Cover - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Nov. 14, 2023
Cover [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Blue Dolphin Energy Company
Entity Central Index Key	0000793306
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2023
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		14,921,968
Entity File Number	0-15905
Entity Incorporation State Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	73-1268729
Entity Address Address Line 1	801 Travis Street
Entity Address Address Line 2	Suite 2100
Entity Address City Or Town	Houston
Entity Address State Or Province	TX
Entity Address Postal Zip Code	77002
City Area Code	713
Local Phone Number	568-4725
Security 12b Title	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	BDCO
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes