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Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]      
Promissory note security for letters of credit $ 20,700,000    
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]      
Rent expense 3,000,000 2,300,000 2,100,000
Schedule of Contractual Obligations [Line Items]      
Payments Due in Period Less than 1 Year 91,773,000    
Payments Due in Period 1 to 3 years 37,257,000    
Payments Due in Period 3 to 5 years 7,552,000    
Payments Due in Period More than 5 years 9,650,000    
Payments Due in Period Total 146,232,000    
Oil transportation services [Member]
     
Schedule of Contractual Obligations [Line Items]      
Payments Due in Period Less than 1 Year 13,280,000    
Payments Due in Period 1 to 3 years 8,029,000    
Payments Due in Period 3 to 5 years 7,100,000    
Payments Due in Period More than 5 years 9,650,000    
Payments Due in Period Total 38,059,000    
Drilling [Member]
     
Schedule of Contractual Obligations [Line Items]      
Payments Due in Period Less than 1 Year 39,550,000    
Payments Due in Period 1 to 3 years 1,484,000    
Payments Due in Period 3 to 5 years 0    
Payments Due in Period More than 5 years 0    
Payments Due in Period Total 41,034,000    
Completions [Member]
     
Schedule of Contractual Obligations [Line Items]      
Payments Due in Period Less than 1 Year 15,273,000    
Payments Due in Period 1 to 3 years 7,780,000    
Payments Due in Period 3 to 5 years 0    
Payments Due in Period More than 5 years 0    
Payments Due in Period Total 23,053,000    
Facility construction [Member]
     
Schedule of Contractual Obligations [Line Items]      
Payments Due in Period Less than 1 Year 15,673,000    
Payments Due in Period 1 to 3 years 16,522,000    
Payments Due in Period 3 to 5 years 0    
Payments Due in Period More than 5 years 0    
Payments Due in Period Total 32,195,000    
Operating leases [Member]
     
Schedule of Contractual Obligations [Line Items]      
Payments Due in Period Less than 1 Year 4,567,000    
Payments Due in Period 1 to 3 years 2,779,000    
Payments Due in Period 3 to 5 years 452,000    
Payments Due in Period More than 5 years 0    
Payments Due in Period Total 7,798,000    
Software and Telecommunication [Member]
     
Schedule of Contractual Obligations [Line Items]      
Payments Due in Period Less than 1 Year 2,587,000    
Payments Due in Period 1 to 3 years 609,000    
Payments Due in Period 3 to 5 years 0    
Payments Due in Period More than 5 years 0    
Payments Due in Period Total 3,196,000    
Consulting [Member]
     
Schedule of Contractual Obligations [Line Items]      
Payments Due in Period Less than 1 Year 843,000    
Payments Due in Period 1 to 3 years 54,000    
Payments Due in Period 3 to 5 years 0    
Payments Due in Period More than 5 years 0    
Payments Due in Period Total 897,000    
Pending Litigation Ecopetrol
     
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]      
Ecopetrol's assertion for extended test production (in hundredths) 30.00%    
Ecopetrol's back-in on Guayuyaco discovery (in hundredths) 30.00%    
Gran Tierra's assertion of recovery of direct exploration costs (in hundredths) 30.00%    
Probability of loss The Company does not consider it probable that a loss will be incurred.    
Claim for damages 5,400,000    
Ecopetrol contract interpretation Ecopetrol interprets the contract to provide that the extended test production up to a value equal to 30 percent of the direct exploration costs of the wells is for Ecopetrol's account only and serves as reimbursement of its 30 percent back-in to the Guayuyaco discovery    
Pending Litigation Chaza Block [Member]
     
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]      
Claim for damages $ 9,600,000    
Gran Tierra's contract interpretation Gran Tierra is subject to a third party 10 percent net profits interest on 50 percent of the Company's production from the Costayaco field that arises from the original acquisition in 2006 of 50 percent of Gran Tierra's interest in the Chaza Block