Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Details Textual) $ in Thousands				3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	May 01, 2018 USD ($)	May 01, 2018	Feb. 15, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Feb. 01, 2018
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
Unamortized deferred issuance costs				$ 604
Senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility				3,000	$ 3,000
Amortized interest expense				$ 63
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. A mandatory, one-time principal reduction payment in the aggregate amount of $2.0 million was made to Old Ironsides on February 1, 2019. Subsequent to the closing of the OIE Membership Acquisition Old Ironsides ceased to be a related party.
Description of the revolver requirements				A) a maximum Debt/EBITDA ratio of 4.0 to 1.0, stepping down to 3.5 to 1.0 starting with the quarter ending June 30, 2018, (B) a maximum Senior Revolving Notes/EBITDA ratio of 2.5 to 1.0, (C) a minimum interest coverage ratio of 3.0 to 1.0 and (D) a minimum current ratio of 1.0 to 1.0 and (ii) the Subordinated Notes require Carbon California’s compliance, on a consolidated basis, with (A) a maximum Debt/EBITDA ratio of 4.5 to 1.0, stepping down to 4.0 to 1.0 starting with the quarter ending June 30, 2018, (B) a maximum Senior Revolving Notes/EBITDA ratio of 3.0 to 1.0, (C) a minimum interest coverage ratio of 2.5 to 1.0, (D) an asset coverage test whereby indebtedness may not exceed the product of 0.65 times Adjusted PV-10 set forth in the most recent reserve report, (E) maintenance of a minimum borrowing base of $10,000,000 under the Senior Revolving Notes and (F) a minimum current ratio of 0.85 to 1.00.
Incurred fees				$ 779
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.
Term loan				$ 134
Description of credit facility				Interest accrues on borrowings under the 2018 Credit Facility at a rate per annum equal to either (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 Borrowers' 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 0.50% and an origination fee of 0.50%. Loans under the 2018 Credit Facility may be prepaid without premium or penalty. The 2018 Credit Facility also provides for a $15.0 million term loan which bears interest at a rate of 6.25% and is payable in 18 equal monthly installments beginning February 1, 2019 with the last payment due on June 30, 2020.
Bears interest rate				12.00%
Company elected to pay in kind				$ 594
Two Zero One Eight Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
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
Additional borrowing capacity available				$ 4,800
Effective borrowing rate (as a percent)				6.25%
Letters of credit				$ 70,200
Outstanding borrowings						$ 15,000
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
Effective borrowing rate				0.00%
Line Of Credit [Member]
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
Unamortized deferred issuance costs				$ 112
Maximum [Member] | Two Zero One Eight Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
Funded debt ratio required to be maintained				3.5
Current ratio required to be maintained				1.0
Maximum [Member] | Line Of Credit [Member]
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
Funded debt ratio required to be maintained				3.5
Current ratio required to be maintained				1.0
Minimum [Member] | Two Zero One Eight Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
Funded debt ratio required to be maintained				1.0
Current ratio required to be maintained				1.0
Minimum [Member] | Line Of Credit [Member]
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
Funded debt ratio required to be maintained				1.0
Current ratio required to be maintained				1.0
Carbon California Two Thousand Eighteen 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 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	$ 300,000
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.
Notes issuance additional, description	On May 1, 2018, Carbon California entered into an agreement with Prudential for the issuance and sale of $3.0 million in Subordinated Notes due February 15, 2024, bearing interest of 12% per annum (the “2018 Subordinated Notes”), of which $3.0 million remains outstanding as of March 31, 2019. 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 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 2018 Subordinated Notes. As of March 31, 2019, Carbon California had an outstanding discount of $412,000 associated with these notes, which is presented net of the 2018 Subordinated Notes within Credit facility - related party on the unaudited consolidated balance sheets. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, Carbon California amortized $21,000 associated with the 2018 Subordinated Notes.
Carbon California Notes [Member]
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
Borrowing base amount				$ 38,500
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	$ 300,000		$ 10,000
Unsecured notes due date	Feb. 15, 2024		Feb. 15, 2024
Description of notes prepayment terms						Prepayment of the 2018 Subordinated Notes 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.
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. As of March 31, 2019, Carbon California has an outstanding discount of approximately $869,000, which is presented net of the Subordinated Notes within Credit facility-related party on the consolidated balance sheets. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, Carbon California amortized $45,000 associated with the Subordinated Notes.
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
Revolving Notes in the principal amount			$ 10,000
Carbon California [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
Voting percentage							56.40%
Carbon California [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
Voting percentage							17.81%
Carbon California Revolver [Member]
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
Borrowing base amount				41,000
Variable interest rate basis, description			(i) 5.50% plus the London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) or (ii) 4.50% plus the Prime Rate (which is defined as the interest rate published daily by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.). As of March 31, 2019, the effective borrowing rate for the Senior Revolving Notes was 7.80%. 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				939
Amortized interest expense				74
Business acquisitions, description			Carbon California entered into a Note Purchase Agreement (the “Note Purchase Agreement”) for the issuance and sale of Senior Secured Revolving Notes to Prudential with an initial revolving borrowing capacity of $25.0 million which mature on February 15, 2022 (the “Senior Revolving Notes”). Carbon Energy Corporation is 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 March 31, 2019, 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
Credit Facilities [Member]
Credit Facilities and Notes Payable (Textual)
Outstanding discount amount of notes				$ 112		$ 134