Subsidiary Guarantors - Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 143,650	$ 111,233	$ 164,371
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(50,249)	(49,264)	(41,597)
Additions to amortizable intangible assets	(100)
Additions to deferred turnaround costs	(3,616)	(42,195)	(1,241)
Additions to deferred integrity and replacement costs	(28,630)	(36,810)
Proceeds from asset dispositions	10	58	81
Net cash used in investing activities	(82,585)	(128,211)	(42,757)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distribution from (to) Parent under the Tax Sharing Agreement	36	(3,034)	1,996
Proceeds from sale of preferred stock			141,164
Dividends to preferred shareholder and stockholder	(41,082)	(38,951)	(114,338)
Proceeds from issuance of long term debt		1,426
Principal reductions of long-term debt	(1,708)	(1,963)	(129,439)
Deferred financing costs	(320)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(43,074)	(42,522)	(100,617)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	17,991	(59,500)	20,997
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	99,037	158,537	137,540
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	117,028	99,037	158,537
United Refining Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by operating activities	128,665	92,535	136,168
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(30,451)	(33,069)	(15,921)
Additions to deferred turnaround costs	(705)	(41,850)	(1,170)
Additions to deferred integrity and replacement costs	(28,630)	(36,810)
Proceeds from asset dispositions	5	56	70
Net cash used in investing activities	(59,781)	(111,673)	(17,021)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distribution from (to) Parent under the Tax Sharing Agreement	36	(3,034)	1,996
Proceeds from sale of preferred stock			141,164
Dividends to preferred shareholder and stockholder	(41,082)	(38,951)	(114,338)
Principal reductions of long-term debt	(637)	(907)	(128,802)
Deferred financing costs	(320)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(42,003)	(42,892)	(99,980)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	26,881	(62,030)	19,167
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	79,356	141,386	122,219
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	106,237	79,356	141,386
Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by operating activities	14,985	18,698	28,203
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(19,798)	(16,195)	(25,676)
Additions to amortizable intangible assets	(100)
Additions to deferred turnaround costs	(2,911)	(345)	(71)
Proceeds from asset dispositions	5	2	11
Net cash used in investing activities	(22,804)	(16,538)	(25,736)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long term debt		1,426
Principal reductions of long-term debt	(1,071)	(1,056)	(637)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(1,071)	370	(637)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(8,890)	2,530	1,830
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	19,681	17,151	15,321
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 10,791	$ 19,681	$ 17,151

VULCAN ASPHALT REFINING CORP 10-K