Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	$ 1,581,540,000	$ 1,821,757,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	149,588,000	315,536,000
Joint venture earning (losses)	2,895,000	(68,669,000)
Interest expense	(60,008,000)	(62,654,000)
Investment income (loss)	79,421,000	20,252,000
Gains (losses) on sales and retirements of long-lived assets and other income (expense), net	(59,807,000)	1,840,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	109,194,000	212,412,000
ASSETS
Total assets	12,585,457,000		12,656,022,000
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends	2,896,000	(68,668,000)
Assets held-for-sale	385,133,000		383,857,000
Drilling and Rig Services
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	1,112,466,000	1,320,063,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	137,319,000	260,863,000
ASSETS
Total assets	9,139,084,000		9,127,826,000
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends	2,800,000	(6,100,000)
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	62,700,000		59,900,000
U.S.
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	484,773,000	627,105,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	77,595,000	166,733,000
ASSETS
Total assets	4,191,963,000		4,157,470,000
Canada
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	126,867,000	144,735,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	30,518,000	43,146,000
ASSETS
Total assets	666,708,000		699,699,000
International
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	321,516,000	306,465,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	21,469,000	21,138,000
ASSETS
Total assets	3,600,919,000		3,626,307,000
Rig Services
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	179,310,000	241,758,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	7,737,000	29,846,000
ASSETS
Total assets	679,494,000		644,350,000
Assets held-for-sale	6,269,000		6,232,000
Completion and Production Services
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	513,709,000	655,295,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	43,770,000	92,889,000
ASSETS
Total assets	2,316,294,000		2,301,802,000
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends	100,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	1,900,000		1,800,000
Production Services
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	251,571,000	257,259,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	26,014,000	28,029,000
Completion Services
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	262,138,000	398,036,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	17,756,000	64,860,000
Oil and Gas
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Joint venture earning (losses)		(62,562,000)
ASSETS
Assets held-for-sale	378,864,000		377,625,000
Other reconciling items
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(44,635,000)	(153,601,000)
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	(31,501,000)	(38,216,000)
ASSETS
Total assets	$ 1,130,079,000		$ 1,226,394,000