STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues:
Oil sales	$ 889,285	$ 777,123
Natural gas sales	82,873	143,907
Royalty revenues	2,325	4,871
Sale of oil and natural gas properties	0	27,120
Total revenues	974,483	953,021
Oil and gas producing activities:
Lease operating expenses	1,064,427	754,362
Production taxes	76,715	84,576
Other operating expense	0	160,011
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	533,333	816,481
Impairment	3,358,000	3,231,000
Gas gathering:
Operating expenses	0	1,406
Depreciation	0	44,362
Impairment	0	56,648
General and administrative expenses:
Director fees	40,000	47,833
Investor relations	12,209	28,128
Legal, auditing and professional fees	183,683	116,078
Consulting fees executive services-Related Parties	66,732	172,217
Other administrative expenses	41,187	74,634
Depreciation	0	428
Total operating expenses	5,376,286	5,588,164
Operating loss	(4,401,803)	(4,635,143)
Other income (expense):
Other income	875	0
Interest expense net	(98,117)	(111,910)
Loss before income taxes	(4,499,045)	(4,747,053)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	0
Net loss attributable to Arête Industries, Inc.	(4,499,045)	(4,747,053)
Net Loss Applicable to Common Stockholders:
Net loss attributable to Arête Industries, Inc.	(4,499,045)	(4,747,053)
Preferred stock dividends declared	(191,961)	0
Net loss applicable to common stockholders	$ (4,691,006)	$ (4,747,053)
Loss Per Share Applicable to Common Stockholders:
Basic	$ (0.32)	$ (0.37)
Diluted	$ (0.32)	$ (0.37)
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic	14,528,345	12,882,000
Diluted	14,528,345	12,882,000