Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2016	Feb. 28, 2015	Feb. 29, 2016	Feb. 28, 2015	Aug. 31, 2015
Impaired Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment charge	$ 118,122	$ 77,992	$ (118,462)
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	16,653
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived	27,952
Tangible Asset Impairment Charges	23,784
Impairment charges	186,511	84,353	186,511	$ 84,353
Goodwill	486,353		486,353		$ 608,256
Future Amortization Expense, Remainder of 2016	10,500		10,500
Future Amortization Expense, 2017	19,900		19,900
Future Amortization Expense, 2018	19,600		19,600
Future Amortization Expense, 2019	19,400		19,400
Future Amortization Expense, 2020	18,800		18,800
Future Amortization Expense, 2021	17,700		17,700
Future Amortization Expense, Thereafter	49,600		49,600
Tradenames
Impaired Assets [Line Items]
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)		6,362
Energy
Impaired Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment charge			(73,919)
Impairment charges	140,837	$ 84,353
Goodwill	154,647		154,647		$ 236,450
Viking
Impaired Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment charge	39,099
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	13,289
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived	27,952
Tangible Asset Impairment Charges	23,784
Impairment charges	104,124
Goodwill	0		0
Cortland
Impaired Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment charge	34,502
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	2,211
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived	0
Tangible Asset Impairment Charges	0
Impairment charges	36,713
Goodwill	37,100		37,100
maximatecc
Impaired Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment charge	44,521
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	1,153
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived	0
Tangible Asset Impairment Charges	0
Impairment charges	45,674
Goodwill	$ 18,000		$ 18,000