Capitalization of Exploratory Well Costs (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Extractive Industries	ASC Topic 932—Extractive Industries provides that an exploratory well shall be capitalized as part of the entity’s uncompleted wells pending the determination of whether the well has found proved reserves. Further, an exploration well that discovers oil and gas reserves, but those reserves cannot be classified as proved when drilling is completed, shall be capitalized if the well has found a sufficient quantity of reserves to justify its completion as a producing well and the entity is making sufficient progress assessing the reserves and the economic and operating viability of the project. If either condition is not met, the exploration well would be assumed to be impaired and its costs would be charged to expense. In the second and third quarters of 2010, the Company drilled the Southeast Etame No. 1 well with two sidetracks in the Etame Marin block offshore Gabon. The well discovered a five meter column of oil in the Gamba sand reservoir. Additional evaluation of the well and sidetrack information was conducted to determine options for developing the discovery. In the second quarter of 2012, the Company and its partners agreed to proceed with the development plan featuring a fixed leg platform for developing the Southeast Etame discovery area and the North Tchibala field, where a discovery was made on the block prior to VAALCO’s block participation. The final investment decision was approved in the fourth quarter of 2012 for the construction of the platform. Construction began in the first quarter of 2013 and the platform is expected to be transported and installed in the first half of 2014. The Company has capitalized $8.1 million for this well in accordance with the criteria contained in ASC Topic 932. In the third and fourth quarters of 2012, the Company drilled the N’Gongui No. 2 well with three sidetracks in the Mutamba Iroru block onshore Gabon. Application of the discovery was made timely to the government of Gabon, but the permit has yet to be issued. The Company has capitalized $7.9 million for this well in accordance with the criteria contained in ASC Topic 932.

ASC Topic 932—Extractive Industries provides that an exploratory well shall be capitalized as part of the entity’s uncompleted wells pending the determination of whether the well has found proved reserves. Further, an exploration well that discovers oil and gas reserves, but those reserves cannot be classified as proved when drilling is completed, shall be capitalized if the well has found a sufficient quantity of reserves to justify its completion as a producing well and the entity is making sufficient progress assessing the reserves and the economic and operating viability of the project. If either condition is not met, the exploration well would be assumed to be impaired and its costs would be charged to expense.

In the second and third quarters of 2010, the Company drilled the Southeast Etame No. 1 well with two sidetracks in the Etame Marin block offshore Gabon. The well discovered a five meter column of oil in the Gamba sand reservoir. Additional evaluation of the well and sidetrack information was conducted to determine options for developing the discovery. In the second quarter of 2012, the Company and its partners agreed to proceed with the development plan featuring a fixed leg platform for developing the Southeast Etame discovery area and the North Tchibala field, where a discovery was made on the block prior to VAALCO’s block participation. The final investment decision was approved in the fourth quarter of 2012 for the construction of the platform. Construction began in the first quarter of 2013 and the platform is expected to be transported and installed in the first half of 2014. The Company has capitalized $8.1 million for this well in accordance with the criteria contained in ASC Topic 932.

In the third and fourth quarters of 2012, the Company drilled the N’Gongui No. 2 well with three sidetracks in the Mutamba Iroru block onshore Gabon. Application of the discovery was made timely to the government of Gabon, but the permit has yet to be issued. The Company has capitalized $7.9 million for this well in accordance with the criteria contained in ASC Topic 932.