Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details)

v3.20.1
Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details)
$ in Thousands
1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Apr. 30, 2018
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2019
USD ($)
$ / d
$ / Boe
item
bbl
Dec. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Mar. 09, 2020
item
Jul. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Sep. 25, 2018
USD ($)
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Liabilities, guarantees' fair value       $ 400 $ 300        
Production license agreement term extended by government       5 years          
Abandonment Funding       $ 11,371 11,571        
Charter fee for production up to 20,000 BOPD | $ / Boe       0.93          
Charter fee amount threshold | bbl       20,000          
Charter fee for those bbls produced in excess of 20,000 BOPD | $ / Boe       2.50          
Company's share of charter expense       $ 12,100 10,800 $ 12,800      
Estimated costs of technical studies       1,300          
Estimated costs of technical studies, net       400          
Loss contingency               $ 4,400  
Accrued liabilities and other       $ 29,773 14,138        
Payment of other taxes   $ 1,300              
Gabon Tax Authority [Member]                  
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Tax examination settlement payment     $ 200            
Tax penalties     $ 200            
Potential Fees From Customs Audits [Member]                  
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Accrued liabilities and other         1,300        
Gabon [Member]                  
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Discount       15.00%          
Contractual obligation       $ 1,200 $ 1,100 $ 1,200     $ 21,800
Number of drilled wells required by agreement | item       2          
Number of appraisal wells required by agreement | item       2          
Accrued liabilities, end of drilling activities, gross amount       $ 5,000          
Accrued liabilities, end of drilling activities       $ 1,700          
Number of technical studies required | item       2          
Payment of joint venture audit settlement $ 1,100     $ 4,400          
Additional percent of revenue for provisions       1.00%          
Percent of investment cost which are cost recoverable         75.00%        
Gabon [Member] | Gabon DMO [Member]                  
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Contractual obligation       $ 1,100 $ 1,200        
Gabon [Member] | PID And PIH [Member]                  
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Contractual obligation       $ 2,200 $ 1,900        
Etame Field [Member]                  
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Production license agreement term extended by government       5 years          
Number of drilled wells required by agreement | item       2          
Number of appraisal wells required by agreement | item       2          
Number of optional wells to drill | item       4          
Number of optional well workovers | item       3          
Day rate of drilling rig contract | $ / d       75,000          
Number of contract extension periods | item       2          
Etame Field [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]                  
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Number of remaining well workovers | item             2    
Full Charter Payment [Member]                  
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Contractual obligation       $ 56,275          
Abandonment cost related to annual funding       61,800          
Full Charter Payment [Member] | Offshore Gabon [Member]                  
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Abandonment funding       36,700          
VAALCO ENERGY, INC. [Member]                  
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Contractual obligation       17,477          
VAALCO ENERGY, INC. [Member] | Offshore Gabon [Member]                  
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Abandonment funding       11,400          
VAALCO ENERGY, INC. [Member] | Full Charter Payment [Member]                  
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Abandonment cost related to annual funding       $ 19,200          
Maximum [Member] | Etame Field [Member]                  
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Drilling commitment period       1 year