Organization	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Organization [Abstract]
Organization	Note 1 — Organization Interim Reporting The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of our financial position as of September 30, 2011, and the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010. The unaudited consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with the requirements of Form 10-Q and do not include all disclosures normally required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Reference should be made to our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which include certain definitions and a summary of significant accounting policies and should be read in conjunction with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the entire year. Organization Harvest Natural Resources, Inc. (“Harvest”) is an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, production and disposition of oil and natural gas properties since 1989, when it was incorporated under Delaware law. We have significant interests in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (“Venezuela”). Our Venezuelan interests are owned through HNR Finance, B.V. (“HNR Finance”). Our ownership of HNR Finance is through several corporations in all of which we have direct controlling interests. Through these corporations, we indirectly own 80 percent of HNR Finance and our partner, Oil & Gas Technology Consultants (Netherlands) Coöperatie U.A., a controlled affiliate of Venezolana de Inversiones y Construcciones Clerico, C.A. (“Vinccler”), indirectly owns the remaining 20 percent interest in HNR Finance. HNR Finance owns 40 percent of Petrodelta, S.A. (“Petrodelta”). As we indirectly own 80 percent of HNR Finance, we indirectly own a net 32 percent interest in Petrodelta, and Vinccler indirectly owns eight percent. Corporación Venezolana del Petroleo S.A. (“CVP”) owns the remaining 60 percent of Petrodelta. HNR Finance also has a direct controlling interest in Harvest Vinccler S.C.A. (“Harvest Vinccler”). Harvest Vinccler’s main business purposes are to assist us in the management of Petrodelta and in negotiations with Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (“PDVSA”). We do not have a business relationship with Vinccler outside of Venezuela. In addition to our interests in Venezuela, we have exploration acreage mainly onshore in West Sulawesi in the Republic of Indonesia (“Indonesia”), offshore of the Republic of Gabon (“Gabon”), onshore in the Sultanate of Oman (“Oman”), and offshore of the People’s Republic of China (“China”). See Note 10 — Indonesia, Note 11 — Gabon and Note 12 — Oman.

Organization

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Note 1 — Organization

Interim Reporting

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of our financial position as of September 30, 2011, and the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010. The unaudited consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with the requirements of Form 10-Q and do not include all disclosures normally required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Reference should be made to our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which include certain definitions and a summary of significant accounting policies and should be read in conjunction with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the entire year.

Organization

Harvest Natural Resources, Inc. (“Harvest”) is an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, production and disposition of oil and natural gas properties since 1989, when it was incorporated under Delaware law.

We have significant interests in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (“Venezuela”). Our Venezuelan interests are owned through HNR Finance, B.V. (“HNR Finance”). Our ownership of HNR Finance is through several corporations in all of which we have direct controlling interests. Through these corporations, we indirectly own 80 percent of HNR Finance and our partner, Oil & Gas Technology Consultants (Netherlands) Coöperatie U.A., a controlled affiliate of Venezolana de Inversiones y Construcciones Clerico, C.A. (“Vinccler”), indirectly owns the remaining 20 percent interest in HNR Finance. HNR Finance owns 40 percent of Petrodelta, S.A. (“Petrodelta”). As we indirectly own 80 percent of HNR Finance, we indirectly own a net 32 percent interest in Petrodelta, and Vinccler indirectly owns eight percent. Corporación Venezolana del Petroleo S.A. (“CVP”) owns the remaining 60 percent of Petrodelta. HNR Finance also has a direct controlling interest in Harvest Vinccler S.C.A. (“Harvest Vinccler”). Harvest Vinccler’s main business purposes are to assist us in the management of Petrodelta and in negotiations with Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (“PDVSA”). We do not have a business relationship with Vinccler outside of Venezuela.

In addition to our interests in Venezuela, we have exploration acreage mainly onshore in West Sulawesi in the Republic of Indonesia (“Indonesia”), offshore of the Republic of Gabon (“Gabon”), onshore in the Sultanate of Oman (“Oman”), and offshore of the People’s Republic of China (“China”). See Note 10 — Indonesia, Note 11 — Gabon and Note 12 — Oman.