Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Oil and Natural Gas Properties and Equipment (Narrative) (Details)

v3.19.3
Oil and Natural Gas Properties and Equipment (Narrative) (Details)
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2018
USD ($)
Sep. 17, 2018
USD ($)
item
Sep. 30, 2019
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2019
USD ($)
item
Sep. 30, 2018
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]              
Deferred tax assets, basis difference in fixed assets         $ 46,500,000    
Deferred tax liabilities, basis difference in fixed assets         9,800,000    
Reduction in VAT receivable       $ 664,000 (658,000)    
Number of drilled wells required by agreement | item       2      
Number of appraisal wells required by agreement | item       2      
Estimated costs of wells, gross amount       $ 68,500,000      
Estimated costs of wells       23,000,000.0      
Estimated costs of technical studies, net       400,000      
Undeveloped Acreage     $ 23,771,000 $ 23,771,000     $ 23,771,000
Period of development       25 years      
Monthly royalty rate, based on production at the published price       13.00%      
Asset impairments     0        
Additional increase to working interest ownership, percent       0.80%      
Etame Field [Member]              
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]              
Percent of participating interest       33.575%      
Number of exploitation areas | item   3          
Period of agreement for exploitation areas   10 years   10 years      
Number of contract extension periods | item   2          
Production license agreement term extended by government   5 years          
Deferred tax assets, basis difference in fixed assets     18,600,000 $ 18,600,000      
Deferred tax liabilities, basis difference in fixed assets     18,600,000 18,600,000      
VAT receivable, net of valuation allowance     4,200,000 4,200,000      
Allocated to proved leasehold cost     22,500,000 22,500,000      
Allocated to unproved leasehold cost     13,700,000 13,700,000      
Estimated costs of technical studies       1,300,000      
Capitalized costs, signing bonus     6,700,000 6,700,000      
Capitalized costs, tax impact     7,100,000 $ 7,100,000      
Block P Offshore Equatorial Guinea [Member]              
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]              
Working interest ownership, percentage       31.00%      
Undeveloped Acreage     $ 10,000,000.0 $ 10,000,000.0      
Gabon              
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]              
Contractual commitment, gross   $ 65,000,000.0          
Contractual obligation   $ 21,800,000          
Cash paid for signing bonus, gross amount $ 35,000,000.0            
Payment of signing bonus, allocated to proved and unproved property 11,800,000            
Reduction in VAT receivable, gross amount 25,000,000.0            
Reduction in VAT receivable 8,400,000            
Accrued liabilities, end of drilling activities, gross amount $ 5,000,000.0            
Accrued liabilities, end of drilling activities         $ 1,700,000    
Working interest ownership, percentage           7.50%  
Additional increase to working interest ownership, percent       2.50%      
Prior Production Sharing Contract, Through September 17, 2018 [Member]              
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]              
Entitled percent for consortium after initial royalty percentage       70.00%      
Monthly royalty rate, based on production at the published price       13.00%      
Production Sharing Contract, September 17, 2018 Through September 16, 2028 [Member]              
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]              
Entitled percent for consortium after initial royalty percentage       80.00%      
Production Sharing Contract, After September 16, 2028 [Member]              
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]              
Entitled percent for consortium after initial royalty percentage       70.00%