Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

SCHEDULE I - PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENT- STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS (Details)

v2.4.1.9
SCHEDULE I - PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENT- STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES      
Net income (loss) $ (77,550)us-gaap_ProfitLoss $ 43,072us-gaap_ProfitLoss $ 5,339us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities      
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 20,086us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization 16,929us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization 19,913us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
Stock based compensation 3,322us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation 3,005us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation 2,406us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Change in operating assets and liabilities:      
Other receivables (1,250)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherReceivables (53)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherReceivables (199)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherReceivables
Prepayments and other (4,172)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets 594us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets (766)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets
Accounts payable and other liabilities (9,503)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities 8,988us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities 39us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES      
Decrease/(increase) in restricted cash (9,219)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash (1,065)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash 78us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES      
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock 5,685us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock 3,729us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock 3,335us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock
Purchase of treasury stock (1,868)us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock (11,456)us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock  
Distribution to noncontrolling interest     (5,595)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsMinorityInterest
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest     (26,200)us-gaap_PaymentsToMinorityShareholders
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (61,478)us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease (270)us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease (6,339)us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD 130,529us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 130,800us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 137,139us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD 69,051us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 130,529us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 130,800us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
VAALCO ENERGY, INC.      
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES      
Net income (loss) (77,550)us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
43,072us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
5,339us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities      
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 94us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
63us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
59us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Stock based compensation 3,322us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
3,005us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
2,406us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Equity in (earnings) loss from subsidiaries 71,199us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(48,852)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(13,377)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Change in operating assets and liabilities:      
Other receivables (257)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherReceivables
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
180us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherReceivables
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
27us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherReceivables
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Prepayments and other (416)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(16)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
14us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Accounts payable and other liabilities 153us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
371us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(2,710)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Net cash (used in) operating activities (3,455)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(2,177)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(8,242)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES      
Investment in subsidiaries (4,371)us-gaap_PaymentsForHedgeInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(8,245)us-gaap_PaymentsForHedgeInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
 
Return of investment in subsidiaries     19,307us-gaap_ProceedsFromHedgeInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Decrease/(increase) in restricted cash     (10,000)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Property and equipment expenditures (816)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireOilAndGasPropertyAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(47)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireOilAndGasPropertyAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(77)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireOilAndGasPropertyAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Net cash (used in) investing activities (5,187)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(8,292)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
9,230us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES      
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock 5,685us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
3,729us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
3,335us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Purchase of treasury stock (1,868)us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(11,456)us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
 
Distribution to noncontrolling interest     (5,595)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsMinorityInterest
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest     (26,200)us-gaap_PaymentsToMinorityShareholders
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 3,817us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(7,727)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(28,460)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (4,825)us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(18,196)us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(27,472)us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD 8,605us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
26,801us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
54,273us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD $ 3,780us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
$ 8,605us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
$ 26,801us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember