Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of derivative instruments of a particular group held by the entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64837297&loc=SL5580258-113959

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64837297&loc=SL5579245-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of daily production of the applicable energy source.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsDailyProduction
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total amount of product committed to be supplied under existing contracts or agreements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-K (SK)
-Number 229
-Section 1207
-Paragraph (a)
-Subparagraph (2)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsAxis=ae_January2018Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsAxis=ae_FebruarythroughMay2018Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsAxis=ae_June2018Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsAxis=ae_July2018Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsAxis=ae_AugustthroughSeptember2018Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsAxis=ae_OctoberthroughDecember2018Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsAxis=ae_JanuarythroughMarch2017Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsAxis=ae_JanuarythroughApril2017Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Derivative Instruments and Fair Value Measurements - Narrative (Details) - Commodity Contract [Member] bbl in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 barrel_of_oil_per_day contract	Dec. 31, 2016 barrel_of_oil_per_day contract bbl
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of contracts held \| contract	20	2
Reported Value Measurement [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of contracts held \| contract	4
January 2018 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Production per day	452
February through May 2018 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Production per day	322
June 2018 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Production per day	258
July 2018 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Production per day	646
August through September 2018 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Production per day	322
October through December 2018 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Production per day	258
January through March 2017 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Production per day		65
January through April 2017 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Production per month \| bbl		145