Note 3 - Related-party Transactions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Notes Tables

Schedule of Long-term Debt to Related Parties [Table Text Block]

Loan Description	Parties	Maturity Date		Interest Rate			Loan Purpose
June LEH Note (debt satisfied in March 2023)	LEH	January 2019			8.00	%	Blue Dolphin working capital; reflects amounts owed to LEH under the Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement
	Blue Dolphin
BDPL-LEH Loan Agreement (in forbearance)	LEH	August 2018			16.00	%	Original principal amount of $4.0 million; Blue Dolphin working capital
	BDPL

Schedule of Outstanding Long-term Debt to Related Parties [Table Text Block]

		December 31,
		2023				2022
		(in thousands)
LEH
June LEH Note (debt satisfied March 2023)		$	-			$	1,211
BDPL-LEH Loan Agreement (in forbearance)			5,308				8,094
LEH Total			5,308				9,305

Less: Long-term debt, related party, current portion			-				(5,211	)
Less: Accrued interest payable, related party, current portion			-				(4,094	)
Long-term debt and interest payable, related party		$	5,308			$	-

Schedule of Related Party Transactions, Consolidated Statements of Operations [Table Text Block]

		Twelve Months Ended December 31,
		2023								2022
		(in thousands, except percent amounts)
Refinery operations
LEH		$	123,395				31.2	%		$	173,646				35.6	%
Third-Parties			266,621				67.3	%			309,415				63.5	%
Tolling and terminaling
LEH			2,160				0.5	%			360				0.1	%
Third-Parties			3,872				1.0	%			4,083				0.8	%
		$	396,048				100.0	%		$	487,504				100.0	%

		Twelve Months Ended December 31,
		2023				2022
		(in thousands)
Jonathan Carroll
Guaranty Fee Agreements
Tied to First Term Loan Due 2034		$	403			$	428
Tied to Second Term Loan Due 2034			167				177
Tied to Blue Dolphin Term Loan Due 2051			40				-
Tied to NPS Term Loan Due 2031			200				-
LEH
BDPL-LEH Loan Agreement (in forbearance)			657				480
June LEH Note (debt satisfied)			-				598
		$	1,467			$	1,683