Long-Term Debt and Notes Payable - Credit Facilities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Notes payable to banks	$ 78,900	$ 489,000
Available for borrowings	1,421,100	761,000
Total Energen	1,500,000	1,250,000
Maximum amount outstanding at any month-end	750,000	901,000
Average daily amount outstanding	$ 559,878	$ 804,895
Average daily amount outstanding interest rate	1.43%	1.38%
Amount outstanding at period-end interest rate	1.66%	1.32%

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

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