CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 11,474	$ 11,663
Property, plant and equipment, accumulated depreciation	2,607,896	2,239,422
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization	$ 222,022	$ 195,864
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued
Preferred stock, shares outstanding
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	500,000,000	500,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	249,082,324	246,680,008
Common stock, shares outstanding	191,220,619	192,068,068
Treasury stock, shares	57,861,705	54,611,940