Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details)

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Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details)
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2016
Mar. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
item
$ / Boe
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Feb. 28, 2017
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2016
USD ($)
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                
Abandonment Funding     $ 8,510,000 $ 10,808,000 $ 8,510,000      
Number of extensions | item       2        
Term of charter extension periods       1 year        
Percentage of share in charter payment       31.10%        
Share in charter payment, approximate annual amount       $ 9,700,000        
Liabilities, guarantees' fair value     $ 700,000 $ 500,000 700,000      
Contractual obligation               $ 5,100,000
Charter fee for production up to 20,000 BOPD | $ / Boe       0.93        
Charter fee for those bbls produced in excess of 20,000 BOPD | $ / Boe       2.50        
Company's share of charter expense       $ 12,800,000 11,200,000 $ 10,900,000    
Rent expense, operating leases       2,400,000 4,500,000 4,300,000    
Accrued estimated settlement       500,000        
McDonough V. VAALCO Energy, Inc. [Member]                
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                
Plaintiff demand to settle case             $ 361,000  
Gabon [Member]                
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                
Discount   25.00% 15.00%          
Contractual obligation     $ 1,700,000 $ 1,200,000 1,700,000 $ 2,300,000    
Additional percent of revenue for provisions 1.00%              
Percent of investment cost which are cost recoverable       75.00%        
Accrued Payroll Taxes     1,000,000 $ 1,300,000 1,000,000      
Gabon [Member] | Gabon DMO [Member]                
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                
Contractual obligation     1,100,000 1,300,000 1,100,000      
Gabon [Member] | PID And PIH [Member]                
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                
Contractual obligation     $ 400,000 $ 1,400,000 $ 400,000      
Offshore Gabon [Member]                
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                
Production License Agreement Term Extended By Government       5 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        
Funding period abandonment funding       10 years        
Number of contract extension periods | item       2        
Full Charter Payment [Member]                
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                
Contractual obligation       $ 85,222,000        
Full Charter Payment [Member] | Offshore Gabon [Member]                
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                
Abandonment cost related to annual funding       61,100,000        
Abandonment funding       34,800,000        
VAALCO ENERGY, INC. [Member]                
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                
Contractual obligation       26,467,000        
VAALCO ENERGY, INC. [Member] | Offshore Gabon [Member]                
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]                
Abandonment cost related to annual funding       19,000,000        
Abandonment funding       $ 10,800,000