Note 6 - Segment Information (Details) - Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Sales revenues
Total revenues and other	$ 14,422	$ 23,828	$ 40,985	$ 59,677
Impairment expense	0	22,781	583	24,619
Operating costs and expenses	8,521	36,708	26,149	64,642
Interest expenses, net	1,235	1,160	3,615	4,126
Loss from derivative contracts, net	(181)	1,734	2,170	2,406
Capital loss	38	53	55	80
Total expenses and other	9,613	39,655	32,572	71,254
Income (loss) before income taxes	4,809	(15,827)	8,413	(11,577)
Net Income (Loss)	2,994	(10,448)	5,010	(7,872)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(379)	(459)	(1,306)	(993)
Net income (loss) attributable to Isramco	3,373	(9,989)	6,316	(6,879)
Total Assets	144,313	163,959	144,313	163,959	$ 146,957
Expenditures for Long-lived Assets	84	710	591	5,072
UNITED STATES
Sales revenues
Revenues	6,611	9,232	18,837	31,112
ISRAEL
Sales revenues
Revenues	7,506	7,613
Non-US [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues			20,614	19,057
Operating Segments [Member] | Oil and Gas Exploration & Production [Member]
Sales revenues
Total revenues and other	11,223	18,243	31,547	42,352
Impairment expense			583
Operating costs and expenses	4,277	29,621	12,681	44,746
Interest expenses, net	421	373	1,150	1,757
Loss from derivative contracts, net	(181)	1,734	2,170	2,406
Capital loss	2	44	19	54
Total expenses and other	4,519	31,772	16,603	48,963
Income (loss) before income taxes	6,704	(13,529)	14,944	(6,611)
Net Income (Loss)	4,358	(8,794)	9,712	(4,297)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Isramco	4,358	(8,794)	9,712	(4,297)
Total Assets	106,823	107,990	106,823	107,990
Expenditures for Long-lived Assets	84	648	283	2,684
Operating Segments [Member] | Well Service [Member]
Sales revenues
Total revenues and other	3,229	5,615	9,528	17,415
Impairment expense			0
Operating costs and expenses	4,274	7,117	13,558	19,986
Interest expenses, net	814	787	2,465	2,369
Loss from derivative contracts, net	0	0	0	0
Capital loss	36	9	36	26
Total expenses and other	5,124	7,913	16,059	22,381
Income (loss) before income taxes	(1,895)	(2,298)	(6,531)	(4,966)
Net Income (Loss)	(1,364)	(1,654)	(4,702)	(3,575)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(379)	(459)	(1,306)	(993)
Net income (loss) attributable to Isramco	(985)	(1,195)	(3,396)	(2,582)
Total Assets	37,490	55,969	37,490	55,969
Expenditures for Long-lived Assets		62	308	2,388
Operating Segments [Member] | UNITED STATES | Oil and Gas Exploration & Production [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues	3,382	3,617	9,309	13,697
Operating Segments [Member] | UNITED STATES | Well Service [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues	3,229	5,615	9,528	17,415
Operating Segments [Member] | ISRAEL | Oil and Gas Exploration & Production [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues	7,506	7,613
Operating Segments [Member] | ISRAEL | Well Service [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Non-US [Member] | Oil and Gas Exploration & Production [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues			20,614	19,057
Operating Segments [Member] | Non-US [Member] | Well Service [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues			0	0
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Sales revenues
Total revenues and other	(30)	(30)	(90)	(90)
Impairment expense			0
Operating costs and expenses	(30)	(30)	(90)	(90)
Interest expenses, net	0	0	0	0
Loss from derivative contracts, net	0	0	0	0
Capital loss	0	0	0	0
Total expenses and other	(30)	(30)	(90)	(90)
Income (loss) before income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss)	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Isramco	0	0	0	0
Total Assets	0	0	0	0
Expenditures for Long-lived Assets	0	0	0	0
Segment Reconciling Items [Member] | UNITED STATES
Sales revenues
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Segment Reconciling Items [Member] | ISRAEL
Sales revenues
Revenues	0	0
Segment Reconciling Items [Member] | Non-US [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues			0	0
Office Services and Other [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues	305	6,983	1,534	9,508
Office Services and Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Oil and Gas Exploration & Production [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues	335	7,013	1,624	9,598
Office Services and Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Well Service [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Office Services and Other [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues	$ (30)	$ (30)	$ (90)	$ (90)