Acquisitions and Divestitures (Details) a in Millions | Feb. 01, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)km²block$ / bblMBbls | Oct. 31, 2017km²sub_periodblock | Sep. 30, 2017 | Aug. 31, 2017USD ($) | Apr. 30, 2017 | Jan. 31, 2017USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016USD ($) | Oct. 31, 2016akm² | Sep. 30, 2016USD ($) | May 31, 2016 | Apr. 30, 2016km² | Nov. 30, 2015USD ($) | Oct. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2015USD ($)exploration_well | Feb. 28, 2017instrument | Oct. 31, 2016a | Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)km²$ / bblMBbls | Mar. 31, 2017USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)km²$ / bblMBbls | Dec. 31, 2016USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015USD ($) | Oct. 31, 2016 | Oct. 31, 2016km² |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds on sale of assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 222,068,000 | $ 210,000 | $ 28,692,000 | | |
Gain on sale of assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 24,651,000 | | |
Block 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 45.00% | | | | |
Block 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 45.00% | | | | |
Essaouira Offshore Block | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 75.00% | | | | | | | |
Kosmos BP Senegal Limited | Cayar Offshore Profond And Saint Louis Offshore Profond Blocks | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 60.00% | | | | |
Farm-in agreement | Block 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participation interest acquired | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 85.00% | | | | | | | | | | |
Farm-in agreement | Camarao, Ameijoa, Mexilhao and Ostra blocks | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 31.00% | | | | | | | | | |
Farm-in agreement | Block 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participation interest acquired | | | | | | | | | | | | | 45.00% | | | | | | | | | | | |
Farm-out agreements | Block 42 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | | | | | | | | | | | 33.33% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Petroleum agreement | Boujdour Maritime block | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | | | | | | | | | | 55.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Petroleum agreement | Block C6 Related To Mauritania | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | | | | | | | | 28.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Area of petroleum exploration | | | | | | | | | 1.1 | | | | | | | | 1.1 | | | | | | | 4,300 |
Initial exploration period | | | | | | | | | 4 years | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
3D seismic requirements (in square kilometers) | km² | | | | | | | | | 2,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Petroleum agreement | Block EG-21 and Block S and Block W | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | | 80.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Number of blocks | block | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Area of petroleum exploration | km² | | | 6,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Initial exploration period | | | 5 years | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Number of sub-periods | sub_period | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
First sub exploration period | | | 3 years | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Second sub exploration period | | | 2 years | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
3D seismic requirements (in square kilometers) | km² | | | 6,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Petroleum agreement | Block CI-526, Block CI-602, Block CI-603, Block CI-707, and Block CI-708 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | 45.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Number of blocks | block | | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Area of petroleum exploration | km² | | 17,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17,000 | | 17,000 | | | | |
Initial exploration period | | 3 years | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
3D seismic requirements (in square kilometers) | km² | | 12,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assignment Agreement | Block EG-21 and Block S and Block W | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | | 40.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sales and purchase agreement | Kosmos BP Senegal Limited | Cayar Offshore Profond And Saint Louis Offshore Profond Blocks | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | | | | | | | 65.00% | | | | | | | | 60.00% | | | | | | | | |
Equity increase in each contract area | | | | | | | | 5.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sales and purchase agreement and farm-out agreements | Mauritania And Senegal Offshore Block | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reduction of oil and gas properties with unproved reserves | | $ 221,900,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 221,900,000 | | $ 221,900,000 | | | | |
Timis Corporation Limited | Cayar Offshore Profond And Saint Louis Offshore Profond Blocks | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | | | | | 30.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Trident Energy | Assignment Agreement | Block EG-21 and Block S and Block W | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | | 40.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest to be assigned | | | 40.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Guinea Equatorial De Petroleos | Petroleum agreement | Block EG-21 and Block S and Block W | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Carried participating interest | | | 20.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Percentage converted from carried to participating | | | 20.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Tullow | Farm-in agreement | Block C18 Offshore Mauritania | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | | | 15.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
ANP STP | Block 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Carried participating interest | | 15.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15.00% | | 15.00% | | | | |
ANP STP | Block 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Carried participating interest | | 12.50% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12.50% | | 12.50% | | | | |
ANP STP | Farm-in agreement | Block 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Carried participating interest | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15.00% | | | | | | | | | | |
Hess Corporation | Farm-out agreements | Block 42 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | | | | | | | | | | | 33.33% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
3D seismic requirements (in square kilometers) | km² | | | | | | | | | | | | 6,500 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Staatsolie | Farm-out agreements | Block 42 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Maximum percentage interest available upon approval | | | | | | | | | | | | 10.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cairn | Petroleum agreement | Boujdour Maritime block | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | | | | | | | | | | 20.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
ONHYM | Petroleum agreement | Boujdour Maritime block | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Carried participating interest | | | | | | | | | | | 25.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
BP | Essaouira Offshore Block | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amount due in lieu of drilling exploration well | | | | | | | | | | $ 30,000,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest reassigned | | | | | | | | | | 45.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amount received in lieu of drilling exploration well | | | | | | | $ 30,000,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
BP | Farm-out agreements | Block C6 Block C8 Block C12 and Block C13 Mauritania | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participation interest acquired | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 62.00% | | | | | | | | |
Number of blocks covered by farm-out agreements | instrument | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | | | | | | | |
BP | Petroleum agreement | Block CI-526, Block CI-602, Block CI-603, Block CI-707, and Block CI-708 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | 45.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
BP | Sales and purchase agreement | Kosmos BP Senegal Limited | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participation interest acquired | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 49.99% | | | | | | | | |
BP | Sales and purchase agreement and farm-out agreements | Mauritania And Senegal Offshore Block | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Upfront amount of cash received | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 162,000,000 | | | | | |
Spending by third party for exploration and appraisal costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 228,000,000 | | | | |
Spending by third party for exploration and appraisal costs, initial estimate | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 221,000,000 | | | | |
Spending by third party for Kosmos' development costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 533,000,000 | | | | |
SMHPM | Petroleum agreement | Block C6 Related To Mauritania | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Carried participating interest | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10.00% | |
GALP | Farm-out agreements | Block 5, Block 11, and Block 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Non operated interest | | | | | | | | 20.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Timis Corporation Limited | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Line of credit agreement maximum | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 30,000,000 | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amount received, result of agreement termination | | | | | $ 16,000,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Timis Corporation Limited | Cayar Offshore Profond And Saint Louis Offshore Profond Blocks | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | | | | | | | 30.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Timis Corporation Limited | Farm-in agreement | Cayar Offshore Profond And Saint Louis Offshore Profond Blocks | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Maximum cost per contingent exploration well | | | | | | | | $ 120,000,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Chevron | Farm-out agreements | Block 42 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest percentage | | | | | | | | | | | | 33.33% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Chevron | Farm-out agreements | Block C8 Block C12 And Block C13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Participating interest reassigned | 30.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Number of exploration wells for which a third party will pay a disproportionate amount | exploration_well | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds on sale of assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 28,700,000 | | | | | | | | | |
Gain on sale of assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 24,700,000 | | | | | | | | | |
Hess | Ceiba Field and Okume Complex Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue interests | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 80.75% | | | | | | |
Paying interest | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 85.00% | | | | | | |
PETROCI | Petroleum agreement | Block CI-526, Block CI-602, Block CI-603, Block CI-707, and Block CI-708 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Carried participating interest | | 10.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10.00% | | 10.00% | | | | |
Hess | Sales and purchase agreement | Ceiba Field and Okume Complex Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Payments to acquire business | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 650,000,000 | | | | | | |
Net cash consideration paid | | $ 231,000,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 231,000,000 | | $ 231,000,000 | | | | |
Maximum | BP | Farm-out agreements | Mauritania And Senegal Offshore Block | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Number of barrels | MBbls | | 1,000,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,000,000 | | 1,000,000 | | | | |
Amount of potential and variable consideration per barrel | $ / bbl | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | 2 | | | | |
Kosmos BP Senegal Ltd | BP Senegal Investments Limited | Cayar Offshore Profond And Saint Louis Offshore Profond Blocks | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Working interest transferred | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 30.00% | | | | |
Hess | Trident Energy | Sales and purchase agreement | Ceiba Field and Okume Complex Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions and Divestitures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ownership percentage | | 50.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 50.00% | | 50.00% | | | | |