Note 6 - Segment Information (Details) - Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Sales revenues
Total revenues and other	$ 14,800	$ 12,693
Impairment expense	0	583
Operating costs and expenses	7,550	7,418
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	1,504	1,479
Interest expenses, net	1,188	1,180
Loss from derivative contracts, net	131	1,671
Capital loss	0	17
Total expenses and other	10,373	12,348
Income (loss) before income taxes	4,427	345
Net Income (Loss)	2,721	69
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(447)	(442)
Net income (loss) attributable to Isramco	3,168	511
Total Assets	141,458	144,891	$ 141,272
Expenditures for Long-lived Assets	230	283
UNITED STATES
Sales revenues
Revenues	7,418	5,942
ISRAEL
Sales revenues
Revenues	7,114	6,446
Operating Segments [Member] | Oil and Gas Exploration & Production [Member]
Sales revenues
Total revenues and other	11,362	9,425
Impairment expense		583
Operating costs and expenses	3,495	3,497
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	765	753
Interest expenses, net	303	348
Loss from derivative contracts, net	131	1,671
Capital loss		17
Total expenses and other	4,694	6,869
Income (loss) before income taxes	6,668	2,556
Net Income (Loss)	4,334	1,661
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Isramco	4,334	1,661
Total Assets	104,941	103,768
Expenditures for Long-lived Assets	96	113
Operating Segments [Member] | Well Service [Member]
Sales revenues
Total revenues and other	3,468	3,298
Impairment expense		0
Operating costs and expenses	4,085	3,951
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	739	726
Interest expenses, net	885	832
Loss from derivative contracts, net	0	0
Capital loss		0
Total expenses and other	5,709	5,509
Income (loss) before income taxes	(2,241)	(2,211)
Net Income (Loss)	(1,613)	(1,592)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(447)	(442)
Net income (loss) attributable to Isramco	(1,166)	(1,150)
Total Assets	36,517	41,123
Expenditures for Long-lived Assets	134	170
Operating Segments [Member] | UNITED STATES | Oil and Gas Exploration & Production [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues	3,950	2,644
Operating Segments [Member] | UNITED STATES | Well Service [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues	3,468	3,298
Operating Segments [Member] | ISRAEL | Oil and Gas Exploration & Production [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues	7,114	6,446
Operating Segments [Member] | ISRAEL | Well Service [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues	0	0
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Sales revenues
Total revenues and other	(30)	(30)
Impairment expense		0
Operating costs and expenses	(30)	(30)
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	0	0
Interest expenses, net	0	0
Loss from derivative contracts, net	0	0
Capital loss		0
Total expenses and other	(30)	(30)
Income (loss) before income taxes	0	0
Net Income (Loss)	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Isramco	0	0
Total Assets	0	0
Expenditures for Long-lived Assets	0	0
Segment Reconciling Items [Member] | UNITED STATES
Sales revenues
Revenues	0	0
Segment Reconciling Items [Member] | ISRAEL
Sales revenues
Revenues	0	0
Office Services and Other [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues	268	305
Office Services and Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Oil and Gas Exploration & Production [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues	298	335
Office Services and Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Well Service [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues	0	0
Office Services and Other [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Sales revenues
Revenues	$ (30)	$ (30)