Basis of Presentation, Significant Accounting Polices and Practicies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements	6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation, Significant Accounting Polices and Practicies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Basis of Presentation, Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company included herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of such information. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, certain information and footnote disclosures, including a description of significant accounting policies normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("US GAAP"), have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Certain prior amounts have been reclassified or combined to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications and combinations had no effect on previously reported results of operations or accumulated deficit. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014, filed with the SEC on November 21, 2014 (the "Form 10-K"). The results of operations for the six months ended March 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results for any subsequent periods or the entire fiscal year ending September 30, 2015. The Company’s fiscal year ends on September 30 and the quarters end on the last calendar day of the months of December, March and June. The Company's significant subsidiary, Spectrum Brands' fiscal year ends September 30 and its interim fiscal quarters end every thirteenth Sunday, except for its first fiscal quarter which may end on the fourteenth Sunday following September 30. The Company does not adjust for the difference in fiscal periods between Spectrum Brands and itself, as such difference would be less than 93 days, pursuant to Regulation S-X Rule 3A-02. At March 31, 2015, the non-controlling interest component of total equity primarily represents the 41.5% share of Spectrum Brands and the 19.3% of Fidelity & Guaranty Life ("FGL") not owned by HRG. Oil and natural gas properties Ceiling Test Pursuant to Rule 4-10(c)(4) of Regulation S-X, Compass is required to compute its ceiling test using the simple average spot price for the trailing twelve month period for oil and natural gas at the end of each fiscal quarter. The ceiling test involves comparing the net book value of the full cost pool, after taxes, to the full cost ceiling limitation defined below. In the event the full cost ceiling limitation is less than the full cost pool, Compass is required to record a ceiling test impairment of its oil and natural gas properties. The full cost ceiling limitation is computed as the sum of the present value of estimated future net revenues from Compass' proved reserves by applying the average price as prescribed by the SEC Release No. 33-8995, less estimated future expenditures (based on current costs) to develop and produce the proved reserves, discounted at 10%, plus the cost of properties not being amortized and the lower of cost or estimated fair value of unproved properties included in the costs being amortized, net of income tax effects. The ceiling test is computed using the simple average spot price for the trailing 12 month period using the first day of each month. As of March 31, 2015, the trailing 12 month reference prices were $3.88 per Million British Thermal Units ("Mmbtu") for natural gas at Henry Hub ("HH"), and $82.72 per barrel ("Bbl") of oil for West Texas Intermediate at Cushing, Oklahoma. Each of the reference prices for oil and natural gas are further adjusted for quality factors and regional differentials to derive estimated future net revenues. The price used for natural gas liquids was $34.31 per Bbl and was based on the trailing 12 month average of realized prices. Under full cost accounting rules, any ceiling test impairments of oil and natural gas properties may not be reversed in subsequent periods. Since Compass does not designate its derivative financial instruments as hedging instruments, Compass is not allowed to use the impacts of the derivative financial instruments in the ceiling test computations. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, Compass recognized impairments to its proved oil and natural gas properties of $146.6 primarily due to a decline in oil and natural gas prices. During the six months ended March 31, 2015, Compass recognized impairments of $336.6 to its proved oil and natural gas properties. The impairments for the six months ended March 31, 2015 were due to the sharp decline in oil and natural gas prices as well as the acquisition of EXCO's interest in Compass. As further discussed in Note 3, Acquisitions, the acquisition resulting from the purchase of EXCO's remaining interest in Compass triggered the remeasurement of the Company's initial basis in Compass at fair value which increased Compass' full cost pool. The purchase price for the acquisition was based on both the income and market approach models which incorporate, among other things, market prices based on the New York Mercantile Exchange ("NYMEX") futures as of the acquisition date, which the Company believes reflects an independent proxy point for determining fair value. The ceiling test, however, requires companies using the full cost accounting method to price period-ending proved reserves using the simple average spot price for the trailing 12 month period, which may not be indicative of actual market values. As a result, Compass' full cost pool exceeded its ceiling test limitation at December 31, 2014 resulting in an impairment. Compass recognized an impairment of $81.0 for the three and six months ended March 31, 2014 primarily due to differences in the oil and natural gas prices utilized in the purchase price allocation at the formation of Compass and the prices used in the ceiling test calculation. As a result of recent decline in oil and natural gas prices, Compass expects to incur additional impairments to its oil and natural gas properties in fiscal year 2015 if prices do not increase. The possibility and amount of any future impairment is difficult to predict, and will depend, in part, upon future oil and natural gas prices to be utilized in the ceiling test, estimates of proved reserves and future capital expenditures and operating costs. The ceiling test calculation and impairment evaluation are based upon estimates of proved reserves. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves, in projecting the future rates of production and in the timing of development activities. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Results of drilling, testing and production subsequent to the date of the estimate may justify revision of such estimate. Accordingly, reserve estimates are often different from the quantities of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids that are ultimately recovered. Insurance Subsidiary Financial Information and Regulatory Matters Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Company's ("FGL Insurance") statutory carrying value of Raven Reinsurance Company ("Raven Re") reflects the effect of permitted practices Raven Re received to treat the available amount of a letter of credit as an admitted asset which increased Raven Re’s statutory capital and surplus by $238.8 and $251.3 at March 31, 2015 and September 30, 2014, respectively. Raven Re is also permitted to follow Iowa prescribed statutory accounting practice for its reserves on reinsurance assumed from FGL Insurance which increased Raven Re’s statutory capital and surplus by $12.4 and $18.8 at March 31, 2015 and September 30, 2014, respectively. Without such permitted statutory accounting practices Raven Re’s statutory capital and surplus would be negative $62.8 and negative $81.3 as of March 31, 2015 and September 30, 2014, respectively, and its risk-based capital would fall below the minimum regulatory requirements. The letter of credit facility is collateralized by debt securities rated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) as "NAIC-1." If the permitted practice was revoked, the letter of credit could be replaced by the collateral assets with Nomura Bank International plc's consent. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects In January 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued amended guidance which allows investors in Low Income Housing Tax Credit (“LIHTC”) programs that meet specified conditions to present the net tax benefits (net of the amortization of the cost of the investment) within income tax expense. The cost of the investments that meet the specified conditions will be amortized in proportion to (and over the same period as) the total expected tax benefits, including the tax credits and other tax benefits, as they are realized on the tax return. The guidance is required to be applied retrospectively, if investors elect the proportional amortization method. However, if investors have existing LIHTC investments accounted for under the effective-yield method at adoption, they may continue to apply that method for those existing investments. ASU 2014-01, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Project. The Company early adopted this guidance effective October 1, 2014 for all new LIHTC investments made subsequent to that date. Prior LIHTC investments will continue to be accounted for under the effective-yield method. This adoption did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations. Share-Based Payments When a Performance Target is Achieved after the Requisite Service Period In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued new guidance on Stock Compensation (ASU 2014-12, Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Term of an Award Provide that a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period), effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015 and interim periods within those years. The new guidance requires that performance targets that affect vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period to be treated as performance conditions. Such performance targets would not be included in the grant-date fair value calculation of the award, rather compensation cost should be recorded when it is probable the performance target will be reached and should represent the compensation cost attributable to period(s) for which the requisite service has already been rendered. This standard may be early adopted and the amendments in this accounting standards update may be applied either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company will not early adopt this standard and is currently evaluating the impact of this new accounting guidance on its consolidated financial statements. Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. This ASU makes changes to the Variable Interest Entity ("VIE") model and voting interest ("VOE") model consolidation guidance. The main provisions of the ASU include the following: i) adding a requirement that limited partnerships and similar legal entities must provide partners with either substantive kick-out rights or substantive participating rights over the general partner to qualify as a VOE rather than a VIE; ii) eliminating the presumption that the general partner should consolidate a limited partnership; iii) eliminating certain conditions that need to be met when evaluating whether fees paid to a decision maker or service provider are considered a variable interest; iv) excluding certain fees paid to decision makers or service providers when evaluating which party is the primary beneficiary of a VIE; and v) revising how related parties are evaluated under the VIE guidance. Lastly, this ASU eliminates the indefinite deferral of FAS 167, which allowed reporting entities with interests in certain investment funds to follow previous guidance in FIN 46 (R). However, this ASU permanently exempts reporting entities from consolidating registered money market funds that operate in accordance with Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940. This ASU is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Entities may apply this ASU either using a modified retrospective approach by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning period of adoption or retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is also permitted provided that this ASU is applied from the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its financial statements. Debt Issuance Costs In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. The accounting guidance requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. The Company currently recognizes debt issuance costs as assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. ASU 2015-03 is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of ASU 2015-03 to determine the potential impact the new standard will have on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-05, Customer's Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement. This ASU provides guidance to customers about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, the customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. The new guidance does not change the accounting for a customer's accounting for service contracts. ASU 2015-05 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of ASU 2015-05 to determine the potential impact the new standard will have on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

Basis of Presentation, Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company included herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of such information. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, certain information and footnote disclosures, including a description of significant accounting policies normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("US GAAP"), have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Certain prior amounts have been reclassified or combined to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications and combinations had no effect on previously reported results of operations or accumulated deficit. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014, filed with the SEC on November 21, 2014 (the "Form 10-K"). The results of operations for the six months ended March 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results for any subsequent periods or the entire fiscal year ending September 30, 2015.

The Company’s fiscal year ends on September 30 and the quarters end on the last calendar day of the months of December, March and June. The Company's significant subsidiary, Spectrum Brands' fiscal year ends September 30 and its interim fiscal quarters end every thirteenth Sunday, except for its first fiscal quarter which may end on the fourteenth Sunday following September 30. The Company does not adjust for the difference in fiscal periods between Spectrum Brands and itself, as such difference would be less than 93 days, pursuant to Regulation S-X Rule 3A-02.

At March 31, 2015, the non-controlling interest component of total equity primarily represents the 41.5% share of Spectrum Brands and the 19.3% of Fidelity & Guaranty Life ("FGL") not owned by HRG.

Oil and natural gas properties

Ceiling Test

Pursuant to Rule 4-10(c)(4) of Regulation S-X, Compass is required to compute its ceiling test using the simple average spot price for the trailing twelve month period for oil and natural gas at the end of each fiscal quarter. The ceiling test involves comparing the net book value of the full cost pool, after taxes, to the full cost ceiling limitation defined below. In the event the full cost ceiling limitation is less than the full cost pool, Compass is required to record a ceiling test impairment of its oil and natural gas properties. The full cost ceiling limitation is computed as the sum of the present value of estimated future net revenues from Compass' proved reserves by applying the average price as prescribed by the SEC Release No. 33-8995, less estimated future expenditures (based on current costs) to develop and produce the proved reserves, discounted at 10%, plus the cost of properties not being amortized and the lower of cost or estimated fair value of unproved properties included in the costs being amortized, net of income tax effects.

The ceiling test is computed using the simple average spot price for the trailing 12 month period using the first day of each month. As of March 31, 2015, the trailing 12 month reference prices were $3.88 per Million British Thermal Units ("Mmbtu") for natural gas at Henry Hub ("HH"), and $82.72 per barrel ("Bbl") of oil for West Texas Intermediate at Cushing, Oklahoma. Each of the reference prices for oil and natural gas are further adjusted for quality factors and regional differentials to derive estimated future net revenues. The price used for natural gas liquids was $34.31 per Bbl and was based on the trailing 12 month average of realized prices. Under full cost accounting rules, any ceiling test impairments of oil and natural gas properties may not be reversed in subsequent periods. Since Compass does not designate its derivative financial instruments as hedging instruments, Compass is not allowed to use the impacts of the derivative financial instruments in the ceiling test computations.

For the three months ended March 31, 2015, Compass recognized impairments to its proved oil and natural gas properties of $146.6 primarily due to a decline in oil and natural gas prices. During the six months ended March 31, 2015, Compass recognized impairments of $336.6 to its proved oil and natural gas properties. The impairments for the six months ended March 31, 2015 were due to the sharp decline in oil and natural gas prices as well as the acquisition of EXCO's interest in Compass. As further discussed in Note 3, Acquisitions, the acquisition resulting from the purchase of EXCO's remaining interest in Compass triggered the remeasurement of the Company's initial basis in Compass at fair value which increased Compass' full cost pool. The purchase price for the acquisition was based on both the income and market approach models which incorporate, among other things, market prices based on the New York Mercantile Exchange ("NYMEX") futures as of the acquisition date, which the Company believes reflects an independent proxy point for determining fair value. The ceiling test, however, requires companies using the full cost accounting method to price period-ending proved reserves using the simple average spot price for the trailing 12 month period, which may not be indicative of actual market values. As a result, Compass' full cost pool exceeded its ceiling test limitation at December 31, 2014 resulting in an impairment. Compass recognized an impairment of $81.0 for the three and six months ended March 31, 2014 primarily due to differences in the oil and natural gas prices utilized in the purchase price allocation at the formation of Compass and the prices used in the ceiling test calculation.

As a result of recent decline in oil and natural gas prices, Compass expects to incur additional impairments to its oil and natural gas properties in fiscal year 2015 if prices do not increase. The possibility and amount of any future impairment is difficult to predict, and will depend, in part, upon future oil and natural gas prices to be utilized in the ceiling test, estimates of proved reserves and future capital expenditures and operating costs.

The ceiling test calculation and impairment evaluation are based upon estimates of proved reserves. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves, in projecting the future rates of production and in the timing of development activities. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Results of drilling, testing and production subsequent to the date of the estimate may justify revision of such estimate. Accordingly, reserve estimates are often different from the quantities of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids that are ultimately recovered.

Insurance Subsidiary Financial Information and Regulatory Matters

Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Company's ("FGL Insurance") statutory carrying value of Raven Reinsurance Company ("Raven Re") reflects the effect of permitted practices Raven Re received to treat the available amount of a letter of credit as an admitted asset which increased Raven Re’s statutory capital and surplus by $238.8 and $251.3 at March 31, 2015 and September 30, 2014, respectively. Raven Re is also permitted to follow Iowa prescribed statutory accounting practice for its reserves on reinsurance assumed from FGL Insurance which increased Raven Re’s statutory capital and surplus by $12.4 and $18.8 at March 31, 2015 and September 30, 2014, respectively. Without such permitted statutory accounting practices Raven Re’s statutory capital and surplus would be negative $62.8 and negative $81.3 as of March 31, 2015 and September 30, 2014, respectively, and its risk-based capital would fall below the minimum regulatory requirements. The letter of credit facility is collateralized by debt securities rated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) as "NAIC-1." If the permitted practice was revoked, the letter of credit could be replaced by the collateral assets with Nomura Bank International plc's consent.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects

In January 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued amended guidance which allows investors in Low Income Housing Tax Credit (“LIHTC”) programs that meet specified conditions to present the net tax benefits (net of the amortization of the cost of the investment) within income tax expense. The cost of the investments that meet the specified conditions will be amortized in proportion to (and over the same period as) the total expected tax benefits, including the tax credits and other tax benefits, as they are realized on the tax return. The guidance is required to be applied retrospectively, if investors elect the proportional amortization method. However, if investors have existing LIHTC investments accounted for under the effective-yield method at adoption, they may continue to apply that method for those existing investments. ASU 2014-01, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Project. The Company early adopted this guidance effective October 1, 2014 for all new LIHTC investments made subsequent to that date. Prior LIHTC investments will continue to be accounted for under the effective-yield method. This adoption did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

Share-Based Payments When a Performance Target is Achieved after the Requisite Service Period

In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued new guidance on Stock Compensation (ASU 2014-12, Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Term of an Award Provide that a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period), effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015 and interim periods within those years. The new guidance requires that performance targets that affect vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period to be treated as performance conditions. Such performance targets would not be included in the grant-date fair value calculation of the award, rather compensation cost should be recorded when it is probable the performance target will be reached and should represent the compensation cost attributable to period(s) for which the requisite service has already been rendered. This standard may be early adopted and the amendments in this accounting standards update may be applied either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company will not early adopt this standard and is currently evaluating the impact of this new accounting guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. This ASU makes changes to the Variable Interest Entity ("VIE") model and voting interest ("VOE") model consolidation guidance. The main provisions of the ASU include the following: i) adding a requirement that limited partnerships and similar legal entities must provide partners with either substantive kick-out rights or substantive participating rights over the general partner to qualify as a VOE rather than a VIE; ii) eliminating the presumption that the general partner should consolidate a limited partnership; iii) eliminating certain conditions that need to be met when evaluating whether fees paid to a decision maker or service provider are considered a variable interest; iv) excluding certain fees paid to decision makers or service providers when evaluating which party is the primary beneficiary of a VIE; and v) revising how related parties are evaluated under the VIE guidance. Lastly, this ASU eliminates the indefinite deferral of FAS 167, which allowed reporting entities with interests in certain investment funds to follow previous guidance in FIN 46 (R). However, this ASU permanently exempts reporting entities from consolidating registered money market funds that operate in accordance with Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940. This ASU is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Entities may apply this ASU either using a modified retrospective approach by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning period of adoption or retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is also permitted provided that this ASU is applied from the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its financial statements.

Debt Issuance Costs

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. The accounting guidance requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. The Company currently recognizes debt issuance costs as assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. ASU 2015-03 is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of ASU 2015-03 to determine the potential impact the new standard will have on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-05, Customer's Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement. This ASU provides guidance to customers about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, the customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. The new guidance does not change the accounting for a customer's accounting for service contracts. ASU 2015-05 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of ASU 2015-05 to determine the potential impact the new standard will have on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.