Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Summary of Condensed Consolidating Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 143,687,000	$ 124,432,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Exploration, development, and other capital expenditures	(174,349,000)	(91,957,000)
Cash received (paid) for acquisitions	278,409,000	(2,243,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	104,060,000	(94,200,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of Senior Debt		(1,000,000)
Redemption of Senior Notes and other long-term debt	(25,151,000)	(1,000,000)
Proceeds from Bank Credit Facility	319,000,000
Repayment of Bank Credit Facility	(54,000,000)
Deferred financing costs	(16,990,000)
Payments of capital lease	(9,874,000)	(9,053,000)
Distributions to subsidiary issuer	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(190,015,000)	(15,053,000)
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	57,732,000	15,179,000
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Balance, beginning of period	33,433,000	33,433,000
Balance, end of period	91,165,000	48,612,000
Old Bank Credit Facility
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Bank Credit Facility		10,000,000
Repayment of Bank Credit Facility	(403,000,000)	(15,000,000)
Talos Issuers
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(126,105,000)	(17,105,000)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Exploration, development, and other capital expenditures	(12,966,000)	(252,000)
Investments in subsidiaries	(778,148,000)	(414,777,000)
Distributions from subsidiaries	1,097,505,000	437,331,000
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	306,391,000	22,302,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of Senior Debt		(1,000,000)
Redemption of Senior Notes and other long-term debt	(24,977,000)
Proceeds from Bank Credit Facility	319,000,000
Repayment of Bank Credit Facility	(54,000,000)
Deferred financing costs	(16,990,000)
Net cash used in financing activities	(179,967,000)	(6,000,000)
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	319,000	(803,000)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Balance, beginning of period	22,315,000	24,349,000
Balance, end of period	22,634,000	23,546,000
Talos Issuers | Old Bank Credit Facility
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Bank Credit Facility		10,000,000
Repayment of Bank Credit Facility	(403,000,000)	(15,000,000)
Guarantors
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	269,841,000	138,627,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Exploration, development, and other capital expenditures	(159,368,000)	(82,238,000)
Cash received (paid) for acquisitions	278,409,000	(2,243,000)
Distributions from subsidiaries	(9,000)	2,315,000
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	119,032,000	(82,166,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Redemption of Senior Notes and other long-term debt	(174,000)
Payments of capital lease	(9,874,000)	(9,053,000)
Capital contributions	770,436,000	399,777,000
Distributions to subsidiary issuer	(1,095,165,000)	(437,331,000)
Net cash used in financing activities	(334,777,000)	(46,607,000)
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	54,096,000	9,854,000
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Balance, beginning of period	9,048,000	6,752,000
Balance, end of period	63,144,000	16,606,000
Non-Guarantors
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(49,000)	2,910,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Exploration, development, and other capital expenditures	(2,015,000)	(9,467,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(2,015,000)	(9,467,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Capital contributions	7,712,000	15,000,000
Distributions to subsidiary issuer	(2,331,000)	(2,315,000)
Net cash used in financing activities	5,381,000	12,685,000
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	3,317,000	6,128,000
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Balance, beginning of period	2,070,000	2,332,000
Balance, end of period	5,387,000	8,460,000
Elimination
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in subsidiaries	778,148,000	414,777,000
Distributions from subsidiaries	(1,097,496,000)	(439,646,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(319,348,000)	(24,869,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Capital contributions	(778,148,000)	(414,777,000)
Distributions to subsidiary issuer	1,097,496,000	439,646,000
Net cash used in financing activities	$ 319,348,000	$ 24,869,000