Investment in SB Oils JV - Summary of Carrying Amounts of Assets and Fair Value of Liabilities Included in Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet and Maximum Loss Exposure in VIE (Detail) - USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable		$ 284,000		$ 2,647,000
Equity method investments		43,856,000		35,910,000
Solazyme Bunge JV
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable		0		0
Unbilled Revenues		0		839,000
Equity method investments		42,373,000		35,910,000
Loan Guarantee		0		0
Maximum exposure to loss		54,162,000	[1]	45,692,000	[2]
Purchase Obligation		900,000
Solazyme Bunge JV | Bank Guarantees
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Maximum exposure to loss	[1]	$ 10,800,000		$ 8,900,000

[1] Includes maximum exposure to loss attributable to our bank guarantee required to be provided for the SB Oils JV of $10.8 million and non-cancelable purchase obligations of $0.9 million (based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2016)

[2] Includes maximum exposure to loss attributable to our bank guarantee required to be provided for the SB Oils JV of $8.9 million (based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2015).