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Description of Business and Basis of Presentation (Policies)
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Schedule of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]  
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block]
Adoption of New Accounting Standards
In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") No. 2011-04, which amends Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. This ASU clarifies among other things, the intent about the application of existing fair value requirements, including those related to highest and best use concepts, and also expands the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. This ASU clarifies that a reporting entity should disclose quantitative information about significant unobservable inputs used in a fair value measurement that is categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. Additionally, this ASU expands the disclosures for fair value measurements categorized within Level 3 where a reporting entity is required to include a description of the valuation processes used and the sensitivity of the fair value measurement to changes in unobservable inputs and the interrelationships between those unobservable inputs, if any.  Additional disclosure is also required for any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy of fair value measurements on a gross basis as well as additional disclosure of the level in the fair value hierarchy of assets and liabilities that are not recorded at fair value. For many of the requirements, the FASB does not intend for this ASU to result in a change in the application of the requirements in FASB ASC Topic 820.  This update is effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this ASU effective on January 1, 2012 had no impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, which amends FASB ASC Topic 220, Comprehensive Income. This ASU is intended to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income in the financial statements by presenting the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. This ASU eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders' equity. This ASU does not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. This update is effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011.  The adoption of this ASU effective January 1, 2012 had no impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12, which defers certain provisions contained in ASU No. 2011-05, as discussed above, with respect to the requirement to present components of reclassifications of other comprehensive income on the face of the income statement or in the notes to the financial statements. However, this deferral does not impact the other requirements contained in the new standard on comprehensive income as described above. This update is effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011.  We complied with this deferral as we adopted ASU No. 2011-05 effective January 1, 2012.
In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, which amends FASB ASC Topic 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other. This ASU permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test described in FASB ASC Topic 350. Under the amendments in this ASU, an entity is not required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. This update is effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011.  We adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2012.
In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU No. 2012-02, which amends FASB ASC Topic 350. This ASU permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative impairment test in accordance with FASB ASC Subtopic 350-30, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—General Intangibles Other than Goodwill. This update is effective for interim and annual impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012.  Early adoption is permitted, including for annual and interim impairment tests performed as of a date before July 27, 2012, if a public entity's financial statements for the most recent annual or interim period have not yet been issued. We adopted this ASU during the third quarter of 2012; the adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted [Text Block]
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-11, which amends FASB ASC Topic 210, Balance Sheet. This ASU requires companies to disclose both gross and net information about instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position as well as instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. This guidance is effective retrospectively for interim and annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013. We anticipate that the adoption of this guidance will have minimal impact to our current disclosures.
Variable Interest Entities Policy
Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of (i) Icahn Enterprises and (ii) the wholly and majority owned subsidiaries of Icahn Enterprises, in addition to those entities in which we have a controlling interest as a general partner interest or in which we may be the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”). In evaluating whether we have a controlling financial interest in entities in which we would consolidate, we consider the following: (1) for voting interest entities, we consolidate these entities in which we own a majority of the voting interests; (2) for VIEs of which we may be considered the primary beneficiary of such entities (see Note 5, “Investments and Related Matters-Investment,” for further discussion regarding the accounting and reporting of our VIEs); and (3) for limited partnership entities that are not considered VIEs, we consolidate these entities if we are the general partner of such entities and for which no substantive kick-out rights (the rights underlying the limited partners' ability to dissolve the limited partnership or otherwise remove the general partners are collectively referred to as “kick-out” rights) or participating rights exist. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Energy Segment [Member]
  
Schedule of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]  
Inventory, Policy
Inventories - Energy
Our Energy segment inventories consist primarily of domestic and foreign crude oil, blending stock and components, work in progress, fertilizer products, and refined fuels and by-products. Inventories are valued at the lower of the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") cost, or market for fertilizer products, refined fuels and by-products for all periods presented. Refinery unfinished and finished products inventory values were determined using the ability-to-bear process, whereby raw materials and production costs are allocated to work-in-process and finished goods based on their relative fair values. Other inventories, including other raw materials, spare parts and supplies, are valued at the lower of moving-average cost, which approximates FIFO, or market. The cost of inventories includes inbound freight costs.
Property, Plant and Equipment, Planned Major Maintenance Activities, Policy
Planned Major Maintenance Costs - Energy
The direct-expense method of accounting is used for planned major maintenance activities for our Energy segment. Maintenance costs are recognized as expense when maintenance services are performed. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Coffeyville refinery completed the first phase of a two-phase major scheduled turnaround; during the first quarter of 2012, the Coffeyville refinery completed the second phase of the two-phase major scheduled turnaround. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the nitrogen fertilizer plant completed a major scheduled turnaround. Planned major maintenance costs are included in cost of goods sold in our consolidated financial statements when incurred. Planned major maintenance costs of $13 million were incurred for the period May 5, 2012 through September 30, 2012. Planned major maintenance activities for the nitrogen plant generally occur every two years. The required frequency of the maintenance varies by unit, for the refineries, but generally is every four to five years. The nitrogen fertilizer plants' and the Wynnewood refinery's next major maintenance activities are both scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2012.
Revenue Recognition, Policy
Revenue Recognition - Energy
For our Energy segment, revenues for products sold are recorded upon delivery of the products to customers, which is the point at which title is transferred, the customer has the assumed risk of loss, and when payment has been received or collection is reasonably assumed. Deferred revenue represents customer prepayments under contracts to guarantee a price and supply of nitrogen fertilizer in quantities expected to be delivered in the next 12 months in the normal course of business. Excise and other taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are not included in reported revenues.
Non-monetary product exchanges and certain buy/sell crude oil transactions which are entered into in the normal course of business are included on a net cost basis in cost of goods sold in the consolidated statement of operations.
CVR also engages in trading activities, whereby it enters into agreements to purchase and sell refined products with third parties. CVR acts as a principal in these transactions, taking title to the products in purchases from counterparties, and accepting the risks and rewards of ownership. CVR records revenue for the gross amount of the sales transactions, and records cost of goods sold in our consolidated financial statements.
Shipping and Handling Cost, Policy
Shipping Costs - Energy
For our Energy segment, pass-through finished goods delivery costs reimbursed by customers are reported in net sales, while an offsetting expense is included in cost of goods sold.