| Cover | Nov. 10, 2021 |
| Cover [Abstract] | |
| Document Type | 8-K |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Document Period End Date | Nov. 10, 2021 |
| Entity File Number | 000-08187 |
| Entity Registrant Name | NEW CONCEPT ENERGY, INC. |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000105744 |
| Entity Tax Identification Number | 75-2399477 |
| Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code | NV |
| Entity Address, Address Line One | 1603 LBJ Freeway |
| Entity Address, Address Line Two | Suite 800 |
| Entity Address, City or Town | Dallas |
| Entity Address, State or Province | TX |
| Entity Address, Postal Zip Code | 75234 |
| City Area Code | 972 |
| Local Phone Number | 407-8400 |
| Written Communications | false |
| Soliciting Material | false |
| Pre-commencement Tender Offer | false |
| Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer | false |
| Title of 12(b) Security | Common Stock, par value $0.01 |
| Trading Symbol | GBR |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSEAMER |
| Entity Emerging Growth Company | false |
| Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Sep. 30, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
| Current assets | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ 249 | $ 27 |
| Current portion note receivable (including $3,637 and $3,631 in 2021 and 2020 from related parties | 3,596 | 3,683 |
| Other current assets | 38 | 92 |
| Total current assets | 3,883 | 3,802 |
| Property and equipment, net of depreciation | ||
| Land, buildings and equipment | 647 | 656 |
| Note receivable | 0 | 153 |
| Total assets | 4,530 | 4,611 |
| Current liabilities | ||
| Accounts payable - (including $33 and $55 due to related parties in 2021 and 2020) | 66 | 80 |
| Accrued expenses | 19 | 32 |
| Current portion of long term debt | 0 | 52 |
| Total current liabilities | 85 | 164 |
| Long-term debt | ||
| Notes payable less current portion | 0 | 122 |
| Total liabilities | 85 | 286 |
| Stockholders' equity | ||
| Preferred stock, Series B | 1 | 1 |
| at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 | 51 | 51 |
| Additional paid-in capital | 63,579 | 63,579 |
| Accumulated deficit | (59,186) | (59,306) |
| Total shareholder equity | 4,445 | 4,325 |
| Total liabilities & equity | $ 4,530 | $ 4,611 |
| Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Sep. 30, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
| Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] | ||
| [custom:CurrentPortionNotesReceivableRelatedParties-0] | $ 3,637 | $ 3,631 |
| Accounts Payable, Related Parties, Current | $ 33 | $ 55 |
| Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share | $ 0.01 | $ 0.01 |
| Common Stock, Shares Authorized | 100,000,000 | 100,000,000 |
| Common Stock, Shares, Issued | 5,131,934 | 5,131,934 |
| Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding | 5,131,934 | 5,131,934 |
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||
| Sep. 30, 2021 | Sep. 30, 2020 | Sep. 30, 2021 | Sep. 30, 2020 | |
| Revenue | ||||
| Rent | $ 25 | $ 25 | $ 76 | $ 76 |
| Operating expenses | ||||
| Operating Expenses | 34 | 15 | 71 | 46 |
| Corporate general and administrative | 53 | 65 | 238 | 296 |
| Total operating expenses | 87 | 80 | 309 | 342 |
| Operating earnings (loss) | (62) | (55) | (233) | (266) |
| Other income (expense) | ||||
| Interest income from a related party | 53 | 54 | 159 | 172 |
| Interest income from a third party | 2 | 3 | 8 | 12 |
| Interest expense | (1) | (3) | (5) | (9) |
| Other income (expense), net | 83 | 191 | 83 | |
| 54 | 137 | 353 | 258 | |
| Earnings (loss) from continuing operations | (8) | 82 | 120 | (8) |
| Discontinued Operations | ||||
| Loss from discontinued operations | 0 | (38) | 0 | (182) |
| Gain from disposal of oil & gas operations | 0 | 2,138 | 0 | 2,138 |
| 0 | 2,100 | 0 | 1,956 | |
| Earnings (loss) applicable to common shares | $ (8) | $ 2,182 | $ 120 | $ 1,948 |
| Net income (loss) per common share-basic and diluted | $ 0.01 | $ 0.43 | $ 0.02 | $ 0.38 |
| Weighted average common and equivalent shares outstanding - basic | 5,132 | 5,132 | 5,132 | 5,132 |
