Entity Central Index Key Document document and entity information. Document Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Entity Registrant Name Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Type Document Period End Date Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Amendment Flag Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Current Fiscal Year End Date Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding Undeveloped acreage. Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract] ASSETS Assets [Abstract] Current assets: Assets Current [Abstract] Cash and cash equivalents Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value Restricted cash Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value Receivables: Receivables Net Current [Abstract] Trade Receivables Net Current Accounts with partners, net of allowance $7.6 million in 2014 and 2013 Due From Related Parties Current Other, net of allowance of $2.4 million in 2014, and zero in 2013 Other Assets Current Crude oil inventory Inventory Crude Oil Products And Merchandise Materials and supplies Other Inventory Supplies Prepayments and other Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Total current assets Assets Current Property and equipment - successful efforts method: Property Plant And Equipment Net [Abstract] Wells, platforms and other production facilities Capitalized Costs Proved Properties Undeveloped acreage Undeveloped Acreage Work in progress Construction In Progress Gross Equipment and other Property Plant And Equipment Other Property, plant and equipment, gross, Total Property Plant And Equipment Gross Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment Net property and equipment Property Plant And Equipment Net Other assets: Other Assets Noncurrent [Abstract] Restricted cash Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent Deferred tax asset Deferred Tax Assets Net Noncurrent Deferred finance charge Deferred Finance Costs Noncurrent Net Abandonment funding Long Lived Assets To Be Abandoned Carrying Value Of Asset Total Assets Assets LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Liabilities And Stockholders Equity [Abstract] Current liabilities: Liabilities Current [Abstract] Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities Current Accounts with partners Due To Related Parties Current Total current liabilities Liabilities Current Asset retirement obligations Asset Retirement Obligations Noncurrent Long term debt Long Term Debt Noncurrent Total liabilities Liabilities Commitments and contingencies (Note 6) Commitments And Contingencies VAALCO Energy Inc. shareholders’ equity: Stockholders Equity [Abstract] Common stock, $0.10 par value, 100,000,000 authorized shares, 65,194,828 and 64,012,914 shares issued with 7,393,714 and 7,162,573 shares in treasury at Dec. 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively Common Stock Value Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock Retained earnings Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit Less treasury stock, at cost Treasury Stock Value Total Equity Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Total Liabilities and Equity Liabilities And Stockholders Equity Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract] Allowance for accounts with partners Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current Allowance for other receivable Allowance For Doubtful Other Receivables Current Common stock, par value Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock Shares Authorized Common stock, shares issued Common Stock Shares Issued Treasury stock, shares Treasury Stock Shares Provision for doubtful accounts and other expenses. Income Statement [Abstract] Revenues: Revenues [Abstract] Oil and gas sales Oil And Gas Sales Revenue Operating costs and expenses: Costs And Expenses [Abstract] Production expense Oil And Gas Production Expense Exploration expense Exploration Expense Depreciation, depletion and amortization Depreciation Depletion And Amortization General and administrative expense General And Administrative Expense Bad debt and other expenses Provision For Doubtful Accounts And Other Expenses Impairment of proved properties Asset Impairment Charges Total operating costs and expenses Costs And Expenses Operating income (loss) Operating Income Loss Other income (expense): Nonoperating Income Expense [Abstract] Interest income Investment Income Interest Other, net Other Nonoperating Income Expense Total other income (expense) Nonoperating Income Expense Income (loss) before income taxes Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments Income tax expense Income Tax Expense Benefit Net income (loss) Profit Loss Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Net income (loss) attributable to VAALCO Energy, Inc. Net Income Loss Basic net income (loss) per share atributable to VAALCO Energy, Inc. common shareholders Earnings Per Share Basic Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to VAALCO Energy, Inc. common shareholders Earnings Per Share Diluted Basic weighted average shares outstanding Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic Diluted weighted average shares outstanding Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding Statement Of Stockholders Equity [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement [Table] Equity Components Statement Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component Equity Component [Domain] Common Stock Common Stock [Member] Additional Paid-In Capital Additional Paid In Capital [Member] Retained Earnings Retained Earnings [Member] Treasury Stock Treasury Stock [Member] Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Statement [Line Items] Statement [Line Items] Beginning Balance Stock issuance Stock Issued During Period Value New Issues Stock based compensation Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value Treasury stock purchase Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method Net income (loss) Distribution to noncontrolling interest Minority Interest Decrease From Distributions To Noncontrolling Interest Holders Acquisition of noncontrolling interest Noncontrolling Interest Increase From Business Combination Ending Balance Receivable from employees for stock option exercise. Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract] CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities [Abstract] Amortization of debt issuance cost Amortization Of Financing Costs Unrealized foreign exchange (gain) loss Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Unrealized Dry hole costs and impairment loss on unproved leasehold Exploration Abandonment And Impairment Expense Stock based compensation Share Based Compensation Bad debt provision Provision For Doubtful Accounts Impairment loss Change in operating assets and liabilities: Increase Decrease In Operating Capital [Abstract] Trade receivables Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable Accounts with partners Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable Related Parties Other receivables Increase Decrease In Other Receivables Crude oil inventory Increase Decrease In Fuel Inventories Materials and supplies Increase Decrease In Raw Materials Packaging Materials And Supplies Inventories Other long term assets Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Assets Prepayments and other Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets Accounts payable and other liabilities Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations [Abstract] Decrease/(increase) in restricted cash Increase Decrease In Restricted Cash Property and equipment expenditures Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations [Abstract] Proceeds from the issuance of common stock Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock Debt issuance costs Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs Borrowings Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt Purchase of treasury stock Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock Distribution to noncontrolling interest Payments Of Dividends Minority Interest Acquisition of noncontrolling interest Payments To Minority Shareholders Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Cash paid for Income taxes Income Taxes Paid Supplemental disclosure of non cash investing and financing activities Cash Flow Noncash Investing And Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Property and equipment additions incurred during the period but not paid at period end Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid Receivable from employees for stock option exercise Receivable From Employees For Stock Option Exercise Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract] Organization Nature Of Operations Accounting Policies [Abstract] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract] Stock-Based Compensation Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments [Text Block] Stockholders' equity and earnings per share. Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity and Earnings Per Share Stockholders Equity And Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Long Term Debt Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Banking And Thrift [Abstract] Capitalization of Interest Interest Income And Interest Expense Disclosure [Text Block] Inventory Disclosure [Abstract] Capitalization of Exploratory Well Costs Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Text Block [Abstract] Employee Benefit Plans Compensation And Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block] Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract] Asset Retirement Obligations Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Reporting [Abstract] Segment Information Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract] Impairment of Proved Properties Asset Impairment Charges [Text Block] Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract] Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) Quarterly Financial Information [Text Block] Extractive Industries [Abstract] Supplemental Information on Oil and Gas Producing Activities Oil And Gas Exploration And Production Industries Disclosures [Text Block] Condensed Financial Information Of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract] SCHEDULE I - PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Condensed Financial Information Of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Text Block] Principles of Consolidation Consolidation Policy [Text Block] Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash And Cash Equivalents Policy [Text Block] Restricted Cash Cash And Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Policy Inventory Inventory Policy [Text Block] Income Taxes Income Tax Policy [Text Block] Property and Equipment Property Plant And Equipment Policy [Text Block] Foreign Exchange Transactions Foreign Currency Transactions And Translations Policy [Text Block] Capitalized Interest Interest Capitalization Policy Policy [Text Block] Accounts with partners policy. Accounts with Partners Accounts With Partners Policy [Text Block] Bad Debt Receivables Trade And Other Accounts Receivable Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Policy Revenue Recognition Revenue Recognition Policy [Text Block] Stock Based Compensation Share Based Compensation Option And Incentive Plans Policy Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair Value Of Financial Instruments Policy Fair Value Fair Value Measurement Policy Policy [Text Block] Risks and uncertainties policy. Risks and Uncertainties Risks And Uncertainties Policy [Text Block] Use of Estimates in Financial Statement Preparation Use Of Estimates Asset Retirement Obligations ("ARO") Asset Retirement Obligations Policy Extractive industries policy. Extractive Industries Extractive Industries Policy [Text Block] Estimated Useful Life of Property Plant and Equipment Property Plant And Equipment [Text Block] Rollforward Analysis of the Allowance Against the Partner Accounts Receivable Balance Schedule Of Accounts Notes Loans And Financing Receivable [Text Block] Schedule Of Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award [Table] Schedule Of Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award [Table] Award Type Award Type [Axis]