XML 71 R49.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

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 |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Abandonment cost related to annual funding. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | egy_AbandonmentCostRelatedToAnnualFunding
Namespace Prefix: | egy_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Abandonment funding. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | egy_AbandonmentFunding
Namespace Prefix: | egy_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Additional Percent Of Revenue For Provisions + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | egy_AdditionalPercentOfRevenueForProvisions
Namespace Prefix: | egy_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Charter expenses. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | egy_CharterExpenses
Namespace Prefix: | egy_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Charter Fee Per Barrel For Production Level One + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | egy_CharterFeePerBarrelForProductionLevelOne
Namespace Prefix: | egy_
Data Type: | us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Charter Fee Per Barrel For Production Level Two + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | egy_CharterFeePerBarrelForProductionLevelTwo
Namespace Prefix: | egy_
Data Type: | us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Commitments And Contingencies Line Items + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | egy_CommitmentsAndContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | egy_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Discount on market price. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | egy_DiscountOnMarketPrice
Namespace Prefix: | egy_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Funding Period Abandonment Funding + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | egy_FundingPeriodAbandonmentFunding
Namespace Prefix: | egy_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Funding Period For Initial Rate + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | egy_FundingPeriodForInitialRate
Namespace Prefix: | egy_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number Of Contract Extension Periods + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | egy_NumberOfContractExtensionPeriods
Namespace Prefix: | egy_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number Of Extensions + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | egy_NumberOfExtensions
Namespace Prefix: | egy_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percent Of Investment Cost Which Are Cost Recoverable + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | egy_PercentOfInvestmentCostWhichAreCostRecoverable
Namespace Prefix: | egy_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage of annual funding over seven years. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | egy_PercentageOfAnnualFundingOverSevenYears
Namespace Prefix: | egy_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage Of Share In Charter Payment + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | egy_PercentageOfShareInCharterPayment
Namespace Prefix: | egy_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Production license agreement term extended by government. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | egy_ProductionLicenseAgreementTermExtendedByGovernment
Namespace Prefix: | egy_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Second Funding Period Of Production License + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | egy_SecondFundingPeriodOfProductionLicense
Namespace Prefix: | egy_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Share In Charter Payment, Approximate Annual Amount + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | egy_ShareInCharterPaymentApproximateAnnualAmount
Namespace Prefix: | egy_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Term Of Charter Extension Period + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | egy_TermOfCharterExtensionPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | egy_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable for statutory payroll taxes incurred through that date and withheld from employees pertaining to services received from them, including entity's matching share of the employees FICA taxes and contributions to the state and federal unemployment insurance programs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.15(5)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.15(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccruedPayrollTaxesCurrentAndNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of contractual obligation, including but not limited to, long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations, purchase obligations, and other commitments. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ContractualObligation
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair value of obligations measured on a recurring basis. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisObligations
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of estimated penalties accrued as of the balance sheet date arising from income tax examinations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32718-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAccrued
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of lease operating expense related to property used in oil and gas production. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-10(a)(20)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82851474&loc=d3e511914-122862 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77902758&loc=d3e41499-112717 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LeaseOperatingExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Reflects the estimated amount of loss from the specified contingency as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of noncurrent assets classified as other. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=egy_McdonoughV.VaalcoEnergyInc.Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_GA
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=egy_GabonDmoMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=egy_PidAndPihMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=egy_OffshoreGabonMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=egy_FullCharterPaymentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |