Business Segment Information (Segment Operating Capital Employed And Segment Assets) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total segment operating capital employed	$ 3,031.7	[1]	$ 2,204.2	[1]
Segment liabilities included in total segment operating capital employed	1,544.8	[1],[2]	1,521.1	[1],[2]
Total assets	5,013.5		4,271.0
Subsea Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total segment operating capital employed	1,744.1	[1]	1,218.2	[1]
Total assets	2,911.4		2,377.7
Surface Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total segment operating capital employed	811.3	[1]	620.5	[1]
Total assets	1,086.3		879.1
Energy Infrastructure [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total segment operating capital employed	476.3	[1]	365.5	[1]
Total assets	600.5		488.0
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	437.0	[3]	545.7	[3]
Intercompany Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	(21.7)		(19.5)
Material Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 4,576.5		$ 3,725.3

[1] FMC’s management views segment operating capital employed, which consists of assets, net of its liabilities, as the primary measure of segment capital. Segment operating capital employed excludes debt, pension liabilities, income taxes and LIFO inventory reserves.

[2] Segment liabilities included in total segment operating capital employed consist of trade and other accounts payable, advance payments and progress billings, accrued payroll and other liabilities.

[3] Corporate includes cash, LIFO inventory reserves, deferred income tax balances, property, plant and equipment not associated with a specific segment, pension assets and the fair value of derivative financial instruments.