Note 16 - Supplemental Oil and Gas Disclosures (Unaudited) - Capitalized Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Proved oil and gas properties	$ 1,091,905	$ 923,237
Unproved properties
Total	1,091,905	923,237
Accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment	(748,773)	(706,537)
Net capitalized costs	$ 343,132	$ 216,700

Capitalized costs of oil and gas properties with associated proved reserves accounted for under the full cost method.

No definition available.

Name:	axas_ProvedOilAndGasPropertyFullCostMethodGross
Namespace Prefix:	axas_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The sum of the capitalized costs of unproved properties excluded from amortization.

No definition available.

Name:	axas_UnevaluatedOilAndGasPropertyFullCostMethodGross
Namespace Prefix:	axas_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Depletion of oil and gas property carried under the full cost method.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_OilAndGasPropertyFullCostMethodDepletion
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Oil and gas properties, gross, carried under the full cost method.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_OilAndGasPropertyFullCostMethodGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Oil and gas properties, net of depletion, carried under the full cost method.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_OilAndGasPropertyFullCostMethodNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant