Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Narrative) (Details)	9 Months Ended																									0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Senior Notes, 6.35% due 2017 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Bermuda [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Senior Notes, 6.35% due 2017 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Bermuda [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Senior Notes, 6.80% due 2037 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Bermuda [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Senior Notes, 6.80% due 2037 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Bermuda [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Senior Notes, 5.50% due 2016 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Senior Notes, 5.50% due 2016 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Senior Notes, 6.50% due 2036 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Senior Notes, 6.50% due 2036 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Senior Notes, 6.00% due 2018 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Senior Notes, 6.00% due 2018 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Senior Notes, 7.00% due 2038 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Senior Notes, 7.00% due 2038 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Senior Notes, 9.625% due 2019 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Senior Notes, 9.625% due 2019 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Senior Notes, 9.875% due 2039 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Senior Notes, 9.875% due 2039 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Senior Notes, 5.125% due 2020 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Senior Notes, 5.125% due 2020 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Senior Notes, 6.75% due 2040 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Senior Notes, 6.75% due 2040 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Senior Notes, 4.50% due 2022 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Senior Notes, 4.50% due 2022 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Senior Notes, 5.95% due 2042 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Senior Notes, 5.95% due 2042 [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Apr. 10, 2014 Notes Payable to Banks [Member]	May 02, 2013 Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt		6.35%	6.35%	6.80%	6.80%	5.50%	5.50%	6.50%	6.50%	6.00%	6.00%	7.00%	7.00%	9.625%	9.625%	9.875%	9.875%	5.125%	5.125%	6.75%	6.75%	4.50%	4.50%	5.95%	5.95%
Debt instrument, term	364 days																									364 days	364 days