VAALCO Energy, Inc. Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Segment Information - Segment Activity (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 18,239us-gaap_OilAndGasSalesRevenue	$ 28,071us-gaap_OilAndGasSalesRevenue
Operating income (loss)	(35,278)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	(650)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Total assets	240,630us-gaap_Assets		248,849us-gaap_Assets
Operating Segments \| Gabon
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	18,100
Operating income (loss)	(4,546)
Total assets	191,202		192,957
Operating Segments \| Angola
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	(27,866)
Total assets	19,433		22,305
Operating Segments \| Equatorial Guinea
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	(239)
Total assets	10,315		10,197
Operating Segments \| United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	139
Operating income (loss)	248
Total assets	6,606		6,611
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	(2,875)
Total assets	$ 13,074		$ 16,779