| Basis of Presentation | 9 Months Ended |
| Sep. 30, 2014 |
| Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] | ' |
| Basis of Presentation | ' |
| Basis of Presentation |
| Nature of Business |
| LinnCo, LLC (“LinnCo” or the “Company”) is a Delaware limited liability company formed on April 30, 2012, that completed its initial public offering (“IPO”) in October 2012. After the IPO, LinnCo’s initial sole purpose was to own units representing limited liability company interests (“units”) in its affiliate, Linn Energy, LLC (“LINN Energy”). In connection with the acquisition of Berry Petroleum Company, now Berry Petroleum Company, LLC (“Berry”) (see Note 2), LinnCo amended its limited liability company agreement to permit, among other things, the acquisition and subsequent transfer of assets to LINN Energy for consideration received. As of September 30, 2014, LinnCo had no significant assets or operations other than those related to its interest in LINN Energy. LINN Energy is an independent oil and natural gas company that trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “LINE.” At September 30, 2014, LINN Energy’s last reported sales price per unit, as reported by NASDAQ, was $30.14 and the Company owned approximately 39% of LINN Energy’s outstanding units. |
| Principles of Reporting |
| The information reported herein reflects all normal recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the results for the interim periods. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted under Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and regulations; as such, this report should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. The results reported in these unaudited financial statements should not necessarily be taken as indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year. |
| Investments in noncontrolled entities over which the Company exercises significant influence are accounted for under the equity method. |
| Reimbursement of LinnCo’s Costs and Expenses |
| LINN Energy has agreed to provide to LinnCo, or to pay on LinnCo’s behalf, any legal, accounting, tax advisory, financial advisory and engineering fees, printing costs or other administrative and out-of-pocket expenses incurred by LinnCo, along with any other expenses incurred in connection with any public offering of common shares representing limited liability company interests (“shares”) in LinnCo or incurred as a result of being a publicly traded entity. These expenses include costs associated with annual, quarterly and other reports to holders of LinnCo shares, tax return and Form 1099 preparation and distribution, NASDAQ listing fees, printing costs, independent auditor fees and expenses, legal counsel fees and expenses, limited liability company governance and compliance expenses and registrar and transfer agent fees. In addition, LINN Energy has agreed to indemnify LinnCo and its officers and directors for damages suffered or costs incurred (other than income taxes payable by LinnCo) in connection with carrying out LinnCo’s activities. Because all general and administrative expenses and certain offering costs are actually paid by LINN Energy on LinnCo’s behalf, no cash is disbursed by LinnCo. |
| For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2014, LinnCo incurred total general and administrative expenses and certain offering costs of approximately $644,000 and $2.1 million, respectively, of which approximately $1.9 million had been paid by LINN Energy on LinnCo’s behalf as of September 30, 2014. The expenses for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2014, include approximately $470,000 and $1.4 million, respectively, related to services provided by LINN Energy necessary for the conduct of LinnCo’s business, such as accounting, legal, tax, information technology and other expenses. In addition, during the nine months ended September 30, 2014, LINN Energy paid approximately $11 million on LinnCo’s behalf for general and administrative expenses incurred by LinnCo in 2013. |
| For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2013, LinnCo incurred total general and administrative expenses and certain offering costs of approximately $1 million and $15 million, respectively, of which approximately $9 million had been paid by LINN Energy on LinnCo’s behalf as of September 30, 2013. The expenses for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2013, included approximately $125,000 and $13 million, respectively, of transaction costs related to professional services rendered by third parties in connection with the Berry acquisition. The expenses for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2013, also included approximately $403,000 and $1 million, respectively, related to services provided by LINN Energy necessary for the conduct of LinnCo’s business, such as accounting, legal, tax, information technology and other expenses. |
| Dividends |
| Within five business days after receiving a cash distribution related to its interests in LINN Energy units, LinnCo is required to pay the cash received, net of reserves for its income tax liability (“tax reserve”), if any, as dividends to its shareholders. The amount of the tax reserve is calculated on a quarterly basis and is determined based on the estimated tax liability for the entire year. The current tax reserve can be increased or reduced, at Company management’s discretion, to account for the over/(under) tax reserve previously recorded. Because the tax reserve is an estimate, upon filing the annual tax returns, if the actual amount of tax due is greater or less than the total amount of tax reserved, the subsequent tax reserve, at Company management’s discretion, could be adjusted accordingly. Any such adjustments are subject to approval by the Company’s Board of Directors (“Board”). |
| Use of Estimates |
| The preparation of the accompanying financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management of the Company to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the amount of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of income and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and judgment. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Such estimates and assumptions are adjusted when facts and circumstances dictate. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ from these estimates. Any changes in estimates resulting from continuous changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the financial statements in future periods. |
| Accounting for Investment in Linn Energy, LLC |
| The Company uses the equity method of accounting related to its ownership interest in LINN Energy’s net income (losses). The Company records its share of LINN Energy’s net income (losses) in the period in which it is earned. At September 30, 2014, the Company owned approximately 39% of LINN Energy’s outstanding units. The Company’s ownership percentage could change as LINN Energy issues or repurchases additional units. Changes in the Company’s ownership percentage affect its net income (losses). |
| At September 30, 2014, the carrying amount of the Company’s investment in LINN Energy exceeded the Company’s ownership interest in LINN Energy’s underlying net assets by approximately $1.5 billion. The difference is attributable to proved and unproved oil and natural gas properties, senior notes and equity method goodwill. These amounts are included in “investment in Linn Energy, LLC” on the balance sheet and are amortized over the lives of the related assets and liabilities. Such amortization is included in the equity income from the Company’s investment in LINN Energy. Equity method goodwill is not amortized; however, the investment is reviewed for impairment. Impairment testing is performed when events or circumstances warrant such testing and considers whether there is an inability to recover the carrying value of an investment that is other than temporary. As of September 30, 2014, no impairment had occurred with respect to the Company’s investment in LINN Energy. |
