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

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

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

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%