Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Details Textual)				12 Months Ended
	May 01, 2018	May 01, 2018 USD ($)	Feb. 15, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Feb. 01, 2018
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
Unamortized deferred issuance costs				$ 484,000
Senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility				118,628,000	$ 7,210,000
Initial borrowing				10,000,000
Amortized interest expense				$ 786,000	$ 176,000
Business acquisitions, description				The OIE Membership Acquisition, we delivered unsecured, promissory notes in the aggregate original principal amount of approximately $25.1 million to Old Ironsides (the "Old Ironsides Notes"). The Old Ironsides Notes bear interest at 10% per annum and have a term of five years, the first three of which require interest-only payments at the end of each calendar quarter beginning with the quarter ending March 31, 2019. At the end of the three-year interest-only period, the then current outstanding principal balance and interest is to be paid in 24 equal monthly payments. The Old Ironsides Notes also require mandatory prepayments upon the occurrence of certain subsequent liquidity events and a one-time principal reduction payment in the aggregate amount of $2.0 million on or before February 1, 2019. Subsequent to the closing of the OIE Membership Acquisition Old Ironsides ceased to be a related party.
Voting percentage				100.00%
Incurred fees				$ 962,000
Credit facility fee, description				The 2018 Credit Facility included origination fees of $450,000 and arrangement fees of $80,000. As of December 31, 2018, there was approximately $70.0 million in outstanding borrowings and letters of credit and $5.0 million of additional borrowing capacity under the 2018 Credit Facility.
Carbon California [Member]
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
Effective borrowing rate (as a percent)						56.41%
Business acquisitions, description			(i) Senior Revolving Notes in the principal amount of $10.0 million and (ii) Subordinated Notes in the original principal amount of $10.0 million.
Unsecured notes due date	Feb. 15, 2024
Outstanding discount amount of notes				$ 1,737,000
Voting percentage	53.92%	53.92%
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 46.08%.
Carbon California- Senior Revolving Notes, Related Party [Member]
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
Borrowing base amount				41,000,000
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity				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 non-current assets value				900,000
Amortized interest expense				$ 217,000
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 December 31, 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 and Notes Payable (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				$ 1,700,000
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 and Notes Payable (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				$ 390,000
Notes issuance additional, description		Prudential for the issuance and sale of the Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes in the amount of $3.0 million, of which $3.0 million remains outstanding as of December 31, 2018. 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 December 31, 2018, Carbon California had an outstanding discount of $390,000 associated with these notes, which is presented net of the Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes within Credit facility related party on the consolidated balance sheets. During the year ended December 31, 2018, Carbon California amortized $57,000.
Minimum [Member] | Carbon California [Member]
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
Voting percentage						17.81%
Maximum [Member] | Carbon California [Member]
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
Voting percentage						56.41%
Line of Credit [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (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 and Notes Payable (Textual)
Funded debt ratio required to be maintained				3.5
Current ratio required to be maintained				1.0
2018 Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
Variable interest rate basis, description				(i) the base rate plus an applicable margin equal to 0.25% - 0.75% depending on the utilization percentage or (ii) the Adjusted LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin equal to 2.75% - 3.75% depending on the utilization percentage, at the Borrower' option. The Borrowers are obligated to pay certain fees and expenses in connection the 2018 Credit Facility, including a commitment fee for any unused amounts of .050% and an origination fee of 0.50%.
Covenant description				Payable in 18 equal monthly installments beginning February 1, 2019 with the last payment due on June 30, 2020.
Initial borrowing				$ 75,000,000
Additional borrowing capacity available				$ 5,000,000
Effective borrowing rate (as a percent)				6.25%
Letters of credit				$ 70,000,000
Outstanding borrowings				$ 15,000,000
Business acquisitions, description				The Company and its subsidiaries amended and restated the Credit Facility and the CAE Credit Facility which provides for a $500.0 million senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility (the "2018 Credit Facility") which matures December 31, 2022 and a $15.0 million term loan which matures in 2020. The 2018 Credit Facility includes a sublimit of $1.5 million for letters of credit.
Cash and cash equivalents of borrowers not to exceed				$ 3,000,000
Credit facility included origination fees				450,000
Arrangement fees				$ 80,000
Effective borrowing rate				0.00%
2018 Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
Funded debt ratio required to be maintained				1.0
Current ratio required to be maintained				1.0
2018 Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
Funded debt ratio required to be maintained				3.5
Current ratio required to be maintained				1.0