Acquisitions - (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 12 Months Ended
Mar. 15, 2016
Aug. 19, 2015
Dec. 24, 2014
Jun. 06, 2014
Jun. 03, 2014
Jan. 22, 2014
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                  
Cash             $ 12,720 $ 41,409 $ 19,369
Summary of allocations of the purchase price to the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition                  
Goodwill             16,080 16,080  
Debt             0 (5,225) (129,745)
Bargain purchase gain             $ 0 $ 5,358 $ 0
Sanimax                  
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                  
Cash $ 12,541                
Common stock 4,050                
Contingent consideration 4,500                
Total 21,091                
Summary of allocations of the purchase price to the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition                  
Inventory 1,591                
Property, plant and equipment 19,500                
Total identifiable assets acquired 21,091                
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 0                
Net identifiable assets acquired $ 21,091                
Imperium Renewables, Inc.                  
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                  
Cash   $ 36,748              
Common stock   15,310              
Contingent consideration   5,000              
Total   57,058              
Summary of allocations of the purchase price to the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition                  
Cash   168              
Accounts receivable   8,274              
Inventory   18,989              
Other current assets   87              
Property, plant and equipment   46,476              
Intangible assets   2,900              
Total identifiable assets acquired   76,894              
Accounts payable   (4,828)              
Accrued expenses and other liabilities   (942)              
Debt   (5,225)              
Deferred tax liabilities   (3,483)              
Total liabilities assumed   (14,478)              
Net identifiable assets acquired   62,416              
Bargain purchase gain   5,358              
Net assets acquired   $ 57,058              
Petrotec AG                  
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                  
Common stock     $ 20,022            
Summary of allocations of the purchase price to the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition                  
Cash     13,523            
Accounts receivable     4,989            
Inventory     9,470            
Other current assets     3,583            
Property, plant and equipment     25,026            
Other noncurrent assets     369            
Total identifiable assets acquired     56,960            
Accounts payable     (8,171)            
Accrued expenses and other liabilities     (2,151)            
Debt     (16,192)            
Other noncurrent liabilities     (1,462)            
Total liabilities assumed     (27,976)            
Net identifiable assets acquired     28,984            
Non-controlling interest     (8,962)            
Net assets acquired     $ 20,022            
Syntroleum Corporation                  
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                  
Common stock         $ 34,831        
Dynamic Fuels, LLC                  
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                  
Cash       $ 16,447          
Contingent consideration       28,900          
Total       45,347          
Syntroleum Corporation and Dynamic Fuels, LLC                  
Summary of allocations of the purchase price to the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition                  
Cash       253          
Other current assets       4,666          
Property, plant and equipment       121,567          
Goodwill       71,398          
Intangible assets       8,900          
Other noncurrent assets       10,281          
Accrued expenses and other liabilities       (1,024)          
Debt       (113,553)          
Other noncurrent liabilities       (14,000)          
Deferred tax liabilities       (8,310)          
Net assets acquired       $ 80,178          
LS9, Inc                  
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                  
Cash           $ 15,275      
Common stock           26,254      
Contingent consideration           17,050      
Total           58,579      
Summary of allocations of the purchase price to the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition                  
Property, plant and equipment           8,215      
Goodwill           34,846      
Intangible assets           15,956      
Other noncurrent liabilities           (438)      
Net assets acquired           $ 58,579