Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Operating revenues and earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues	$ 662,103	$ 519,729	$ 1,856,008	$ 1,688,891
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(33,385)	(38,374)	(123,900)	(81,940)
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	4	2	6	(221,918)
Investment income (loss)	373	310	208	923
Interest expense	(54,607)	(46,836)	(165,813)	(137,803)
Other, net	(5,559)	(10,392)	(29,173)	(267,403)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(133,994)	(128,890)	(442,203)	(805,346)
ASSETS
Total assets	8,088,585		8,088,585		$ 8,187,015
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services
Operating revenues and earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues	702,464	549,041	1,979,687	1,757,350
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(33,385)	(38,374)	(123,900)	(81,940)
ASSETS
Total assets	7,506,461		7,506,461		7,461,879
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | U.S.
Operating revenues and earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues	222,747	116,095	572,025	405,113
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(53,536)	(58,876)	(172,797)	(154,763)
ASSETS
Total assets	3,288,663		3,288,663		3,172,767
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | Canada
Operating revenues and earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues	18,073	10,444	63,002	34,555
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(7,494)	(10,156)	(16,519)	(28,265)
ASSETS
Total assets	341,114		341,114		329,620
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | International
Operating revenues and earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues	374,106	363,552	1,092,667	1,165,631
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	32,316	43,595	80,464	144,326
ASSETS
Total assets	3,433,515		3,433,515		3,600,057
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | Rig Services
Operating revenues and earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues	87,538	58,950	251,993	152,051
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(4,671)	(12,937)	(15,048)	(43,238)
ASSETS
Total assets	443,169		443,169		359,435
Other reconciling items (1)
Operating revenues and earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues	(40,361)	(29,312)	(123,679)	(68,459)
Other reconciling items (3)
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(40,820)	$ (33,600)	(123,531)	$ (97,205)
ASSETS
Total assets	$ 582,124		$ 582,124		$ 725,136