Supplemental Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Cash Flow Information - Other Expense (Income) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) VEF / $	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) VEF / $
Other expense (income)
Losses (gains) on sales, disposals and involuntary conversions of long-lived assets	$ 6,546	$ 20,984	$ 40,527	$ 23,709
Other-than-temporary impairment of equity security	3,495		3,495
Impairment of our CJES holdings			216,242	180,591
Merger transaction		5,500		(47,074)
Provision for International operations	1,128	48,279	1,128	48,279
Litigation expenses	2,327	5,522	2,651	3,578
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains)	(1,102)	(1,496)	5,916	(2,044)
Gain on debt buybacks	(680)		(6,707)
Other losses (gains)	(1,322)	351	276	(1,812)
Reserve with our retained interest on North Slope of Alaska assets			22,400
Charges to reduce the carrying value of asset held for sale			3,800
Other expense (income)	10,392	$ 259,731	267,403	205,227
Provision for assets and receivable impacted by degradation of overall country economy				25,400
Charge for remeasurement of net monetary assets				$ 10,000
Official exchange rate of Bolivares per USD | VEF / $		6.3		6.3
SIMADI exchange rate of Bolivares per USD | VEF / $		199		199
Write-off of receivable				$ 15,400
Provision for exit of non-core business line	$ 1,100	$ 22,900	1,100	22,900
C&J Energy Services, Ltd.
Other expense (income)
Impairment of our CJES holdings		$ 180,591	$ 220,117	$ 180,591