CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Oil and natural gas sales	$ 921,030	$ 2,158,283
Sale of oil and natural gas properties	27,120	391,585
Royalty revenues	4,871	3,369
Total revenues	953,021	2,553,237
Oil and gas producing activities:
Lease operating expenses	754,362	791,142
Production taxes	84,576	179,660
Other operating expense	160,011	36,250
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	816,481	$ 767,857
Impairment	3,231,000
Gas gathering:
Operating expenses	1,406	$ 8,926
Depreciation	44,362	$ 44,219
Impairment	56,648
General and administrative expenses:
Director fees	47,833	$ 20,450
Investor relations	28,128	65,833
Legal, auditing and professional fees	116,078	146,581
Related parties	172,217	220,800
Other administrative expenses	74,634	72,807
Depreciation	428	570
Total operating expenses	5,588,164	2,355,095
Operating income (loss)	(4,635,143)	$ 198,142
Other income (expense)
Interest income (expense), net	(111,910)	$ (135,773)
Total other expense	(111,910)	(135,773)
Income (loss) before income taxes	$ (4,747,053)	$ 62,369
Income tax benefit (expense)
Net income (loss) attributable to Arete Industries, Inc.	$ (4,747,053)	$ 62,369
Net Income Applicable to Common Stockholders:
Net income (loss)	$ (4,747,053)	62,369
Redemption of preferred stock		17,951
Accrued Preferred stock dividends		(9,375)
Net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders	$ (4,747,053)	$ 70,945
Earnings (Loss) Per Share Applicable to Common Stockholders:
Basic	$ (0.37)	$ 0.01
Diluted	$ (0.37)	$ 0.01
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic	12,882,000	12,450,000
Diluted	12,882,000	12,450,000