectly owns a 50% membership interest) subleased the tank cars involved in the incident from an affiliate of the Company's joint venture partner. A different affiliate of the Company's joint venture partner owned title to the crude oil being carried in the derailed tank cars. DPTS (a crude oil transloading joint venture in which the Company indirectly owns a 50% membership interest) arranged for the transloading of the crude oil for DPM into tank cars at DPTS's facility in New Town, North Dakota. An affiliate of the Company's joint venture partner also contracted with Canadian Pacific Railway ("CPR") for the transportation of the tank cars and the crude oil from New Town, North Dakota to a customer in New Brunswick, Canada. CPR subcontracted a portion of that route to MMA.
	In July and August 2013, certain of our subsidiaries, DPTSM and DPTS, along with a number of third parties, including MMA and certain of its affiliates, as well as several manufacturers and lessors of tank cars, were named as defendants in twenty complaints filed in Illinois. The complaints generally allege wrongful death and negligence in the failure to provide for the proper and safe transportation of crude oil and seek economic and compensatory damages, as well as costs. In addition, the Company, DPTSM and DPTS, along with a number of other third parties, including CPR, MMA and certain of its affiliates, as well as several manufacturers and lessors of tank cars, were named as defendants in a motion filed in Quebec Superior Court to authorize the bringing of a class-action lawsuit seeking economic, compensatory and punitive damages, as well as costs. The motion generally alleges wrongful death and negligence in the failure to provide for the proper and safe transportation of crude oil. Additional claims, lawsuits, proceedings, investigations and orders may be filed, commenced or issued with respect to the incident, which may involve civil claims for damages or governmental investigative, regulatory or enforcement actions against the Company.
	While the Company and its joint ventures, DPTSM and DPTS, maintain insurance to mitigate the costs of environmental releases as well as other results of unexpected events, including loss of life, property damage and defense costs, there can be no guarantee that our insurance will be adequate to cover all liabilities that may be incurred as a result of this incident.
	The Company is separately evaluating potential claims that may be asserted against third parties to recover costs and other liabilities that may be incurred as a result of this incident. The Company can provide no guarantee that any such claims, if brought by the Company, will be successful or, if successful, that the responsible parties will have the financial resources to address any such claims.
	The Company is currently unable to determine the probability of loss, or reasonably estimate a range of potential losses related to the above proceedings. Accordingly, the Company has not made any provisions for these potential losses in our consolidated financial statements.

Subsequent_Events

Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Subsequent Events [Abstract]	'
Subsequent Events	'
	14	Subsequent Events
	In connection with preparing the unaudited consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company has evaluated subsequent events for potential recognition and disclosure through the date of this filing and determined that there were no subsequent events which required recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

Summary_Of_Significant_Account1

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
New Accounting Pronouncements	'
	New Accounting Pronouncements
	From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") that are adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date. If not discussed, management believes that the impact of recently issued standards, which are not yet effective, will not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements upon adoption.
Joint Venture Equity Investment	'
	Joint Venture Equity Investment
	The equity method is used to account for investments in joint ventures where the Company has significant influence, representing equity ownership of not more than 50%. As further described in Note 3, the Company's equity investments consist of 50% owned Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC ("DPTS") joint venture, 50% owned DPTS Marketing LLC ("DPTSM") joint venture, and 50% owned Dakota Plains Services, LLC ("DPS") joint venture. DPTS, DPTSM, and DPS have December 31 fiscal year ends, and the Company records its 50% share of the joint ventures' net income or loss based on their most recent interim financial statements. The Company's share of the joint ventures' operating results for each reporting period is adjusted for the Company's share of intercompany transactions. Such transactions primarily relate to rental agreements. Any significant unrealized intercompany profits or losses are eliminated in applying the equity method of accounting.
	The Company follows applicable authoritative guidance whereby declines in estimated investment fair value below carrying value assessed as other than temporary are recognized as a charge to earnings to reduce carrying value to estimated fair value. The Company periodically evaluates its equity investments for possible declines in value and determines if declines are other than temporary based on, among other factors, the sufficiency and outcome of equity investee performed impairment assessments (which includes third party appraisals and other analyses), the amount and length of time that fair value may have been below carrying value, near-term and longer-term operating and financial prospects of equity investees, and the Company's intent and ability to hold the equity investments for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery.
Cash And Cash Equivalents	'
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	The Company considers highly liquid investments with insignificant interest rate risk and original maturities to the Company of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist primarily of interest-bearing bank accounts and money market funds. The Company's cash positions represent assets held in checking and money market accounts. These assets are generally available to the Company on a daily or weekly basis and are highly liquid in nature. Due to the balances being greater than $250,000, the Company does not have FDIC coverage on the entire amount of bank deposits. The Company believes this risk of loss is minimal.
Property And Equipment	'
	Property and Equipment
	Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives.
	Estimated useful lives are as follows:
	Site development		15 years
	Other Property and Equipment		3 - 5 years
	Land		—
	Expenditures for replacements, renewals, and betterments are capitalized. Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Depreciation and amortization expense was $131,923 and $47,065 for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $123,935 and $41,378 for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2012, respectively.
Impairment	'
	Impairment
	FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 360-10-35-21 requires that long-lived assets to be held and used be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. There was no impairment recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.
Environmental Accrual	'
	Environmental Accrual
	Accruals for estimated costs for environmental obligations generally are recognized no later than the date when the Company identifies what cleanup measures, if any, are likely to be required to address the environmental conditions. Included in such obligations are the estimated direct costs to investigate and address the conditions, and the associated engineering, legal and consulting costs. In making these estimates, the Company considers information that is currently available, existing technology, enacted laws and regulations, and its estimates of the timing of the required remedial actions. Such accruals are initially measured on a discounted basis — and are adjusted as further information becomes available or circumstances change — and are accreted up over time. The Company has recorded no liability for environmental obligations as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. Any required environmental accruals would be accounted for by DPTS, DPTSM and DPS.
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	The Company accounts for income taxes under FASB ASC 740-10-30. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based upon differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. Accounting standards require the consideration of a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets if it is "more likely than not" that some component or all of the benefits of deferred tax assets will not be realized.
	The tax effects from an uncertain tax position can be recognized in the consolidated financial statements only if the position is more likely than not of being sustained if the position were to be challenged by a taxing authority. The Company has examined the tax positions taken in its tax returns and determined that there are no uncertain tax positions. As a result, the Company has recorded no uncertain tax liabilities in its condensed consolidated balance sheet.
Stock-Based Compensation	'
	Stock-Based Compensation
	The Company records expenses associated with the fair value of stock-based compensation. For fully vested and restricted stock grants the Company calculates the stock-based compensation expense based upon estimated fair value on the date of grant. For stock warrants and options, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to calculate stock-based compensation at the date of grant. Option pricing models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected price volatility. Changes in these assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate.
Stock Issuance	'
	Stock Issuance
	The Company records the stock-based compensation awards issued to non-employees and other external entities for goods and services at either the fair market value of the goods received or services rendered or the instruments issued in exchange for such services, whichever is more readily determinable, using the measurement date guidelines enumerated in FASB ASC 505-50-30.
Earnings Per Share	'
	Earnings Per Share
	Basic earnings per share ("EPS") excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to Company stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if common stock equivalents were exercised or converted to common stock. The dilutive effect of common stock equivalents is calculated using the treasury stock method. When a loss from continuing operations exists, all potentially dilutive securities are anti-dilutive and therefore excluded from the computation of diluted EPS. As the Company had a loss for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the potentially dilutive shares are anti-dilutive and thus not added into the EPS calculation.
	The reconciliation of the denominators used to calculate basic EPS and diluted EPS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
			Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
			September 30,				September 30,
			2013		2012		2013		2012
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic			42,033,077		40,809,389		41,770,880		39,350,940
	Plus: Potentially dilutive common shares
	Stock options, warrants and restricted stock			—		1,669,438		—		—
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted			42,033,077		42,478,827		41,770,880		39,350,940
	Stock options, warrants and restricted stock excluded from EPS due to the anti-dilutive effect			948,457		2,166		933,871		1,668,935
	The following stock options, warrants and restricted stock represent potentially dilutive shares as of September 30, 2013 and 2012:
			September 30,
			2013		2012
	Restricted Stock			817,500		545,000
	Stock Options			415,625		265,625
	Stock Warrants			2,771,000		1,700,000
	Total Potentially Dilutive Shares			4,004,125		2,510,625
Fair Value Measures	'
	Fair Value Measures
	The Company measures fair value using a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. Fair value is 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, essentially an exit price, based on the highest and best use of the asset or liability. The levels of the fair value hierarchy are:
		Level 1 – Quoted market prices in active markets which are accessible at measurement date for identical assets or liabilities;
		Level 2 – Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities;
		Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities and less observable from objective sources.
Use Of Estimates	'
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Such significant estimates include recoverability of property and equipment and equity investments, depreciable lives for property and equipment, inputs in the valuation of certain equity transactions, and accounting for income taxes. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
Principles Of Consolidation	'
	Principles of Consolidation
	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Dakota Plains Holdings, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Summary_Of_Significant_Account2

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Estimated Useful Lives Of Property And Equipment	'
	Estimated useful lives are as follows:
	Site development	15 years
	Other Property and Equipment	3 - 5 years
	Land	—
Schedule Of Earnings Per Share, Basic And Diluted	'
		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic		42,033,077		40,809,389		41,770,880		39,350,940
	Plus: Potentially dilutive common shares
	Stock options, warrants and restricted stock		—		1,669,438		—		—
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted		42,033,077		42,478,827		41,770,880		39,350,940
	Stock options, warrants and restricted stock excluded from EPS due to the anti-dilutive effect		948,457		2,166		933,871		1,668,935
Schedule Of Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share	'
		September 30,
		2013		2012
	Restricted Stock		817,500		545,000
	Stock Options		415,625		265,625
	Stock Warrants		2,771,000		1,700,000
	Total Potentially Dilutive Shares		4,004,125		2,510,625

Joint_Ventures_Tables

Joint Ventures (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]	'
Summarized Financial Statements	'
	Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	September 30,					September 30,
		2013			2012			2013		2012
	Sales	$	3,356,844		$	4,162,436		$	12,906,617	$	11,591,616
	Net Earnings		1,134,752			965,134			6,303,055		4,762,514
	Company's Share of Equity in Net Earnings		567,376			482,567			3,151,527		2,381,257
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Total Assets	$	41,237,144		$	13,652,679
	Total Liabilities		4,739,791			2,617,257
	Share of Equity in Net Assets		18,248,676			5,517,711
Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions Marketing, LLC [Member]	'
Summarized Financial Statements	'
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013		2012
	Sales	$	9,115,703		$	24,204,483		$	44,234,110	$	59,330,940
	Net Earnings (Loss)		(2,201,127	)		2,862,128			3,144,653		17,967,255
	Company's Share of Equity in Net Earnings (Loss)		(1,100,564	)		1,431,064			1,572,326		8,983,628
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Total Assets	$	31,332,147		$	49,399,386
	Total Liabilities		10,941,108			5,587,792
	Share of Equity in Net Assets		10,195,519			21,905,797
Dakota Plains Services, LLC [Member]	'
Summarized Financial Statements	'
	Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	September 30,					September 30,
		2013			2012			2013		2012
	Sales	$	3,805,769		$	99,431		$	10,902,636	$	99,431
	Net Earnings (Loss)		28,630			(99,757	)		617,639		(99,757	)
	Company's Share of Equity in Net Earnings		14,315			—			212,744		—
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Total Assets	$	7,836,756		$	3,136,159
	Total Liabilities		6,852,652			2,469,833
	Share of Equity in Net Assets		152,838			—

StockBased_Compensation_And_Wa1

Stock-Based Compensation And Warrants (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Status Of Warrants Outstanding	'
	Issue Date	Common			Exercise		Expiration
		Shares			Price		Date
	1-Feb-11		1,000,000		$	0.285	31-Jan-21
	22-Feb-11		600,000			2.5	22-Feb-16
	5-Apr-11		100,000			2.5	5-Apr-16
	1-Nov-12		50,000			3.28	1-Nov-16
	2-Nov-12		921,000			4	31-Oct-17
	1-Jan-13		100,000			3.25	15-Feb-18
	Total		2,771,000
Outstanding Restricted Stock Awards And Activity	'
		Nine Month Period Ended
		30-Sep-13
		Number of			Weighted-Average
		Shares			Grant Price
	Restricted Stock Awards:
	Restricted Shares Outstanding at the Beginning of Period		568,437		$	1.36
	Shares Granted		794,063			3.81
	Lapse of Restrictions		(545,000	)		1.28
	Restricted Shares Outstanding at September 30, 2013		817,500		$	3.8
Warrants Granted November 1, 2012 [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Schedule Of Stock Option Assumptions	'
	Risk free rates	0.73%
	Dividend yield	0.00%
	Expected volatility	48.70%
	Weighted average expected warrant life	4 Years
Fair Market Value At The Date Of Grant For Options Granted	'
	Weighted average fair value per share	$	1.26
	Total warrants granted		50,000
	Total weighted average fair value of warrants granted	$	62,788
Warrants Granted January 1, 2013 [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Schedule Of Stock Option Assumptions	'
	Risk free rates	0.72%
	Dividend yield	0.00%
	Expected volatility	51.97%
	Weighted average expected warrant life	5 Years
Fair Market Value At The Date Of Grant For Options Granted	'
	Weighted average fair value per share	$	1.46
	Total warrants granted		100,000
	Total weighted average fair value of warrants granted	$	145,875
Stock Options [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Schedule Of Stock Option Assumptions	'
	Risk free rates	0.84%
	Dividend yield	0.00%
	Expected volatility	39.14% to 52.43%
	Weighted average expected stock option life	4 to 5 Years

Promissory_Notes_Tables

Promissory Notes (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Promissory Notes [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Outstanding Promissory Notes	'
	Maturity Date	Principal Amount
	1-Mar-14	$	4,605,300
	31-Oct-15		22,000,000
	Total outstanding principal	$	26,605,300
	Unamortized debt discount at September 30, 2013		(728,393	)
	Promissory notes, net of debt discount	$	25,876,907

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Taxes [Abstract]	'
Components Of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	'
		Nine Months Ended
		September 30,
		2013			2012
	Current Income Taxes	$	(1,042,000	)	$	3,459
	Deferred Income Taxes
	Federal		(207,000	)		(6,699,000	)
	State		(33,000	)		(670,000	)
	Total Benefit	$	(1,282,000	)	$	(7,365,541	)

Summary_Of_Significant_Account3

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Maximum balance of cash and cash equivalents which does require FDIC coverage	$250,000	'	$250,000	'	'
Depreciation expense	47,065	41,378	131,923	123,935	'
Recorded impairment	0	0	0	0	'
Uncertain tax liabilities	0	'	0	'	0
Liability for environmental obligations	$0	'	$0	'	$0
Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%	'	50.00%	'	'
Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions Marketing, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%	'	50.00%	'	'
Dakota Plains Services, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%	'	50.00%	'	'

Summary_Of_Significant_Account4

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Estimated Useful Lives Of Property And Equipment) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Site Development [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Estimated useful lives	'15 years
Maximum [Member] | Other Property And Equipment [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Estimated useful lives	'5 years
Minimum [Member] | Other Property And Equipment [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Estimated useful lives	'3 years

Summary_Of_Significant_Account5

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Schedule Of Earnings Per Share, Basic And Diluted) (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	42,033,077	40,809,389	41,770,880	39,350,940
Stock options, warrants and restricted stock	'	1,669,438	'	'
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	42,033,077	42,478,827	41,770,880	39,350,940
Stock options, warrants and restricted stock excluded from EPS due to the anti-dilutive effect	948,457	2,166	933,871	1,668,935

Summary_Of_Significant_Account6

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Schedule Of Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Potentially Dilutive Shares	4,004,125	2,510,625
Restricted Stock [Member]	'	'
Potentially Dilutive Shares	817,500	545,000
Stock Options [Member]	'	'
Potentially Dilutive Shares	415,625	265,625
Warrants [Member]	'	'
Potentially Dilutive Shares	2,771,000	1,700,000

Joint_Ventures_Narrative_Detai

Joint Ventures (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Nov. 09, 2009

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]

Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]

Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]

Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]

Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]

Dakota Plains Services, LLC [Member]

Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions Marketing, LLC [Member]

Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions Marketing, LLC [Member]

Supplemental Agreement [Member]

Supplemental Agreement [Member]

Supplemental Agreement [Member]

Supplemental Agreement [Member]

Supplemental Agreement [Member]

Transloader [Member]

Transloader [Member]

Transloader [Member]

Transloader [Member]

Transloader [Member]

Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]

Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]

Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]

Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]

Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]

Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]

Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]

Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]

Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]

Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]

Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Equity method investment, ownership percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

50.00%

50.00%

50.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Limited partners' contributed capital

'

'

'

'

'

'

$50,000

$650,000

$100

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Each limited partners' units issued for initial capital contribution

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,000

1,000

1,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding

'

'

2,000

'

2,000

'

'

2,000

2,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Agreement renewal period

'

'

'

'

'2 years

'

'

'2 years

'2 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Member preferred contribution

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

10,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Member preferred contributions cash return per annum percent

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Preferred dividend receivable

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

126,029

819,178

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Site improvements

'

'

1,299,201

'

1,299,201

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

PPE, Gross

5,694,738

5,541,801

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

658,012

Estimated residual value

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

131,602

PPE, net

5,137,982

5,116,968

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

526,410

Cost of property less salvage value

'

'

'

'

526,410

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cash distribution percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

75.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cash distribution

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Additional expenditures interest rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Additional expenditures incurred from agreement, discount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

21,546

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Additional expenditures incurred from agreement

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

772,791

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Rental income from costs incurred in excess

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

386,396

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Investment income from costs incurred in excess

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

386,395

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Rental income

'

'

72,243

47,822

253,653

111,665

'

'

'

'

2,542

5,170

8,156

59,045

'

1,972

-1,584

9,719

38,909

'

Lease payments in excess of revenue

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

167,184

'

167,184

'

186,113

'

'

'

'

'

Percent of the costs recognized as rental income

'

'

'

'

50.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

50.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Estimated cost of the project

'

'

'

'

$50,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Joint_Ventures_Summarized_Fina

Joint Ventures (Summarized Financial Statements) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Sales	$3,356,844	$4,162,436	$12,906,617	$11,591,616	'
Net Earnings	1,134,752	965,134	6,303,055	4,762,514	'
Company's Share of Equity in Net Earnings	567,376	482,567	3,151,527	2,381,257	'
Total Assets	41,237,144	'	41,237,144	'	13,652,679
Total Liabilities	4,739,791	'	4,739,791	'	2,617,257
Share of Equity in Net Assets	18,248,676	'	18,248,676	'	5,517,711
Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions Marketing, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Sales	9,115,703	24,204,483	44,234,110	59,330,940	'
Net Earnings	-2,201,127	2,862,128	3,144,653	17,967,255	'
Company's Share of Equity in Net Earnings	-1,100,564	1,431,064	1,572,326	8,983,628	'
Total Assets	31,332,147	'	31,332,147	'	49,399,386
Total Liabilities	10,941,108	'	10,941,108	'	5,587,792
Share of Equity in Net Assets	10,195,519	'	10,195,519	'	21,905,797
Dakota Plains Services, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Sales	3,805,769	99,431	10,902,636	99,431	'
Net Earnings	28,630	-99,757	617,639	-99,757	'
Company's Share of Equity in Net Earnings	14,315	'	212,744	'	'
Total Assets	7,836,756	'	7,836,756	'	3,136,159
Total Liabilities	6,852,652	'	6,852,652	'	2,469,833
Share of Equity in Net Assets	$152,838	'	$152,838	'	'

Lease_Agreement_Related_Party_

Lease Agreement - Related Party (Details) (Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended		5 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	7 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	31-May-12	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating lease agreement, monthly lease payment	$48,162	'	$19,161	$60,470	$31,881	'	'
Percent of the costs recognized as rental income	'	'	'	'	'	50.00%	'
Percentage recognized as investment income	'	'	'	'	'	50.00%	'
Rental income	72,243	47,822	'	'	'	253,653	111,665
Rent payments	144,486	95,643	'	'	'	507,306	223,330
Investment income	$72,243	$47,821	'	'	'	$253,653	$111,665

Lease_Agreement_Details

Lease Agreement (Details) (UNIMIN Corporation [Member], USD $)	1 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2013
	item
UNIMIN Corporation [Member]	'
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]	'
Operating lease agreement, monthly lease payment	$10,000
Operating lease agreement, annual increase percent after two years	3.00%
Number of optional additional periods	4
Number of years in each period	'5 years

Preferred_Stock_And_Common_Sto1

Preferred Stock And Common Stock (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Feb. 28, 2013
						Board Of Directors [Member]	Board Of Directors [Member]	Board Of Directors [Member]	Executive [Member]	Executive [Member]
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000,000	'	10,000,000	'	10,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Preferred stock, par value	$0.00	'	$0.00	'	$0.00	'	'	'	'	'
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	'	0	'	0	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common shares related to agreement, shares	'	'	'	'	'	308,108	'	'	50,000	12,500
Issuance of common shares related to agreement	'	'	$208,663	'	'	$1,140,000	'	'	$185,000	$50,000
Common stock sold, price per share	'	'	'	'	'	$3.70	'	'	$3.70	$4
General and administrative expense	$1,940,378	$804,043	$5,930,221	$2,148,578	'	'	$100,000	$1,040,000	'	'

StockBased_Compensation_And_Wa2

Stock-Based Compensation And Warrants (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Feb. 28, 2013

Nov. 02, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Nov. 01, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Jan. 02, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Warrants Granted November 1, 2012 [Member]

Warrants Granted November 1, 2012 [Member]

Warrants Granted November 1, 2012 [Member]

Warrants Granted January 1, 2013 [Member]

Warrants Granted January 1, 2013 [Member]

Warrants Granted January 1, 2013 [Member]

Warrants [Member]

Warrants [Member]

Warrants [Member]

Warrants [Member]

Stock Options [Member]

Stock Options [Member]

Stock Options Expected To Vest February 8, 2014 [Member]

Stock Options Expected To Vest February 8, 2015 [Member]

Stock Options Expected To Vest February 8, 2016 [Member]

Restricted Stock [Member]

Restricted Stock [Member]

Restricted Stock [Member]

Restricted Stock [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Warrants exercisable

2,771,000

'

2,771,000

'

'

'

'

'

50,000

'

'

100,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Warrant exercise price

'

'

'

'

'

4

'

'

3.28

'

'

3.25

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

General and administrative expense

$1,940,378

$804,043

$5,930,221

$2,148,578

'

'

$15,697

$57,556

'

$0

$145,875

'

$15,697

$16,794

$217,868

$50,381

$46,347

$123,592

'

'

'

$465,076

$109,844

$1,094,919

$274,532

Total stock options granted

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

50,000

'

'

100,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Options exercisable

215,625

'

215,625

'

200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Stock option exercisable price

'

'

'

'

$4.07

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Options vesting period

'

'

'36 months

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of options expected to vest

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

66,666

66,667

66,667

'

'

'

'

Options exercised or forfeited

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Forfeiture rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.00%

'

Options expired

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Unrecognized compensation expense

$202,285

'

$202,285

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$2,100,000

'

$2,100,000

'

Options unvested

200,000

'

200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restricted stock awards issued

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

794,063

'

StockBased_Compensation_And_Wa3

Stock-Based Compensation And Warrants (Schedule Of Stock Option Assumptions) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Warrants Granted November 1, 2012 [Member]	'
Risk free rates	0.73%
Dividend yield	0.00%
Expected volatility	48.70%
Weighted average expected options life	'4 years
Warrants Granted January 1, 2013 [Member]	'
Risk free rates	0.72%
Dividend yield	0.00%
Expected volatility	51.97%
Weighted average expected options life	'5 years
Stock Options [Member]	'
Risk free rates	0.84%
Dividend yield	0.00%
Minimum [Member] | Stock Options [Member]	'
Expected volatility	39.14%
Weighted average expected options life	'4 years
Maximum [Member] | Stock Options [Member]	'
Expected volatility	52.43%
Weighted average expected options life	'5 years

StockBased_Compensation_And_Wa4

Stock-Based Compensation And Warrants (Fair Market Value At The Date Of Grant For Options Granted) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Warrants Granted November 1, 2012 [Member]	'
Weighted average fair value per share	$1.26
Total stock options granted	50,000
Total weighted average fair value of stock options granted	$62,788
Warrants Granted January 1, 2013 [Member]	'
Weighted average fair value per share	$1.46
Total stock options granted	100,000
Total weighted average fair value of stock options granted	$145,875

StockBased_Compensation_And_Wa5

Stock-Based Compensation And Warrants (Status of Warrants Outstanding) (Details)	Sep. 30, 2013	Nov. 02, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
			February 1, 2011 [Member]	February 22, 2011 [Member]	April 5, 2011 [Member]	November 1, 2012 [Member]	November 2, 2012 [Member]	January 1, 2013 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Issue Date	'	'	1-Feb-11	22-Feb-11	5-Apr-11	1-Nov-12	2-Nov-12	1-Jan-13
Common Shares	2,771,000	921,000	1,000,000	600,000	100,000	50,000	921,000	100,000
Exercise Price	'	4	0.285	2.5	2.5	3.28	4	3.25
Expiration Date	'	'	31-Jan-21	22-Feb-16	5-Apr-16	1-Nov-16	31-Oct-17	15-Feb-18

StockBased_Compensation_And_Wa6

Stock-Based Compensation And Warrants (Outstanding Restricted Stock Awards And Activity) (Details) (Restricted Stock [Member], USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Restricted Stock [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Restricted Shares Outstanding at the Beginning of Period, Number	568,437
Shares Granted, Number	794,063
Lapse of Restrictions, Number	-545,000
Restricted Shares Outstanding at the End of Period, Number	817,500
Restricted Shares Outstanding at the Beginning of Period, Weighted-Average Grant Price	$1.36
Shares Granted, Weighted-Average Grant Price	$3.81
Lapse of Restrictions, Weighted-Average Grant Price	1.28
Restricted Shares Outstanding at the End of Period, Weighted-Average Grant Price	$3.80

Promissory_Notes_Narrative_Det

Promissory Notes (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Nov. 02, 2012	Apr. 21, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Nov. 01, 2011
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest rate	12.00%	'	12.00%	12.00%	'	'	12.00%
Promissory Notes	$8,500,000	'	$21,271,607	$21,271,607	'	$25,614,683	$9,000,000
Warrants issued	921,000	'	2,771,000	2,771,000	'	'	'
Warrant exercise price	4	'	'	'	'	'	'
Initial trading price which determines if holder receives additional payment	'	'	'	$2.50	'	'	'
Denominator in calculation used to determine number of shares in the additional payment	'	'	'	4	'	'	'
Additional payment due to the holders	'	'	'	32,851,800	'	'	'
Fair value of embedded derivative	'	32,851,800	'	'	'	'	'
Increase in fair value of embedded derivative	'	'	'	'	27,311,800	'	'
Proceeds from issuance of promissory notes	11,965,300	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt instrument, unamortized discount	'	'	1,048,889	1,048,889	'	'	'
Amortization of Debt Discount	'	'	87,408	262,224	'	'	'
Finance costs incurred	'	'	'	195,062	'	'	'
Interest expense	'	'	16,255	48,765	'	'	'
Repayments of promissory notes	-500,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Promissory notes surrendered	27,663,950	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common shares surrendered	1,296,963	'	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance of Common Shares Pursuant to Debt Restructure	'	27,663,950	'	'	'	6,132,192	'
Notes issued	'	'	'	'	27,663,950	'	'
Shares issued pursuant to debt restructure	1,757,075	1,296,963	'	'	'	'	'
Dakota Plains Transloading, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Amount outstanding	'	'	0	0	'	'	'
March 1, 2014 [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Promissory Notes	4,605,300	'	'	'	'	'	'
October 31, 2015 [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Promissory Notes	3,894,700	'	'	'	'	'	'
Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility [Member] | Dakota Plains Transloading, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Maturity date	'	'	'	31-Dec-26	'	'	'
Finance costs incurred	'	'	'	9,783	'	'	'
Interest expense	'	'	3,261	2,446	'	'	'
Borrowing capacity	'	'	20,000,000	20,000,000	'	'	'
Expiration date	'	'	'	30-Sep-14	'	'	'
Private Placement [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest rate	12.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from issuance of promissory notes	6,140,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from issuance of promissory notes, net of issuance costs	5,945,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Before Expiration Date Feature 1 [Member] | Dakota Plains Transloading, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest rate	'	'	9.00%	9.00%	'	'	'
Before Expiration Date Feature 2 [Member] | Dakota Plains Transloading, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest rate	'	'	12.00%	12.00%	'	'	'
After Expiration Date Feature 1 [Member] | Dakota Plains Transloading, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest rate	'	'	6.00%	6.00%	'	'	'
After Expiration Date Feature 2 [Member] | Dakota Plains Transloading, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest rate	'	'	9.00%	9.00%	'	'	'
After Expiration Date Feature 3 [Member] | Dakota Plains Transloading, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest rate	'	'	12.00%	12.00%	'	'	'
Minimum [Member] | Before Expiration Date Feature 2 [Member] | Dakota Plains Transloading, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Amount outstanding	'	'	10,000,000	10,000,000	'	'	'
Minimum [Member] | After Expiration Date Feature 3 [Member] | Dakota Plains Transloading, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Amount outstanding	'	'	10,000,000	10,000,000	'	'	'
Maximum [Member] | Before Expiration Date Feature 1 [Member] | Dakota Plains Transloading, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Amount outstanding	'	'	10,000,000	10,000,000	'	'	'
Maximum [Member] | After Expiration Date Feature 1 [Member] | Dakota Plains Transloading, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Amount outstanding	'	'	5,000,000	5,000,000	'	'	'
Maximum [Member] | After Expiration Date Feature 2 [Member] | Dakota Plains Transloading, LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Amount outstanding	'	'	$10,000,000	$10,000,000	'	'	'

Promissory_Notes_Schedule_Of_O

Promissory Notes (Schedule Of Outstanding Promissory Notes) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013
Total outstanding principal	$26,605,300
Unamortized debt discount	-728,393
Promissory notes, net of debt discount	25,876,907
March 1, 2014 [Member]	'
Total outstanding principal	4,605,300
October 31, 2015 [Member]	'
Total outstanding principal	$22,000,000

Income_Taxes_Components_Of_Inc

Income Taxes (Components Of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Taxes [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Current Income Taxes	'	'	($1,042,000)	$3,459
Deferred Income Taxes, Federal	'	'	-207,000	-6,699,000
Deferred Income Taxes, State	'	'	-33,000	-670,000
Total Benefit	($1,266,000)	$105,474	($1,282,000)	($7,365,541)

Merger_Agreement_Details

Merger Agreement (Details)	Mar. 22, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Right to shares outstanding	37,014,018
Shares available for purchase, Options	250,000
Shares available for purchase, Warrants	4,150,000
Shares outstanding before merger	640,200
Percent of outstanding shares of common stock after initial merger	1.70%
Restricted Stock [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Right to shares outstanding	530,000
Dakota Plains [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Right to shares outstanding	530,000

Commitments_And_Contingencies_

Commitments And Contingencies (Details)	0 Months Ended
	Jul. 06, 2013
	item
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]	'
Number of tanker-cars	72
Barrels of Oil	50,000