CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Non-Controlling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 496	$ 187,243	$ (183,194)	$ 113	$ 7,093	$ 11,751
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2008	49,622,423
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	0	0	(18,780)	0	(9,745)	(28,525)
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of investments	0	0	0	95	0	95
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	(6)	0	(6)
Stock-based compensation	0	1,145	0	0	69	1,214
Partnership distributions	0	0	0	0	(2,257)	(2,257)
Partnership units issued	0	0	0	0	256	256
Partnership registration cost transferred to expense	0	0	0	0	1,385	1,385
Shares issued for compensation	1	77	0	0	0	78
Shares issued for compensation (in shares)	61,954
Stock options exercised	2	201	0	0	0	203
Stock options exercised (in shares)	239,002
Merger of Partnership into Abraxas Petroleum	258	(6,014)	0	0	3,199	(2,557)
Merger of Partnership into Abraxas Petroleum (in shares)	25,847,532
Restricted stock issued, net of cancellations	5	(5)	0	0	0	0
Restricted stock issued, net of cancellations (in shares)	460,840
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	762	182,647	(201,974)	202	0	(18,363)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009	76,231,751
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	0	0	1,766	0	0	1,766
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of investments	0	0	0	(27)	0	(27)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	70	0	70
Stock-based compensation	0	1,560	0	0	0	1,560
Shares issued for compensation	0	24	0	0	0	24
Shares issued for compensation (in shares)	11,480
Stock options exercised	2	67	0	0	0	69
Stock options exercised (in shares)	163,705
Warrants exercised	0	0	0	0	0	0
Warrants exercised (in shares)	15,534
Other	0	(75)	0	0	0	(75)
Restricted stock issued, net of cancellations	0	0	0	0	0	0
Restricted stock issued, net of cancellations (in shares)	5,091
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	764	184,223	(200,208)	245	0	(14,976)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010	76,427,561					76,427,561
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	0	0	13,743	0	0	13,743
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of investments	0	0	0	(76)	0	(76)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	(456)	0	(456)
Stock-based compensation	0	1,987	0	0	0	1,987
Shares issuance	151	62,195	0	0	0	62,346
Shares issuance (in shares)	15,075,502
Stock options exercised	4	79	0	0	0	83
Stock options exercised (in shares)	371,632
Restricted stock issued, net of cancellations	4	(4)	0	0	0	0
Restricted stock issued, net of cancellations (in shares)	386,362
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 923	$ 248,480	$ (186,465)	$ (287)	$ 0	$ 62,651
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	92,261,057					92,261,057