Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Commitments and Agreements: Under various agreements for third party gathering, treatment, transportation or other services, Energen Resources is committed to deliver minimum production volumes or to pay certain costs in the event the minimum quantities are not delivered. These delivery commitments are approximately 7.5 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBOE) through September 2017. Energen Resources entered into three agreements which commenced at various dates from November 15, 2011 to January 15, 2012 and expire at various dates through January 2015 to secure drilling rigs necessary to execute a portion of its drilling plans. In the unlikely event that Energen Resources discontinues use of these drilling rigs, Energen Resources’ total resulting exposure could be as much as $14 million depending on the contractor’s ability to remarket the drilling rig. Certain of Alagasco’s long-term contracts associated with the delivery and storage of natural gas include fixed charges of approximately $185 million through September 2024. During both the nine months ending September 30, 2013 and 2012, Alagasco recognized approximately $36.8 million of long-term commitments through expense and its regulatory accounts in the accompanying financial statements. Alagasco also is committed to purchase minimum quantities of gas at market-related prices or to pay certain costs in the event the minimum quantities are not taken. These purchase commitments are approximately 146 Bcf through August 2020. Alagasco purchases gas as an agent for certain of its large commercial and industrial customers. Alagasco has, in certain instances, provided commodity-related guarantees to the counterparties in order to facilitate these agency purchases. Liabilities existing for gas delivered to customers subject to these guarantees are included in the balance sheets. In the event the customer for whom the guarantee was entered fails to take delivery of the gas, Alagasco can sell such gas for the customer, with the customer liable for any resulting loss. Although the substantial majority of purchases under these guarantees are for the customers’ current monthly consumption and are at current market prices, in some instances, the purchases are for an extended term at a fixed price. At September 30, 2013, the fixed price purchases under these guarantees had a maximum term outstanding through October 2014 and an aggregate purchase price of $0.8 million with a market value of $0.8 million. Income Taxes: The Company uses the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, a deferred tax asset or liability is recognized for the estimated future tax effects attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities as well as tax credit carryforwards. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 740-30-25-7, the Company has not recognized a deferred tax liability for the difference between the book basis and the tax basis in the stock of its subsidiaries. The unrecorded gross outside basis difference for Alagasco exceeds the recorded inside asset basis difference by approximately $35 million and would result in an additional deferred tax liability of $13 million. Legal Matters: Energen and its affiliates are, from time to time, parties to various pending or threatened legal proceedings. Certain of these lawsuits include claims for punitive damages in addition to other specified relief. Based upon information presently available and in light of available legal and other defenses, contingent liabilities arising from threatened and pending litigation are not considered material in relation to the respective financial positions of Energen and its affiliates. It should be noted, however, that Energen and its affiliates conduct business in jurisdictions in which the magnitude and frequency of punitive and other damage awards may bear little or no relation to culpability or actual damages, thus making it difficult to predict litigation results. Various pending or threatened legal proceedings are in progress currently, and the Company has accrued a provision for estimated liability. Energen Resources previously disclosed an adverse judgment relating to the ownership of the company operated Cadenhead 25-1 Well (the Cadenhead Well) in Ward County, Texas. Upon a Motion to Reconsider, the adverse judgment was vacated by the District Court in Ward County, Texas and a Summary Judgment Order dated July 30, 2013 was entered confirming Energen Resources’ superior title to the Cadenhead Well and its associated oil and gas leases. The Summary Judgment Order has been appealed by the other party. Environmental Matters: Various environmental laws and regulations apply to the operations of Energen Resources and Alagasco. Historically, the cost of environmental compliance has not materially affected the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. New regulations, enforcement policies, claims for damages or other events could result in significant unanticipated costs. Under oversight of the Site Remediation Section of the Railroad Commission of Texas, the Company is currently in the process of cleanup and remediation of oil and gas wastes in nine reserve pits in Mitchell County, Texas. The Company estimates that the cleanup, remediation and related costs will approximate $1.8 million of which $1.6 million has been incurred and $0.2 million has been reserved. Alagasco is in the chain of title of nine former manufactured gas plant sites, four of which it still owns, and five former manufactured gas distribution sites, one of which it still owns. Management expects that, should future remediation of the sites be required, Alagasco’s share of the remediation costs will not materially affect the financial position of Alagasco. During 2011, a removal action was completed at the Huntsville, Alabama manufactured gas plant site pursuant to an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent among the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Alagasco and the current site owner. In 2012, Alagasco responded to an EPA Request for Information Pursuant to Section 104 of CERCLA relating to the EPA’s investigation of a site which it refers to as the 35th Avenue Superfund Site located in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. The Request related to a former site of a manufactured gas distribution facility owned by Alagasco and located in the vicinity of the 35th Avenue Superfund Site. In September 2013, Alagasco received from EPA a General Notice Letter and Invitation to Conduct a Removal Action at the 35th Avenue Superfund Site. The letter identifies Alagasco as a potentially responsible party (PRP) under CERCLA for the cleanup of the Site or costs the EPA incurs in cleaning up the Site. The EPA also offered the PRP group the opportunity to conduct Phase I of the proposed removal action which involved removal activities at approximately 50 residences that purportedly exceed certain risk levels for contamination. Alagasco has requested additional information from EPA regarding its designation as a PRP, and an opportunity to discuss this designation further with EPA. Alagasco is unable to determine the extent, if any, of its potential liability with respect to the proposed removal action and no amount has been accrued as of September 30, 2013. New Mexico Audits: During the third quarter of 2010, Energen Resources received preliminary findings from the Taxation and Revenue Department (the Department) of the State of New Mexico relating to its audit, conducted on behalf of the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR), of federal oil and gas leases in New Mexico. The audit covered periods from January 2004 through December 2008 and included a review of the computation and payment of royalties due on minerals removed from specified U.S. federal leases. The ONRR has proposed certain changes in the method of determining allowable deductions of transportation, fuel and processing costs from royalties due under the terms of the related leases. As a result of the audit, Energen Resources has been ordered by the ONRR to pay additional royalties on the specified U.S. federal leases in the amount of $142,000 and restructure its accounting for all federal leases in two counties in New Mexico from March 1, 2004, forward. The Company preliminarily estimates that application of the Order to all of the Company’s New Mexico federal leases would result in ONRR claims for up to approximately $23 million of additional royalties plus interest and penalties for the period from March 1, 2004, forward. The preliminary findings and subsequent Order (issued April 25, 2011) are contrary to deductions allowed under previous audits, retroactive in application and inconsistent with the Company’s understanding of industry practice. The Company is vigorously contesting the Order and has requested additional information from the ONRR and the Department to assist the Company in evaluating the ONRR Order and the Department’s findings. Management is unable, at this time, to determine a range of reasonably possible losses as a result of this Order, and no amount has been accrued as of September 30, 2013.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments and Agreements: Under various agreements for third party gathering, treatment, transportation or other services, Energen Resources is committed to deliver minimum production volumes or to pay certain costs in the event the minimum quantities are not delivered. These delivery commitments are approximately 7.5 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBOE) through September 2017.

Energen Resources entered into three agreements which commenced at various dates from November 15, 2011 to January 15, 2012 and expire at various dates through January 2015 to secure drilling rigs necessary to execute a portion of its drilling plans. In the unlikely event that Energen Resources discontinues use of these drilling rigs, Energen Resources’ total resulting exposure could be as much as $14 million depending on the contractor’s ability to remarket the drilling rig.

Certain of Alagasco’s long-term contracts associated with the delivery and storage of natural gas include fixed charges of approximately $185 million through September 2024. During both the nine months ending September 30, 2013 and 2012, Alagasco recognized approximately $36.8 million of long-term commitments through expense and its regulatory accounts in the accompanying financial statements. Alagasco also is committed to purchase minimum quantities of gas at market-related prices or to pay certain costs in the event the minimum quantities are not taken. These purchase commitments are approximately 146 Bcf through August 2020.

Alagasco purchases gas as an agent for certain of its large commercial and industrial customers. Alagasco has, in certain instances, provided commodity-related guarantees to the counterparties in order to facilitate these agency purchases. Liabilities existing for gas delivered to customers subject to these guarantees are included in the balance sheets. In the event the customer for whom the guarantee was entered fails to take delivery of the gas, Alagasco can sell such gas for the customer, with the customer liable for any resulting loss. Although the substantial majority of purchases under these guarantees are for the customers’ current monthly consumption and are at current market prices, in some instances, the purchases are for an extended term at a fixed price. At September 30, 2013, the fixed price purchases under these guarantees had a maximum term outstanding through October 2014 and an aggregate purchase price of $0.8 million with a market value of $0.8 million.

Income Taxes: The Company uses the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, a deferred tax asset or liability is recognized for the estimated future tax effects attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities as well as tax credit carryforwards. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 740-30-25-7, the Company has not recognized a deferred tax liability for the difference between the book basis and the tax basis in the stock of its subsidiaries. The unrecorded gross outside basis difference for Alagasco exceeds the recorded inside asset basis difference by approximately $35 million and would result in an additional deferred tax liability of $13 million.

Legal Matters: Energen and its affiliates are, from time to time, parties to various pending or threatened legal proceedings. Certain of these lawsuits include claims for punitive damages in addition to other specified relief. Based upon information presently available and in light of available legal and other defenses, contingent liabilities arising from threatened and pending litigation are not considered material in relation to the respective financial positions of Energen and its affiliates. It should be noted, however, that Energen and its affiliates conduct business in jurisdictions in which the magnitude and frequency of punitive and other damage awards may bear little or no relation to culpability or actual damages, thus making it difficult to predict litigation results.

Various pending or threatened legal proceedings are in progress currently, and the Company has accrued a provision for estimated liability.

Energen Resources previously disclosed an adverse judgment relating to the ownership of the company operated Cadenhead 25-1 Well (the Cadenhead Well) in Ward County, Texas. Upon a Motion to Reconsider, the adverse judgment was vacated by the District Court in Ward County, Texas and a Summary Judgment Order dated July 30, 2013 was entered confirming Energen Resources’ superior title to the Cadenhead Well and its associated oil and gas leases. The Summary Judgment Order has been appealed by the other party.

Environmental Matters: Various environmental laws and regulations apply to the operations of Energen Resources and Alagasco. Historically, the cost of environmental compliance has not materially affected the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. New regulations, enforcement policies, claims for damages or other events could result in significant unanticipated costs.

Under oversight of the Site Remediation Section of the Railroad Commission of Texas, the Company is currently in the process of cleanup and remediation of oil and gas wastes in nine reserve pits in Mitchell County, Texas. The Company estimates that the cleanup, remediation and related costs will approximate $1.8 million of which $1.6 million has been incurred and $0.2 million has been reserved.

Alagasco is in the chain of title of nine former manufactured gas plant sites, four of which it still owns, and five former manufactured gas distribution sites, one of which it still owns. Management expects that, should future remediation of the sites be required, Alagasco’s share of the remediation costs will not materially affect the financial position of Alagasco. During 2011, a removal action was completed at the Huntsville, Alabama manufactured gas plant site pursuant to an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent among the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Alagasco and the current site owner. In 2012, Alagasco responded to an EPA Request for Information Pursuant to Section 104 of CERCLA relating to the EPA’s investigation of a site which it refers to as the 35th Avenue Superfund Site located in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. The Request related to a former site of a manufactured gas distribution facility owned by Alagasco and located in the vicinity of the 35th Avenue Superfund Site. In September 2013, Alagasco received from EPA a General Notice Letter and Invitation to Conduct a Removal Action at the 35th Avenue Superfund Site. The letter identifies Alagasco as a potentially responsible party (PRP) under CERCLA for the cleanup of the Site or costs the EPA incurs in cleaning up the Site. The EPA also offered the PRP group the opportunity to conduct Phase I of the proposed removal action which involved removal activities at approximately 50 residences that purportedly exceed certain risk levels for contamination. Alagasco has requested additional information from EPA regarding its designation as a PRP, and an opportunity to discuss this designation further with EPA. Alagasco is unable to determine the extent, if any, of its potential liability with respect to the proposed removal action and no amount has been accrued as of September 30, 2013.

New Mexico Audits: During the third quarter of 2010, Energen Resources received preliminary findings from the Taxation and Revenue Department (the Department) of the State of New Mexico relating to its audit, conducted on behalf of the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR), of federal oil and gas leases in New Mexico. The audit covered periods from January 2004 through December 2008 and included a review of the computation and payment of royalties due on minerals removed from specified U.S. federal leases. The ONRR has proposed certain changes in the method of determining allowable deductions of transportation, fuel and processing costs from royalties due under the terms of the related leases.

As a result of the audit, Energen Resources has been ordered by the ONRR to pay additional royalties on the specified U.S. federal leases in the amount of $142,000 and restructure its accounting for all federal leases in two counties in New Mexico from March 1, 2004, forward. The Company preliminarily estimates that application of the Order to all of the Company’s New Mexico federal leases would result in ONRR claims for up to approximately $23 million of additional royalties plus interest and penalties for the period from March 1, 2004, forward. The preliminary findings and subsequent Order (issued April 25, 2011) are contrary to deductions allowed under previous audits, retroactive in application and inconsistent with the Company’s understanding of industry practice. The Company is vigorously contesting the Order and has requested additional information from the ONRR and the Department to assist the Company in evaluating the ONRR Order and the Department’s findings. Management is unable, at this time, to determine a range of reasonably possible losses as a result of this Order, and no amount has been accrued as of September 30, 2013.