Credit Facilities (Details Textual)				3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	May 01, 2018	May 01, 2018 USD ($)	Feb. 15, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Feb. 01, 2018
Credit Facilities (Textual)
Covenant description						A minimum cash balance requirement of $750,000.
Senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility						$ 34,529,000	$ 7,210,000
Effective borrowing rate (as a percent)				7.52%		7.52%
Carbon California [Member]
Credit Facilities (Textual)
Effective borrowing rate (as a percent)										56.40%
Business acquisitions, description			(i) issued and sold Class A Units to Yorktown and Prudential for an aggregate cash consideration of $22.0 million, (ii) entered into a Note Purchase Agreement (the "Note Purchase Agreement") with Prudential Legacy Insurance Company of New Jersey and Prudential Insurance Company of America for the issuance and sale of up to $25.0 million of Senior Secured Revolving Notes (the "Senior Revolving Notes") due February 15, 2022 and (iii) entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the "Securities Purchase Agreement") with Prudential for the issuance and sale of $10.0 million of Senior Subordinated Notes (the "Subordinated Notes") due February 15, 2024. We are not a guarantor of the Senior Revolving Notes or the Subordinate Notes.
Unsecured notes due date	Feb. 15, 2024
Outstanding discount amount of notes				$ 1,284,000		$ 1,284,000
Voting percentage	53.90%	53.90%								56.40%
Revolving Notes in the principal amount			$ 10,000,000
Description of voting rights	The exercise of the California Warrant by Yorktown and the Seneca Acquisition, we own 53.9%, of the voting and profits interests, and Prudential owns 46.1%.
Carbon California- Senior Revolving Notes, Related Party [Member]
Credit Facilities (Textual)
Borrowing base amount				41,000,000		41,000,000
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity				38,500,000		$ 38,500,000
Variable interest rate basis, description						(i) 5.0% plus the London interbank offered rate ("LIBOR") or (ii) 4.00% plus Prime Rate (which is defined as the interest rate published daily by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.). As of September 30, 2018, the effective borrowing rate for the Senior Revolving Notes was 8.14%. In addition, the Senior Revolving Notes include a commitment fee for any unused amounts at 0.50% as well as an annual administrative fee of $75,000, payable on February 15 each year.
Other long-term assets value				898,000		$ 898,000
Amortized interest expense				57,000	$ 29,000	$ 134,000	$ 72,000
Business acquisitions, description			Prudential Legacy Insurance Company of New Jersey and Prudential Insurance Company of America for the issuance and sale of the Senior Revolving Notes due February 15, 2022. We are not a guarantor of the Senior Revolving Notes. The closing of the Note Purchase Agreement on February 15, 2017, resulted in the sale and issuance by Carbon California of Senior Revolving Notes in the principal amount of $10.0 million. The maximum principal amount available under the Senior Revolving Notes is based upon the borrowing base attributable to Carbon California's proved oil and gas reserves which is to be determined at least semi-annually. As of September 30, 2018, the borrowing base was $41.0 million, of which $38.5 million was outstanding.
Description of the revolver requirements			The Senior Revolving Notes require Carbon California, as of January 1 and July 1 of each year, to hedge its anticipated proved developed production at such time for year one, two and three at a rate of 75%, 65% and 50%, respectively. Carbon California may make principal payments in minimum installments of $500,000. Distributions to equity members are generally restricted.
Revolving Notes in the principal amount			$ 10,000,000
Carbon California Notes [Member]
Credit Facilities (Textual)
Effective borrowing rate (as a percent)			12.00%
Description of the revolver requirements			The Subordinated Notes require Carbon California, as of January 1 and July 1 of each year, to hedge its anticipated production at such time for year one, two and three at a rate of 67.5%, 58.5% and 45%, respectively.
Amount of unsecured notes issuance		$ 3,000,000	$ 10,000,000
Unsecured notes due date		Feb. 15, 2024	Feb. 15, 2024
Description of notes prepayment terms						Prepayment of the Subordinated Notes is available after February 15, 2019. Prepayment is allowed at 100%, subject to a 3.0% fee of outstanding principal. Prepayment is not subject to a prepayment fee after February 17, 2020.
Outstanding discount amount of notes				830,000		$ 830,000
Notes issuance additional, description						Prudential received an additional 1,425 Class A Units, representing 5% of total sharing percentage, for the issuance of the Subordinated Notes. Carbon California valued this unit issuance based on the relative fair value by valuing the units at $1,000 per unit and aggregating the amount with the outstanding Subordinated Notes of $10.0 million. The Company then allocated the non-cash value of the units of approximately $1.3 million, which was recorded as a discount to the Subordinated Notes.
Carbon California-2018 Subordinated Notes [Member]
Credit Facilities (Textual)
Effective borrowing rate (as a percent)	12.00%	12.00%
Description of the revolver requirements		The Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes require Carbon California, as of January 1 and July 1 of each year, to hedge its anticipated production at such time for year one, two and three at a rate of 67.5%, 58.5% and 45%, respectively.
Amount of unsecured notes issuance		$ 3,000,000
Description of notes prepayment terms		Prepayment of the Subordinated Notes is available after February 15, 2019. Prepayment is allowed at 100%, subject to a 3.0% fee of outstanding principal. Prepayment is not subject to a prepayment fee after February 17, 2020. Distributions to equity members are generally restricted.
Outstanding discount amount of notes				454,000		$ 454,000
Notes issuance additional, description		Prudential received 585 Class A Units, representing an approximate 2% additional sharing percentage, for the issuance of the Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes. Carbon California valued this unit issuance based on the relative fair value by valuing the units at $1,000 per unit and aggregating the amount with the outstanding Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes of $3.0 million. The Company then allocated the non-cash value of the units of approximately $490,000, which was recorded as a discount to the Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes. As of September 30, 2018, Carbon California had an outstanding discount of $454,000 associated with these notes, which is presented net of the Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes within Credit facility-related party on the unaudited consolidated balance sheets. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, Carbon California amortized $97,000 and $236,000, respectively.
LegacyTexas Bank [Member]
Credit Facilities (Textual)
Senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility								$ 100,000,000
Bank credit facility, terms								4 years
Minimum [Member]
Credit Facilities (Textual)
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity									$ 25,000,000
Maximum [Member]
Credit Facilities (Textual)
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity									$ 28,000,000
Line of Credit [Member]
Credit Facilities (Textual)
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity				100,000,000		$ 100,000,000
Variable interest rate basis, description						(i) the base rate plus an applicable margin between 0.50% and 1.50% or (ii) the Adjusted LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin between 3.50% and 4.50% at our option. The actual margin percentage is dependent on the credit facility utilization percentage. We are obligated to pay certain fees and expenses in connection with the credit facility, including a commitment fee for any unused amounts of 0.50%.
Initial borrowing				17,000,000		$ 17,000,000
Letters of credit				$ 500,000		500,000
Credit facility drawn amount						$ 26,100,000
Line of Credit [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Credit Facilities (Textual)
Funded debt ratio required to be maintained						1.0
Current ratio required to be maintained						1.0
Line of Credit [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Credit Facilities (Textual)
Funded debt ratio required to be maintained						3.5
Current ratio required to be maintained						1.0