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

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Detail)

Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Detail) $ in Thousands, a in Millions	1 Months Ended					3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2014 item	Oct. 31, 2014 USD ($) km² item	Jul. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 item	Nov. 30, 2006 a item	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) item	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of drilling rigs contracts \| item											2
Drilling rig cost day rate			$ 338
Drilling rig daily rate, gross basis, year one									$ 168
Drilling rig daily rate, gross basis, year two									172
Remaining commitment of drilling activity		$ 25,800	$ 7,600			$ 17,700			$ 17,700
Second drilling rig contract commitment period									45 days
Allowance for accounts with partners						7,600			$ 7,600		$ 7,600
Accounts with partners, net of allowance						19,054			19,054		10,903
Recorded restricted cash						15,830			15,830		20,830
Exploration expense						1,113		$ 3,293	28,572	$ 14,616
Dry hole costs and impairment loss on unproved leasehold									27,871	$ 13,273
Asset retirement obligations						15,951			$ 15,951		14,846
Subsequent Exploration Phase
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of exploration wells \| item									4
Offshore Gabon [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Annual funding related to production license, term									10 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%
Cash funding arrangement for abandonment of the offshore wells, platforms and facilities		8,400					$ 4,200
Cash funding arrangement for abandonment of the offshore wells, platforms and facilities net		$ 2,300					1,200
Abandonment cost related to annual funding									$ 10,100
Number of additional exploration wells due to exploration period extension \| item									2
Production license agreement term extended by government									5 years
Angola [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Area under acquire property exploration rights agreement term \| a					1.4
Joint operation agreement related to third party in working interest percentage					40.00%
Additional joint operation agreement related to third party in working interest percentage					10.00%
Production license agreement term					4 years
Number of exploration wells \| item		2			2
Extended drilling period		3 years							1 year
Allowance for accounts with partners												$ 7,600
Percentage of working interest for amounts owned												40.00%
Percent of carried interest												10.00%
Proceeds from Customers									$ 22,200
Number of additional exploration wells due to exploration period extension \| item	2			2
Production license agreement term extended by government					3 years
Total assessment of the exploration						10,000			10,000
Assessment net to VAALCO						5,000			5,000
Recorded restricted cash						$ 15,000			15,000
Decrease in restricted cash									$ 5,000
Exploration expense							$ 27,200
Angola [Member] \| Sonangol P&P [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Accounts with partners, net of allowance													$ 7,600
Angola [Member] \| Subsequent Exploration Phase
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Recorded restricted cash											$ 10,000
Angola [Member] \| Seismic Obligation
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Length of acquired property \| km²		600