Discontinued Operations (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Feb. 22, 2013	Feb. 22, 2013 Carrizo United Kingdom [Member]	Dec. 27, 2012 Carrizo United Kingdom [Member]	Feb. 22, 2013 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%
Cash consideration and retirement of debt aggregate amount					$ 144,100,000
Sale price					184,000,000
Current availability of term loan facility							55,000,000
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	37,294,000	0	0
Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation				30,500,000
Deferred compensation expected to be received					18,500,000
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	10,936,000	0
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	$ 17,336,000	$ 0