Investments in Joint Ventures and Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) $ / shares in Units, BRL in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			45 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2013 BRL	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) member	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) member shares	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) shares l	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) member	Feb. 28, 2013 USD ($)	Apr. 02, 2012	May. 31, 2011 $ / shares shares
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Amount of capital contributed to joint venture				$ 19,494,000	$ 30,550,000
Capital contribution to unconsolidated joint venture settled with reduction of receivable from unconsolidated joint venture				5,480,000
Decrease in receivable				5,480,000
Loss from equity method investments		$ 5,916,000	$ 7,201,000	18,291,000	15,313,000
Warrant liability for the unvested warrant shares		0		0					$ 0
Net unrealized gain (loss) related to fair value of the warrant liability		$ 0	0	$ 0	(688,000)
Warrants | Bunge Ltd
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Canceled warrant shares | shares						250,000
Solazyme Bunge JV
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Fermenters Production Facility | l						625,000
Number of Members on the Board | member		6		6					6
Number of Members of the Board Selected | member		3		3					3
Loss from equity method investments		$ 5,916,000	7,201,000	$ 18,291,000	15,700,000
Company granted Bunge Limited a warrant | shares												1,000,000
Exercise price of the warrant | $ / shares												$ 13.50
Net unrealized gain (loss) related to fair value of the warrant liability		0			700,000
Company recognized revenue related to research and development arrangements		0	1,300,000	1,200,000	2,700,000
Receivables from related party		12,000		12,000		$ 400,000			$ 12,000
Unbilled revenue		0		0		2,400,000			0
Solazyme Bunge JV | Brazilian Development Bank
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Approval for project financing received in the form of loan	BRL 245.7									$ 59,900,000
Term of the loan	8 years
Average interest rate on loan	4.00%									4.00%
Solazyme Bunge JV | Bank guarantees | Brazilian Development Bank
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of loan amount available guaranteed	14.39%									14.39%
Solazyme Bunge JV | Corporate Guarantee | Brazilian Development Bank
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of loan amount available guaranteed	35.71%									35.71%
Solazyme Bunge JV | Research and Development Arrangement
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Company recognized revenue related to research and development arrangements		$ 900,000	$ 3,300,000	2,900,000	$ 10,200,000
Solazyme Bunge JV | Parent Company
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership interest owned											50.10%
Amount of capital contributed to joint venture				24,900,000		47,900,000	$ 12,300,000	$ 10,000,000	95,100,000
Solazyme Bunge JV | Bunge Global Innovation LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership interest owned											49.90%
Amount of capital contributed to joint venture				$ 24,900,000		$ 47,900,000	$ 12,300,000	$ 10,000,000	$ 95,100,000
Solazyme Bunge JV | Warrants
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Warrant shares vested, shares | shares				750,000