VAALCO Energy, Inc. Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands, in Billions					1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	May 06, 2019 $ / bbl bbl	Sep. 26, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 17, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 17, 2018 XAF ( )	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) bbl	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) $ / bbl	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 XAF ( ) / $
Organization And Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Reduction in VAT receivable							$ 275	$ (777)	$ (3,025)
Exchange rate \| / $										585.7
Bad debt recovery (expense)							341	77	(452)
Inventory adjustment							0		0
Interest Costs Capitalized							0	0	0
Asset retirement obligation, revision of estimate					$ (400)		$ (379)	$ (6,527)	703
Monthly royalty rate, based on production at the published price							13.00%
Working interest of carried partner, percentage							7.50%
Future working interest of carried partner percentage							10.00%
Derivative cap price \| $ / bbl								74.00
Derivative floor price \| $ / bbl								74.00
Gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions							$ (200)	$ (100)	500
Barrels \| bbl							274,870
Cash received to settle derivatives							$ 2,400	700	200
Restatement Adjustment [Member]
Organization And Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accrued liabilities									(2,600)
Office Equipment [Member]
Organization And Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life							5 years
Leasehold Improvements [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Organization And Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life							5 years
Leasehold Improvements [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Organization And Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life							7 years
Gabon [Member]
Organization And Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Receivable balance, gross \|										5.4
Receivable balance, net, noncurrent \|										1.8
Reduction in VAT receivable, gross amount		$ 25,000		14.1
Reduction in VAT receivable		$ 8,400	$ 4,200	4.7
Bad debt recovery (expense)							$ 300	100	$ (400)
Inventory adjustment								400
Asset retirement obligation, revision of estimate						$ 400
Etame Field [Member]
Organization And Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Asset retirement obligation, revision of estimate						$ 600		$ (6,500)
Commodity Contract, July 19 Through June 2020 [Member]
Organization And Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Derivative, average price per barrel \| $ / bbl	66.70
Barrels \| bbl	500,000