Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	3. Related Party Transactions On September 17, 2007, the Company entered into a drilling program with Hoactzin Partners, L.P. ("Hoactzin") for ten wells consisting of approximately three wildcat wells and seven developmental wells to be drilled on the Company's Kansas Properties (the "Ten Well Program"). Peter E. Salas, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, is the controlling person of Hoactzin. He is also the sole shareholder and controlling person of Dolphin Management, Inc., the general partner of Dolphin Offshore Partners, L.P., which is the Company's largest shareholder. Under the terms of the Ten Well Program, Hoactzin paid the Company $0.4 million for each well drilled in the Ten Well Program completed as a producing well and $0.25 million for each well that was non-productive. The terms of the Ten Well Program also provide that Hoactzin will receive all the working interest in the ten wells in the Program, but will pay an initial fee to the Company of 25% of its working interest revenues net of operating expenses. This is referred to as a management fee but, as defined, is in the nature of a net profits interest. The fee paid to the Company by Hoactzin will increase to 85% when and if net revenues received by Hoactzin reach an agreed payout point of approximately 1.35 times Hoactzin's purchase price (the "Payout Point") for its interest in the Ten Well Program. In March 2008, the Company drilled and completed the tenth and final well in the Ten Well Program. Of the ten wells drilled, nine were completed as oil producers and are currently producing approximately 36 barrels per day in total. Hoactzin paid a total of $3.85 million (the "Purchase Price") for its interest in the Ten Well Program resulting in the Payout Point being determined as $5.2 million. The amount paid by Hoactzin for its interest in the Program wells exceeded the Company's actual drilling costs of approximately $2.8 million for the ten wells by more than $1 million. Under the terms of the Company's agreement with Hoactzin, reaching the Payout Point may be accelerated by operation of a second agreement by which Hoactzin will apply 75% of the net profits it may receive from a methane extraction project discussed below developed by the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Manufactured Methane Corporation ("MMC"), to the Payout Point. On September 17, 2007, Hoactzin, simultaneously with subscribing to participate in the Ten Well Program, pursuant to the second agreement referred to above with the Company was conveyed a 75% net profits interest in the methane extraction project developed by MMC at the Carter Valley landfill owned and operated by Republic Services in Church Hill, Tennessee (the "Methane Project"). Net profits, if any, from the Project received by Hoactzin will be applied towards the determination of the Payout Point (as defined above) for the Ten Well Program. Through December 31, 2012, no payments have been made to Hoactzin for its 75% net profits interest in the Methane Project, because no net profits have been generated. The method of calculation of the net profits interest takes into account specific costs and expenses as well as gross revenues for the project. As a result of the startup costs and ongoing operating expenses, no net profits, as defined in the agreement, have been generated from project startup in April, 2009 through December 31, 2012 for payment to Hoactzin under the net profits interest conveyed. When the Payout Point is reached from either the revenues from the wells drilled in the Ten Well Program or Hoactzin's share of the net profits from the Methane Project or a combination thereof, Hoactzin's net profits interest in the Methane Project will decrease to a 7.5% net profits interest. As of December 31, 2012, net revenues received by Hoactzin from the Ten Well Program totaled $4.6 million which leaves a balance of $0.6 million until the Payout Point is reached. On December 18, 2007, the Company entered into a Management Agreement with Hoactzin. On that same date, the Company also entered into an agreement with Charles Patrick McInturff employing him as a Vice-President of the Company. Pursuant to the Management Agreement with Hoactzin, Mr. McInturff's duties while he is employed as Vice-President of the Company will include the management on behalf of Hoactzin of its working interest in certain oil and gas properties owned by Hoactzin and located in the onshore Texas Gulf Coast, and offshore Texas and offshore Louisiana. As consideration for the Company entering into the Management Agreement, Hoactzin agreed that it would be responsible to reimburse the Company for the payment of one-half of Mr. McInturff's salary, as well as certain other benefits he receives during his employment by the Company. In further consideration for the Company's agreement to enter into the Management Agreement, Hoactzin granted to the Company an option to participate in up to a 15% working interest on a dollar for dollar cost basis in any new drilling or workover activities undertaken on Hoactzin's managed properties during the term of the Management Agreement. The term of the Management Agreement ends on the earlier of the date Hoactzin sells its interest in its managed properties or five years. The Management Agreement terminated on December 18, 2012. As of the date of this Report, the Company is assisting Hoactzin with becoming operator of record of these wells and transferring the corresponding bonding liability from the Company to Hoactzin. The Company has entered into a transition agreement with Hoactzin whereby Hoactzin and its controlling member are indemnifying Tengasco for any costs or liabilities incurred by Tengasco resulting from such assistance, or the fact that Tengasco is still the operator of record on certain of these wells. During the course of the Management Agreement, the Company became the operator of certain properties owned by Hoactzin. The Company obtained from IndemCo, over time, bonds in the face amount of approximately $10.7 million for the purpose of covering plugging and abandonment obligations for Hoactzin's operated properties located in federal offshore waters in favor of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management ("BOEM"), as well as certain private parties. On October 12, 2012, the BOEM terminated $1.1 million of these bonds leaving a balance of approximately $9.6 million at December 31, 2012. In connection with the issuance of these bonds the Company entered into a Payment and Indemnity Agreement with IndemCo whereby the Company guarantees payment of any bonding liabilities incurred by IndemCo. Dolphin Direct Equity Partners, LP co-signed the Payment and Indemnity Agreement, thereby becoming jointly and severally liable with the Company for the obligations to IndemCo. Hoactzin has provided $6.6 million in cash to IndemCo as collateral for these potential obligations. Dolphin Direct Equity Partners is a private equity fund controlled by Peter E. Salas that has a significant economic interest in Hoactzin. As operator, the Company routinely contracted in its name for goods and services with vendors in connection with its operation of the Hoactzin properties. In practice, Hoactzin directly paid these invoices for goods and services that were contracted in the Company's name. During late 2009 and early 2010, Hoactzin undertook several significant operations, for which the Company contracted in the ordinary course. As a result of the operations performed in late 2009 and early 2010, Hoactzin currently has significant past due balances to several vendors, a portion of which are included on the Company's balance sheet. Payables related to these past due and ongoing operations remained outstanding at the end of 2012 and 2011 in the amount of $0.325 million and $0.265 million respectively. The Company has recorded the Hoactzin-related payables and the corresponding receivable from Hoactzin as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 in its Consolidated Balance Sheets under "Accounts payable – other" and "Accounts receivable –related party". During the quarters ended September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2012, Hoactzin had not made payments to reduce these past due balances. Based on these circumstances, the Company has elected to establish an allowance in the amount of $0.257 million for the balance outstanding at December 31, 2012 less $0.068 million paid by Hoactzin in early 2013. This allowance was recorded in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets under "Accounts receivable – related party" and in its Consolidated Statements of Operations in "General and administrative". No Tengasco funds have been advanced by Tengasco to pay any obligations of Hoactzin. No borrowing capability of Tengasco has been used by the Company in connection with its obligations under the Management Agreement, except for those funds used to collateralize the appeal bond with RLI Insurance Company (see Note 9 Commitments and Contingencies).

3. Related Party Transactions

On September 17, 2007, the Company entered into a drilling program with Hoactzin Partners, L.P. ("Hoactzin") for ten wells consisting of approximately three wildcat wells and seven developmental wells to be drilled on the Company's Kansas Properties (the "Ten Well Program"). Peter E. Salas, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, is the controlling person of Hoactzin. He is also the sole shareholder and controlling person of Dolphin Management, Inc., the general partner of Dolphin Offshore Partners, L.P., which is the Company's largest shareholder.

Under the terms of the Ten Well Program, Hoactzin paid the Company $0.4 million for each well drilled in the Ten Well Program completed as a producing well and $0.25 million for each well that was non-productive. The terms of the Ten Well Program also provide that Hoactzin will receive all the working interest in the ten wells in the Program, but will pay an initial fee to the Company of 25% of its working interest revenues net of operating expenses. This is referred to as a management fee but, as defined, is in the nature of a net profits interest. The fee paid to the Company by Hoactzin will increase to 85% when and if net revenues received by Hoactzin reach an agreed payout point of approximately 1.35 times Hoactzin's purchase price (the "Payout Point") for its interest in the Ten Well Program.

In March 2008, the Company drilled and completed the tenth and final well in the Ten Well Program. Of the ten wells drilled, nine were completed as oil producers and are currently producing approximately 36 barrels per day in total. Hoactzin paid a total of $3.85 million (the "Purchase Price") for its interest in the Ten Well Program resulting in the Payout Point being determined as $5.2 million. The amount paid by Hoactzin for its interest in the Program wells exceeded the Company's actual drilling costs of approximately $2.8 million for the ten wells by more than $1 million.

Under the terms of the Company's agreement with Hoactzin, reaching the Payout Point may be accelerated by operation of a second agreement by which Hoactzin will apply 75% of the net profits it may receive from a methane extraction project discussed below developed by the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Manufactured Methane Corporation ("MMC"), to the Payout Point.

On September 17, 2007, Hoactzin, simultaneously with subscribing to participate in the Ten Well Program, pursuant to the second agreement referred to above with the Company was conveyed a 75% net profits interest in the methane extraction project developed by MMC at the Carter Valley landfill owned and operated by Republic Services in Church Hill, Tennessee (the "Methane Project"). Net profits, if any, from the Project received by Hoactzin will be applied towards the determination of the Payout Point (as defined above) for the Ten Well Program.

Through December 31, 2012, no payments have been made to Hoactzin for its 75% net profits interest in the Methane Project, because no net profits have been generated.

The method of calculation of the net profits interest takes into account specific costs and expenses as well as gross revenues for the project. As a result of the startup costs and ongoing operating expenses, no net profits, as defined in the agreement, have been generated from project startup in April, 2009 through December 31, 2012 for payment to Hoactzin under the net profits interest conveyed. When the Payout Point is reached from either the revenues from the wells drilled in the Ten Well Program or Hoactzin's share of the net profits from the Methane Project or a combination thereof, Hoactzin's net profits interest in the Methane Project will decrease to a 7.5% net profits interest.

As of December 31, 2012, net revenues received by Hoactzin from the Ten Well Program totaled $4.6 million which leaves a balance of $0.6 million until the Payout Point is reached. On December 18, 2007, the Company entered into a Management Agreement with Hoactzin. On that same date, the Company also entered into an agreement with Charles Patrick McInturff employing him as a Vice-President of the Company. Pursuant to the Management Agreement with Hoactzin, Mr. McInturff's duties while he is employed as Vice-President of the Company will include the management on behalf of Hoactzin of its working interest in certain oil and gas properties owned by Hoactzin and located in the onshore Texas Gulf Coast, and offshore Texas and offshore Louisiana.

As consideration for the Company entering into the Management Agreement, Hoactzin agreed that it would be responsible to reimburse the Company for the payment of one-half of Mr. McInturff's salary, as well as certain other benefits he receives during his employment by the Company. In further consideration for the Company's agreement to enter into the Management Agreement, Hoactzin granted to the Company an option to participate in up to a 15% working interest on a dollar for dollar cost basis in any new drilling or workover activities undertaken on Hoactzin's managed properties during the term of the Management Agreement. The term of the Management Agreement ends on the earlier of the date Hoactzin sells its interest in its managed properties or five years. The Management Agreement terminated on December 18, 2012. As of the date of this Report, the Company is assisting Hoactzin with becoming operator of record of these wells and transferring the corresponding bonding liability from the Company to Hoactzin. The Company has entered into a transition agreement with Hoactzin whereby Hoactzin and its controlling member are indemnifying Tengasco for any costs or liabilities incurred by Tengasco resulting from such assistance, or the fact that Tengasco is still the operator of record on certain of these wells.

During the course of the Management Agreement, the Company became the operator of certain properties owned by Hoactzin. The Company obtained from IndemCo, over time, bonds in the face amount of approximately $10.7 million for the purpose of covering plugging and abandonment obligations for Hoactzin's operated properties located in federal offshore waters in favor of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management ("BOEM"), as well as certain private parties. On October 12, 2012, the BOEM terminated $1.1 million of these bonds leaving a balance of approximately $9.6 million at December 31, 2012.

In connection with the issuance of these bonds the Company entered into a Payment and Indemnity Agreement with IndemCo whereby the Company guarantees payment of any bonding liabilities incurred by IndemCo. Dolphin Direct Equity Partners, LP co-signed the Payment and Indemnity Agreement, thereby becoming jointly and severally liable with the Company for the obligations to IndemCo. Hoactzin has provided $6.6 million in cash to IndemCo as collateral for these potential obligations. Dolphin Direct Equity Partners is a private equity fund controlled by Peter E. Salas that has a significant economic interest in Hoactzin.

As operator, the Company routinely contracted in its name for goods and services with vendors in connection with its operation of the Hoactzin properties. In practice, Hoactzin directly paid these invoices for goods and services that were contracted in the Company's name. During late 2009 and early 2010, Hoactzin undertook several significant operations, for which the Company contracted in the ordinary course. As a result of the operations performed in late 2009 and early 2010, Hoactzin currently has significant past due balances to several vendors, a portion of which are included on the Company's balance sheet. Payables related to these past due and ongoing operations remained outstanding at the end of 2012 and 2011 in the amount of $0.325 million and $0.265 million respectively. The Company has recorded the Hoactzin-related payables and the corresponding receivable from Hoactzin as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 in its Consolidated Balance Sheets under "Accounts payable – other" and "Accounts receivable –related party". During the quarters ended September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2012, Hoactzin had not made payments to reduce these past due balances. Based on these circumstances, the Company has elected to establish an allowance in the amount of $0.257 million for the balance outstanding at December 31, 2012 less $0.068 million paid by Hoactzin in early 2013. This allowance was recorded in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets under "Accounts receivable – related party" and in its Consolidated Statements of Operations in "General and administrative". No Tengasco funds have been advanced by Tengasco to pay any obligations of Hoactzin. No borrowing capability of Tengasco has been used by the Company in connection with its obligations under the Management Agreement, except for those funds used to collateralize the appeal bond with RLI Insurance Company (see Note 9 Commitments and Contingencies).