No definition available.

Name:	rig_DefinedContributionBenefitPlansLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of defined contribution benefit plans sponsored by the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rig_DefinedContributionBenefitPlansNumberOfDefinedContributionPlansSponsoredByCompany
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of employee's gross pay, based on the employee's years of eligible service for which the employer contributes a matching contribution to a defined contribution plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rig_DefinedContributionPlanAdditionalEmployerMatchingContributionPercentageBasedOnParticipantYearsOfEligibleService
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 70
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170846&loc=d3e28014-114942

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of employees' gross pay for which the employer contributes a matching contribution to a defined contribution plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	rig_DefinedContributionBenefitPlansDisclosureBenefitPlansAxis=rig_UnitedStatesDefinedContributionSavingsPlansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	rig_DefinedContributionBenefitPlansDisclosureBenefitPlansAxis=rig_ForeignDefinedContributionSavingsPlansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_GB
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Postemployment Benefit Plans (DefCont) (Details) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) plan	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Defined contribution plans
Number of defined contribution plans sponsored by the entity (in plans) \| plan		4
Contribution expense \| $		$ 51	$ 89	$ 84
U.S. Savings Plan
Defined contribution plans
Matching contribution as a percentage of participant's base salary		10.00%		6.00%
Non-U.S. Savings Plan
Defined contribution plans
Matching contribution as a percentage of participant's base salary	12.00%	6.00%
Non-U.S. Savings Plan \| Minimum
Defined contribution plans
Additional matching contribution as a percentage of participant's base salary		4.50%
Non-U.S. Savings Plan \| Maximum
Defined contribution plans
Additional matching contribution as a percentage of participant's base salary		6.50%
U.K. \| Non-U.S. Savings Plan \| Minimum
Defined contribution plans
Matching contribution as a percentage of participant's base salary		4.50%
U.K. \| Non-U.S. Savings Plan \| Maximum
Defined contribution plans
Matching contribution as a percentage of participant's base salary		9.50%