Guarantees (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Parental guaranteed obligations [Abstract]
Commodity purchases, 2014	$ 78,747
Commodity purchases, 2015	0
Commodity purchases, 2016	0
Commodity purchases, 2017	0
Commodity purchases, Thereafter	0
Commodity purchases, Total	78,747
Guaranteed obligations, 2014	93,347
Guaranteed obligations, 2015	0
Guaranteed obligations, 2016	0
Guaranteed obligations, 2017	0
Guaranteed obligations Thereafter	0
Guaranteed obligations, Total	93,347
Letters of credit [Member]
Parental guaranteed obligations [Abstract]
Letters of credit, 2014	14,600
Letters of credit, 2015	0
Letters of credit, 2016	0
Letters of credit, 2017	0
Letters of credit, Thereafter	0
Letters of credit, Total	$ 14,600

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The carrying amount of the liability for the freestanding or embedded guarantor's obligations under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ae_GuaranteedObligations
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount of the liability for the freestanding or embedded guarantor's obligations under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees in four years.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The carrying amount of the liability for the freestanding or embedded guarantor's obligations under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees in three years.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The carrying amount of the liability for the freestanding or embedded guarantor's obligations under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees in two years.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The carrying amount of the liability for the freestanding or embedded guarantor's obligations under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees for next twelve months.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The carrying amount of the liability for the freestanding or embedded guarantor's obligations under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees thereafter.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ae_GuaranteedObligationsThereafter
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing after the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ae_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFour
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Minimum amount of purchase arrangement maturing after fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Includes, but not limited to, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, long-term purchase commitments, and short-term purchase commitments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ae_PurchaseObligationDueThereafter
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6802200&loc=d3e1835-112601

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 47

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Minimum amount of purchase arrangement in which the entity has agreed to expend funds to procure goods or services from a supplier.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Minimum amount of purchase arrangement maturing in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Includes, but not limited to, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, long-term purchase commitments, and short-term purchase commitments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Minimum amount of purchase arrangement maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Includes, but not limited to, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, long-term purchase commitments, and short-term purchase commitments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Minimum amount of purchase arrangement maturing in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Includes, but not limited to, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, long-term purchase commitments, and short-term purchase commitments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Minimum amount of purchase arrangement maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Includes, but not limited to, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, long-term purchase commitments, and short-term purchase commitments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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