Property, Plant and Equipment - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) block
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Asset impairment	$ 323,918	$ 265,126	$ 2,000
Depletion and depreciation expense	177,900	187,900	194,200
Proceeds from sale of a blow-out preventer	0	0	55,524
Unproved assets by cost center	$ 310,800	316,900
Costs transferred to depletable base within 5 years	60.00%
Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Transfer of costs to depletable base, period	5 years
Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Transfer of costs to depletable base, period	10 years
Colombia [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Asset impairment	$ 232,400
Unproved assets by cost center	147,500	170,500
Brazil [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Asset impairment	46,900		2,000
Proceeds from termination of farm-in agreement			54,000
Unproved assets by cost center	69,100	60,700
Peru [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Unproved assets by cost center	94,200	85,700
Block 95 [Member] | Peru [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Asset impairment	$ 41,900	$ 265,100
Colombia [Member] | Mecaya Block [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of a blow-out preventer			$ 1,500
Brazil [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Number of blocks successfully bid | block			3
Payments for signature bonus			$ 14,400
Brazil and Colombia [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Discount rate	10.00%