Discontinued Operations, Sale Price

No definition available.

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- Definition

Disposal Group, Expected Deferred Compensation

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Disposal Group, Net Cash Proceeds

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Disposal Group, Non-Refundable Deposit Received

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Disposal Group, Proceeds From Disposal of Discontinued Operations

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Percentage of Non-Operating Working Interest Overriding Royalty Interests

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Reflects the calculation as of the balance sheet date of the average interest rate weighted by the amount of debt outstanding by type or by instrument at that time.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Tax effect allocated to a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items. Includes the tax effects of the following: income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e957-107759

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 47

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b),(c)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 109

-Paragraph 46

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

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-Section 45

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 43

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

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- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ 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 210.5-02.19,20)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19

-Article 5

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Discontinued Operations (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
Discontinued Operations (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Carrizo United Kingdom [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 United Kingdom North Sea [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 United Kingdom North Sea [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 United Kingdom North Sea [Member]	Feb. 22, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Carrizo United Kingdom [Member]	Dec. 27, 2012 Subsequent Event [Member] Carrizo United Kingdom [Member]	Feb. 22, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Carrizo United Kingdom [Member] Huntington Field Development Project Credit Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Subsequent Event [Member] Carrizo United Kingdom [Member] Huntington Field Development Project Credit Facility [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of non-operating working interest overriding royalty interests	15.00%			15.00%
Cash consideration and retirement of debt aggregate amount								$ 116,500,000
Sale price								184,000,000
Non-refundable deposit received									8,000,000
Deferred compensation expected to be received								18,500,000
Proceeds from sale, used to repay all borrowings outstanding under the Huntington Facility								55,000,000
Current availability of term loan facility										55,000,000	52,000,000
Long-term debt, current maturities											33,800,000
Debt, weighted average interest rate											3.79%
Letters of credit outstanding amount											0
Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Discontinued Operation	$ (5,068,000)	$ (7,391,000)	$ (956,000)		$ (100,000)	$ (1,200,000)	$ (1,000,000)