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

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details)

Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) $ / Boe item bbl	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Charter fee for production up to 20,000 BOPD \| $ / Boe			0.93
Charter fee amount threshold \| bbl			20,000
Charter fee for those bbls produced in excess of 20,000 BOPD \| $ / Boe			2.50
Company's share of charter expense			$ 13,100	$ 12,100	$ 10,800
Contractual obligation			17,627
Abandonment funding			12,453	11,371
Foreign currency gain on abandonment funding			1,100
Etame Marine Block [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimated abandonment costs			19,200
Abandonment funding			12,500
Loss contingency			$ 4,400			$ 4,400
Payment of joint venture audit settlement	$ 800	$ 1,100
Gabon [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Discount			15.00%
Contractual obligation			$ 900	$ 1,200	$ 1,100
Additional percent of revenue for provisions			1.00%
Percent of investment cost which are cost recoverable				75.00%
FPSO Charter [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of extensions \| item			2
Period of charter			1 year
Guarantee liability				$ 400
Consortium [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Contractual obligation			$ 56,757
Consortium [Member] \| Etame Marine Block [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimated abandonment costs			61,800
Abandonment funding			40,200
Gabon Dmo [Member] \| Gabon [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Contractual obligation			900	1,100
Pid And Pih [Member] \| Gabon [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Contractual obligation			$ 3,100	$ 2,200