CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 3,207,113	$ 3,294,379	$ 6,332,858	$ 6,222,511
Cost of revenue	2,823,990	2,913,204	5,579,564	5,539,934
Gross profit	383,123	381,175	753,294	682,577
Selling and administrative expense	85,153	98,031	194,254	217,198
Intangibles amortization	14,942	16,822	30,594	33,056
Equity earnings	(394)	(3,165)	(4,596)	(7,330)
Other operating (income) expense, net	(685)	(261)	2,137	(645)
Integration related costs	0	9,537	0	17,604
Income from operations	284,107	260,211	530,905	422,694
Interest expense	(21,114)	(21,675)	(43,400)	(40,562)
Interest income	2,184	1,477	4,232	3,537
Income before taxes	265,177	240,013	491,737	385,669
Income tax expense	(79,289)	(72,947)	(149,100)	(115,857)
Net income	185,888	167,066	342,637	269,812
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(16,373)	(24,662)	(40,894)	(38,457)
Net income attributable to CB&I	$ 169,515	$ 142,404	$ 301,743	$ 231,355
Net income attributable to CB&I per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.56	$ 1.32	$ 2.78	$ 2.14
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.55	$ 1.31	$ 2.76	$ 2.12
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	108,700	108,096	108,450	107,888
Diluted (in shares)	109,533	109,110	109,386	109,058
Cash dividends on shares:
Amount	$ 7,610	$ 7,567	$ 15,207	$ 15,126
Per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.14	$ 0.14