Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Maximum maturity period of cash equivalents		3 months
Depletion expense on oil and gas properties		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Dry hole costs		0	685,000	40,003,000
Proved oil and gas properties		0	0	0
Depreciation Expense		341,000	391,000	439,000
Blocked payment net to cost sharing interest	700,000	734,000	734,000
Interest Related to Dussafu PSC Drilling Operations	66.667%	66.667%	66.667%
Capitalized interest costs		8,300,000	3,000,000	2,300,000
Term loan facility		60,000,000
Transfers of liabilities		0
Furniture, fixtures and equipment [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Depreciation Expense		300,000	400,000	400,000
Furniture, fixtures and equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Life		3 years
Furniture, fixtures and equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Life		5 years
Budong PSC [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Impaired expense		600,000
Budong PSC [Member] | KD-1 and KD-1ST [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Dry hole costs		0	700,000
Colombia [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Impaired expense		3,200,000
Block 64 EPSA [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Impaired carrying value			6,400,000
WAB-21 [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Impaired carrying value			2,900,000
West Bay [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Impaired carrying value				3,300,000
Petroandina [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of interest owned		29.00%
Harvest Vinccler S.C.A. [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of interest owned		20.00%
Other Assets [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Valuation allowances charged to general and administrative expenses		2,800,000
Blocked payment net to cost sharing interest		700,000	700,000
Other Assets [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Prepaid expenses expected to realized during period		12 months
Other Assets [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Prepaid expenses expected to realized during period		24 months
Derivative Liabilities [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Unrealized change in fair value		$ 3,500,000	$ 600,000	$ 9,800,000