Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details)

v3.7.0.1
Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
USD ($)
item
Feb. 28, 2017
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2016
USD ($)
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]        
Number Monthly Payments | item 7      
Contractual Obligation Company Share       $ 5,100
Abandonment Funding $ 8,510   $ 8,510  
Abandonment cost related to annual funding 61,100      
Abandonment cost related to annual funding, net 19,000      
McDonough V. VAALCO Energy, Inc. [Member]        
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]        
Plaintiff demand to settle case   $ 361    
Gabon [Member]        
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]        
Abandonment Funding 8,500      
Abandonment funding, gross $ 27,400      
Accrued Payroll Taxes     $ 1,000  
Offshore Gabon [Member]        
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]        
Production License Agreement Term Extended By Government 5 years      
Percentage of annual funding over seven years 12.14%      
Funding period for initial rate 7 years      
Second funding period of production license 3 years      
Percentage of annual funding over last three years 5.00%      
Funding period abandonment funding 10 years      
Number of contract extension periods | item 2