Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	$ 1,548,191,000	$ 1,630,380,000	$ 4,545,890,000	$ 4,969,986,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	165,893,000	225,835,000	398,635,000	753,292,000
Joint venture earnings (losses)	(2,628,000)	(99,527,000)	1,627,000	(302,513,000)
Interest expense	(56,059,000)	(63,776,000)	(176,343,000)	(190,068,000)
Investment income (loss)	1,229,000	7,224,000	95,471,000	32,844,000
Gains (losses) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other income (expense), net	(3,266,000)	(10,216,000)	(27,245,000)	(21,777,000)
Impairments and other charges	(242,241,000)		(287,241,000)	(147,503,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(134,444,000)	60,262,000	3,277,000	124,987,000
ASSETS
Total assets	12,202,116,000		12,202,116,000		12,656,022,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net			1,263,000	(302,512,000)
Assets held-for-sale	396,201,000		396,201,000		383,857,000
Oil and gas
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Joint venture earnings (losses)		(98,805,000)		(301,801,000)
ASSETS
Assets held-for-sale	264,710,000		264,710,000		377,625,000
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	1,088,117,000	1,139,647,000	3,156,963,000	3,569,663,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	161,582,000	181,212,000	393,257,000	618,051,000
ASSETS
Total assets	9,033,065,000		9,033,065,000		9,127,826,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net	(2,900,000)	(700,000)	1,000,000	(700,000)
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	60,900,000		60,900,000		59,900,000
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | U.S.
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	491,857,000	555,784,000	1,443,759,000	1,781,654,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	92,710,000	115,207,000	240,118,000	427,291,000
ASSETS
Total assets	4,227,580,000		4,227,580,000		4,157,470,000
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | Canada
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	81,397,000	102,993,000	273,053,000	313,743,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	12,244,000	21,679,000	46,657,000	64,296,000
ASSETS
Total assets	633,913,000		633,913,000		699,699,000
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | International
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	383,712,000	329,245,000	1,056,649,000	940,332,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	54,271,000	30,299,000	108,221,000	67,838,000
ASSETS
Total assets	3,528,697,000		3,528,697,000		3,626,307,000
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | Rig Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	131,151,000	151,625,000	383,502,000	533,934,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	2,357,000	14,027,000	(1,739,000)	58,626,000
ASSETS
Total assets	642,875,000		642,875,000		644,350,000
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	513,326,000	636,068,000	1,525,653,000	1,919,406,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	38,933,000	81,253,000	113,044,000	245,683,000
ASSETS
Total assets	2,224,980,000		2,224,980,000		2,301,802,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net	300,000		600,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	8,000,000		8,000,000		1,800,000
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services | Reportable subsegments | Production Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	246,806,000	254,827,000	742,979,000	752,466,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	25,909,000	34,035,000	75,394,000	87,461,000
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services | Reportable subsegments | Completion Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	266,520,000	381,241,000	782,674,000	1,166,940,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	13,024,000	47,218,000	37,650,000	158,222,000
Other reconciling items
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	(53,252,000)	(145,335,000)	(136,726,000)	(519,083,000)
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(34,622,000)	(36,630,000)	(107,666,000)	(110,442,000)
ASSETS
Total assets	$ 944,071,000		$ 944,071,000		$ 1,226,394,000