Recently Issued Accounting Standards (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]
Recently Issued Accounting Standards	In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standard Update (ASU) No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which makes a number of changes meant to simplify and improve accounting for share-based payments. The amendment is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Energen does not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases. This update increases transparency and comparability by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Energen is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. This update requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15, Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements. This update clarifies the guidance regarding line-of-credit arrangements with regards to the ASU No. 2015-03. ASU 2015-15 allows entities to defer and present debt issue costs as an asset and subsequently amortize the deferred debt issue costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement. The adoption of ASU No. 2015-03 did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements of Energen. The additional disclosures are included in Note 4, Long-Term Debt. In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No, 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. This update codifies management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods ending after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this ASU are not expected to impact the Company's financial position or results of operations. The new guidance will require a formal assessment of going concern by management based on the criteria prescribed. The Company is reviewing its policies and processes to ensure compliance with this new guidance. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This update is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. It also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts. Companies may apply this update retrospectively or using a modified retrospective approach to adjust retained earnings. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which deferred the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 to annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our financial statements.

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standard Update (ASU) No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which makes a number of changes meant to simplify and improve accounting for share-based payments. The amendment is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Energen does not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases. This update increases transparency and comparability by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Energen is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. This update requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15, Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements. This update clarifies the guidance regarding line-of-credit arrangements with regards to the ASU No. 2015-03. ASU 2015-15 allows entities to defer and present debt issue costs as an asset and subsequently amortize the deferred debt issue costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement. The adoption of ASU No. 2015-03 did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements of Energen. The additional disclosures are included in Note 4, Long-Term Debt.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No, 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. This update codifies management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods ending after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this ASU are not expected to impact the Company's financial position or results of operations. The new guidance will require a formal assessment of going concern by management based on the criteria prescribed. The Company is reviewing its policies and processes to ensure compliance with this new guidance.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This update is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. It also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts. Companies may apply this update retrospectively or using a modified retrospective approach to adjust retained earnings. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which deferred the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 to annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our financial statements.