Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Goodwill (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Change in the carrying amount of goodwill for various contract drilling segments and other operating segments
Goodwill - Beginning Balance	$ 173,928,000	$ 512,964,000
Acquisitions and purchase price adjustment	86,502,000	18,818,000
Disposals and Impairments	(92,112,000)	(356,605,000)
Cumulative Translation Adjustment	(1,659,000)	(1,249,000)
Goodwill - Ending Balance	$ 166,659,000	173,928,000
Goodwill
Long-term growth rate used to calculate terminal values for each reporting unit (as a percent)	3.00%
Goodwill impairments	$ 0	356,605,000
Discontinued Operation, additional disclosures
Goodwill for the consolidated company, expected to be deductible for tax purposes	12,300,000
Drilling and Rig Services
Change in the carrying amount of goodwill for various contract drilling segments and other operating segments
Goodwill - Beginning Balance	81,816,000	87,410,000
Acquisitions and purchase price adjustment	86,502,000	17,268,000
Disposals and Impairments		(21,613,000)
Cumulative Translation Adjustment	(1,659,000)	(1,249,000)
Goodwill - Ending Balance	166,659,000	81,816,000
United States
Change in the carrying amount of goodwill for various contract drilling segments and other operating segments
Goodwill - Beginning Balance	50,149,000	50,149,000
Goodwill - Ending Balance	50,149,000	50,149,000
International
Change in the carrying amount of goodwill for various contract drilling segments and other operating segments
Acquisitions and purchase price adjustment	75,634,000
Goodwill - Ending Balance	75,634,000
Rig Services
Change in the carrying amount of goodwill for various contract drilling segments and other operating segments
Goodwill - Beginning Balance	31,667,000	37,261,000
Acquisitions and purchase price adjustment	10,868,000	17,268,000
Disposals and Impairments		(21,613,000)
Cumulative Translation Adjustment	(1,659,000)	(1,249,000)
Goodwill - Ending Balance	40,876,000	31,667,000
Completion and Production Services
Change in the carrying amount of goodwill for various contract drilling segments and other operating segments
Goodwill - Beginning Balance	92,112,000	425,554,000
Acquisitions and purchase price adjustment		1,550,000
Disposals and Impairments	(92,112,000)	(334,992,000)
Goodwill - Ending Balance		92,112,000
Completion Services
Change in the carrying amount of goodwill for various contract drilling segments and other operating segments
Goodwill - Beginning Balance		334,992,000
Disposals and Impairments		(334,992,000)
Production Services
Change in the carrying amount of goodwill for various contract drilling segments and other operating segments
Goodwill - Beginning Balance	92,112,000	90,562,000
Acquisitions and purchase price adjustment		1,550,000
Disposals and Impairments	$ (92,112,000)
Goodwill - Ending Balance		$ 92,112,000