Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jul. 23, 2014
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	COCBF
Entity Registrant Name	COASTAL CARIBBEAN OILS & MINERALS LTD
Entity Central Index Key	0000021239
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		95,504,951