Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and ASU of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by such accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary to present fairly each of the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2020, the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019, the condensed consolidated statements of stockholders' equity for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019, as applicable, have been made. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 has been derived from the Company’s audited financial statements as of such date, but it does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2019, which are included on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2020.The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2020
Principles of consolidation	Principles of consolidation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its Subsidiaries, both of which are wholly-owned subsidiaries. Significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of estimates	Use of estimates The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements requires management of the Company to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of expenses during the period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the carrying amount and valuation of long-lived assets, the valuation of conversion features of convertible debt, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, the determination of fair value of estimated asset retirement obligations, the determination of stock option expense and the determination of the fair value of stock warrants issued. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Net loss per share	Net loss per shareBasic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common share equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury-stock method or the if-converted method, as applicable. For purposes of this calculation, stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs) and warrants to purchase common stock are considered to be common stock equivalents and are only included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share when their effect is dilutive.
Segment and geographic information	Segment and geographic information Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise engaging in business activities for which discrete financial information is available and regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The chief operating decision maker views its operations and manages its business in one operating segment, and the Company operates in only one geographic segment.
Concentration of credit risk	Concentration of credit riskRevenues from the following customers each represented at least 10% of total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019, respectively. They also represented a significant portion of our trade accounts receivable as of December 31, 2019. The Company did not have a trade accounts receivable balance as of March 31, 2020.
Recent accounting pronouncements	Recent accounting pronouncements There were no other recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements during the three months ended March 31, 2020 that are of significance or potential significance to the Company. Insurance Proceeds On November 29, 2019, there was a fire in the AquaRefining area of the TRIC facility. As of March 31, 2020, the Company had received $10.0 million in insurance payments as a result of the fire damage. Of the $10.0 million in insurance proceeds, $2.75 million were held in an escrow account at Veritex Community Bank (“Veritex”), the successor in interest to Green Bank, subject to a Memorandum of Agreement ("MOA") between the Company and Veritex (see Footnote 8 for additional detail regarding the MOA). The funds held in escrow are reported in "Other Assets" in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Company also has determined it is probable it will receive at least an additional $9.9 million in insurance proceeds, not including the $2.75 million held in escrow. This amount is included in insurance proceeds receivable in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Basis of presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and ASU of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by such accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary to present fairly each of the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2020, the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019, the condensed consolidated statements of stockholders' equity for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019, as applicable, have been made. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 has been derived from the Company’s audited financial statements as of such date, but it does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial

statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2019, which are included on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2020.The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2020

Principles of consolidation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its Subsidiaries, both of which are wholly-owned subsidiaries. Significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of estimates

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements requires management of the Company to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of expenses during the period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the carrying amount and valuation of long-lived assets, the valuation of conversion features of convertible debt, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, the determination of fair value of estimated asset retirement obligations, the determination of stock option expense and the determination of the fair value of stock warrants issued. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Net loss per share

Net loss per shareBasic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common share equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury-stock method or the if-converted method, as applicable. For purposes of this calculation, stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs) and warrants to purchase common stock are considered to be common stock equivalents and are only included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share when their effect is dilutive.

Segment and geographic information

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise engaging in business activities for which discrete financial information is available and regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The chief operating decision maker views its operations and manages its business in one operating segment, and the Company operates in only one geographic segment.

Concentration of credit risk

Concentration of credit riskRevenues from the following customers each represented at least 10% of total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019, respectively. They also represented a significant portion of our trade accounts receivable as of December 31, 2019. The Company did not have a trade accounts receivable balance as of March 31, 2020.

Recent accounting pronouncements

There were no other recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements during the three months ended March 31, 2020 that are of significance or potential significance to the Company.

Insurance Proceeds

On November 29, 2019, there was a fire in the AquaRefining area of the TRIC facility. As of March 31, 2020, the Company had received $10.0 million in insurance payments as a result of the fire damage. Of the $10.0 million in insurance proceeds, $2.75 million were held in an escrow account at Veritex Community Bank (“Veritex”), the successor in interest to Green Bank, subject to a Memorandum of Agreement ("MOA") between the Company and Veritex (see Footnote 8 for additional detail regarding the MOA). The funds held in escrow are reported in "Other Assets" in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Company also has determined it is probable it will receive at least an additional $9.9 million in insurance proceeds, not including the $2.75 million held in escrow. This amount is included in insurance proceeds receivable in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.