XML 30 R14.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
mi
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Nature of Operations and Principles of Consolidation [Abstract]        
Primary area of operation (in miles) 1,000ae_PrimaryAreaOfOperation      
Components of Prepayments and Other [Abstract]        
Cash collateral deposits for commodity purchases $ 8,270,000ae_CashCollateralDepositsForCommodityPurchases   $ 7,872,000ae_CashCollateralDepositsForCommodityPurchases  
Insurance premiums 1,547,000us-gaap_PrepaidInsurance   2,316,000us-gaap_PrepaidInsurance  
Rents, license and other 781,000us-gaap_PrepaidRent   752,000us-gaap_PrepaidRent  
Prepayments, total 10,598,000us-gaap_PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent   10,940,000us-gaap_PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent  
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]        
Total Non-producing Leasehold Costs 1,012,000ae_CapitalizedCostsOilAndGasNonProducingActivitiesNet   959,000ae_CapitalizedCostsOilAndGasNonProducingActivitiesNet  
Fair value measurements for oil and gas properties that were subject to fair value impairment [Abstract]        
Impairment 208,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties 93,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties    
Cash Deposits and Other Assets [Abstract]        
Insurance collateral deposits 4,627,000us-gaap_DepositContractsAssets   4,536,000us-gaap_DepositContractsAssets  
State collateral deposits 167,000ae_StateCollateralDeposits   155,000ae_StateCollateralDeposits  
Materials and supplies 334,000us-gaap_MaterialsSuppliesAndOther   307,000us-gaap_MaterialsSuppliesAndOther  
Cash deposits and other 5,128,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent   4,998,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent  
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]        
Increase in the entity's reported revenue 130,222,000ae_IncreaseInEntityReportingRevenue 434,693,000ae_IncreaseInEntityReportingRevenue    
Concentration of Credit Risk [Line Items]        
Maximum percentage of US demand supplied by company (in hundredths) 1.00%ae_MaximumPercentageOfUsDemandSuppliedByCompany      
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]        
Interest paid 4,000us-gaap_InterestPaid 0us-gaap_InterestPaid    
Income taxes paid 1,081,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid 5,007,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid    
Non-cash investing activities for property and equipment 566,000us-gaap_CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid 634,000us-gaap_CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid 1,137,000us-gaap_CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid 1,507,000us-gaap_CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]        
Weighted average number of shares outstanding (in shares) 4,217,596us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfShareOutstandingBasicAndDiluted   4,217,596us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfShareOutstandingBasicAndDiluted  
Commodity Contract [Member]        
Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity Contracts at Gross Valuation [Abstract]        
Number of contracts held 5us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
  1us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
 
Volume committed per day under commodity purchase and sale contract (in barrels or mmbtu)     175us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsDailyProduction
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
 
Commodity Contract [Member] | April 2015 through September 2015 [Member]        
Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity Contracts at Gross Valuation [Abstract]        
Volume committed per day under commodity purchase and sale contract (in barrels or mmbtu) 161us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsDailyProduction
/ us-gaap_CreationDateAxis
= ae_April2015ThroughSeptember2015Member
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
     
Commodity Contract [Member] | October 2015 through December 31, 2015 [Member]        
Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity Contracts at Gross Valuation [Abstract]        
Volume committed per day under commodity purchase and sale contract (in barrels or mmbtu) 129us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsDailyProduction
/ us-gaap_CreationDateAxis
= ae_October2015ThroughDecember312015Member
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
     
Commodity Contract [Member] | April 2015 through March 2016 [Member]        
Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity Contracts at Gross Valuation [Abstract]        
Volume committed per day under commodity purchase and sale contract (in barrels or mmbtu) 65us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsDailyProduction
/ us-gaap_CreationDateAxis
= ae_April2015ThroughMarch2016Member
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
     
Commodity Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Current Assets [Member]        
Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity Contracts at Gross Valuation [Abstract]        
Asset Derivatives 871,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAssetAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= ae_CurrentAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
  1,332,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAssetAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= ae_CurrentAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
 
Liability Derivatives 0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= ae_CurrentAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
  0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= ae_CurrentAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
 
Less Counterparty Offsets (65,000)us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralNet
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= ae_CurrentAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
  (396,000)us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralNet
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= ae_CurrentAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
 
As Reported Fair Value Contracts 806,000us-gaap_DerivativeAssetsLiabilitiesAtFairValueNet
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= ae_CurrentAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
  936,000us-gaap_DerivativeAssetsLiabilitiesAtFairValueNet
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= ae_CurrentAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
 
Commodity Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Assets [Member]        
Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity Contracts at Gross Valuation [Abstract]        
Asset Derivatives 0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAssetAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
  0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAssetAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
 
Liability Derivatives 0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
  0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
 
Less Counterparty Offsets 0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralNet
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
  0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralNet
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
 
As Reported Fair Value Contracts 0us-gaap_DerivativeAssetsLiabilitiesAtFairValueNet
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
  0us-gaap_DerivativeAssetsLiabilitiesAtFairValueNet
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
 
Commodity Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Current Liabilities [Member]        
Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity Contracts at Gross Valuation [Abstract]        
Asset Derivatives 0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAssetAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= ae_CurrentLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
  0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAssetAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= ae_CurrentLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
 
Liability Derivatives 917,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= ae_CurrentLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
  1,339,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= ae_CurrentLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
 
Less Counterparty Offsets (65,000)us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralNet
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= ae_CurrentLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
  (396,000)us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralNet
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= ae_CurrentLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
 
As Reported Fair Value Contracts 852,000us-gaap_DerivativeAssetsLiabilitiesAtFairValueNet
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= ae_CurrentLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
  943,000us-gaap_DerivativeAssetsLiabilitiesAtFairValueNet
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= ae_CurrentLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
 
Commodity Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Liabilities [Member]        
Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity Contracts at Gross Valuation [Abstract]        
Asset Derivatives 0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAssetAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
  0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAssetAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
 
Liability Derivatives 0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
  0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
 
Less Counterparty Offsets 0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralNet
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
  0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralNet
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
 
As Reported Fair Value Contracts 0us-gaap_DerivativeAssetsLiabilitiesAtFairValueNet
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
  0us-gaap_DerivativeAssetsLiabilitiesAtFairValueNet
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
 
Commodity Put Option [Member]        
Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity Contracts at Gross Valuation [Abstract]        
Number of contracts held     1us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_PutOptionMember
 
Volume of crude oil committed under commodity put option (in barrels)     100,000us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_PutOptionMember
 
Wells Fargo Bank [Member]        
Letter of Credit Facility [Line Items]        
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity 60,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= ae_WellsFargoBankMember
     
Standby letters of credit issued 7,000,000us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= ae_WellsFargoBankMember
  15,300,000us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= ae_WellsFargoBankMember
 
Covenant terms Such restrictions include the maintenance of a combined 1.1 to 1.0 current ratio and the maintenance of positive net earnings excluding inventory valuation changes, as defined, among other restrictions. The Company is currently in compliance with all such financial covenants.      
Current ratio 1.1ae_CurrentRatio
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= ae_WellsFargoBankMember
     
Revenue [Member]        
Concentration of Credit Risk [Line Items]        
Percentage of revenues from one customer which loss would not have material effect (in hundredths) 10.00%ae_PercentageOfRevenuesFromOneCustomerWhichLossWouldNotHaveMaterialEffect
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNetMember
     
Revenue [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member]        
Concentration of Credit Risk [Line Items]        
Concentration risk, percentage (in hundredths) 50.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNetMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerConcentrationRiskMember
     
Concentration risk, additional characteristic Large crude oil refining concerns      
Accounts Receivable [Member]        
Concentration of Credit Risk [Line Items]        
Industry practice payment of receivables 20 days      
Accounts Receivable [Member] | Product Concentration Risk [Member]        
Concentration of Credit Risk [Line Items]        
Concentration risk, percentage (in hundredths) 95.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ProductConcentrationRiskMember
     
Concentration risk, additional characteristic Crude oil and natural gas marketing activities      
Minimum [Member]        
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]        
Property and equipment, useful life 3 years      
Minimum [Member] | Commodity Contract [Member]        
Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity Contracts at Gross Valuation [Abstract]        
Term of purchase and sale contract     January 1, 2015  
Minimum [Member] | Commodity Contract [Member] | April 2015 through September 2015 [Member]        
Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity Contracts at Gross Valuation [Abstract]        
Term of purchase and sale contract April 1, 2015      
Minimum [Member] | Commodity Contract [Member] | October 2015 through December 31, 2015 [Member]        
Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity Contracts at Gross Valuation [Abstract]        
Term of purchase and sale contract October 1, 2015      
Minimum [Member] | Commodity Contract [Member] | April 2015 through March 2016 [Member]        
Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity Contracts at Gross Valuation [Abstract]        
Term of purchase and sale contract April 1, 2015      
Minimum [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member]        
Concentration of Credit Risk [Line Items]        
Number of customers 3ae_NumberOfCustomers
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerConcentrationRiskMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
     
Maximum [Member]        
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]        
Property and equipment, useful life 20 years      
Maximum [Member] | Commodity Contract [Member]        
Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity Contracts at Gross Valuation [Abstract]        
Term of purchase and sale contract     February 28, 2015  
Maximum [Member] | Commodity Contract [Member] | April 2015 through September 2015 [Member]        
Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity Contracts at Gross Valuation [Abstract]        
Term of purchase and sale contract September 30, 2015      
Maximum [Member] | Commodity Contract [Member] | October 2015 through December 31, 2015 [Member]        
Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity Contracts at Gross Valuation [Abstract]        
Term of purchase and sale contract December 31, 2015      
Maximum [Member] | Commodity Contract [Member] | April 2015 through March 2016 [Member]        
Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity Contracts at Gross Valuation [Abstract]        
Term of purchase and sale contract March 31, 2016      
Maximum [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member]        
Concentration of Credit Risk [Line Items]        
Number of customers 4ae_NumberOfCustomers
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerConcentrationRiskMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
     
Producing Oil and Gas Properties [Member]        
Fair value measurements for oil and gas properties that were subject to fair value impairment [Abstract]        
Impairment 203,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_OilAndGasPropertiesMember
0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_OilAndGasPropertiesMember
   
Non-Producing Oil and Gas Properties [Member]        
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]        
Capitalized costs for non-producing oil and gas leasehold interests specified as percentage of total costs (in hundredths) 4.00%ae_CapitalizedCostsForNonProducingOilAndGasLeaseholdInterestsSpecifiedAsPercentageOfTotalCosts
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= ae_NonProducingOilAndGasPropertiesMember
     
Fair value measurements for oil and gas properties that were subject to fair value impairment [Abstract]        
Impairment 5,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= ae_NonProducingOilAndGasPropertiesMember
93,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= ae_NonProducingOilAndGasPropertiesMember
   
South Texas Project acreage [Member]        
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]        
Total Non-producing Leasehold Costs 358,000ae_CapitalizedCostsOilAndGasNonProducingActivitiesNet
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= ae_SouthTexasProjectAcreageMember
  357,000ae_CapitalizedCostsOilAndGasNonProducingActivitiesNet
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= ae_SouthTexasProjectAcreageMember
 
Napoleonville, Louisiana acreage [Member]        
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]        
Total Non-producing Leasehold Costs 48,000ae_CapitalizedCostsOilAndGasNonProducingActivitiesNet
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= ae_NapoleonvilleLouisianaAcreageMember
  48,000ae_CapitalizedCostsOilAndGasNonProducingActivitiesNet
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= ae_NapoleonvilleLouisianaAcreageMember
 
North Dakota and other acreage areas [Member]        
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]        
Total Non-producing Leasehold Costs 606,000ae_CapitalizedCostsOilAndGasNonProducingActivitiesNet
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= ae_NorthDakotaAndOtherAcreageAreasMember
  554,000ae_CapitalizedCostsOilAndGasNonProducingActivitiesNet
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= ae_NorthDakotaAndOtherAcreageAreasMember
 
Fair value measurements for oil and gas properties that were subject to fair value impairment [Abstract]        
Net book value January 1 554,000us-gaap_OilAndGasPropertySuccessfulEffortMethodNet
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= ae_NorthDakotaAndOtherAcreageAreasMember
411,000us-gaap_OilAndGasPropertySuccessfulEffortMethodNet
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= ae_NorthDakotaAndOtherAcreageAreasMember
411,000us-gaap_OilAndGasPropertySuccessfulEffortMethodNet
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= ae_NorthDakotaAndOtherAcreageAreasMember
 
Property additions 54,000us-gaap_SignificantCostsIncurredToAcquireMineralInterestOfProvedReserves
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= ae_NorthDakotaAndOtherAcreageAreasMember
  580,000us-gaap_SignificantCostsIncurredToAcquireMineralInterestOfProvedReserves
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= ae_NorthDakotaAndOtherAcreageAreasMember
 
Impairment (2,000)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= ae_NorthDakotaAndOtherAcreageAreasMember
  (437,000)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= ae_NorthDakotaAndOtherAcreageAreasMember
 
Net book value end of period $ 606,000us-gaap_OilAndGasPropertySuccessfulEffortMethodNet
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= ae_NorthDakotaAndOtherAcreageAreasMember
  $ 554,000us-gaap_OilAndGasPropertySuccessfulEffortMethodNet
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= ae_NorthDakotaAndOtherAcreageAreasMember