Impairments and Other Charges (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011 rig	Sep. 30, 2013 9.25% senior notes	Dec. 31, 2013 9.25% senior notes	Dec. 31, 2013 Petrello	Dec. 31, 2013 Common Shares Petrello	Dec. 31, 2012 Canada	Dec. 31, 2012 U.S.	Dec. 31, 2011 U.S.	Dec. 31, 2012 International	Dec. 31, 2011 International	Dec. 31, 2012 Rig Services	Dec. 31, 2013 Completion and Production Services	Dec. 31, 2012 Completion and Production Services	Dec. 31, 2011 US Production Services	Dec. 31, 2012 Trade Names
Summary of Impairments and other charges
Loss on tendered notes	$ 208,197,000
Provision for retirement of assets	14,044,000	138,666,000	98,072,000					33,700,000	37,100,000	63,200,000	16,500,000	26,100,000	2,000,000	20,000,000	49,400,000	8,900,000
Impairment of long-lived assets	20,000,000	50,355,000						32,900,000	17,400,000
Termination of employment contract	45,000,000		100,000,000
Intangible asset impairment	0	74,960,000	0														75,000,000
Goodwill impairments	0	26,279,000	0
Total impairments and other charges	287,241,000	290,260,000	198,072,000
Interest rate (as a percent)					9.25%
Principal amount repurchased				785,400,000
Payment of principal and accrued and unpaid interest of senior notes	994,181,000	276,258,000	1,404,281,000	1,000,000,000
Number of Jackup rigs decommissioned and retired			1
Number of trucks and rigs retired			116
Number of common shares contributed as charity		1
Cahs awarded in connection with termination of prior contract						$ 18,000,000	$ 27,000,000
Lived intangible asset																	10 years