Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013 Weatherford Switzerland [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Weatherford Ireland [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Weatherford Bermuda [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Weatherford Bermuda [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Weatherford Delaware [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Other Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Other Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Eliminations [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss)	$ (76,000,000)	$ (50,000,000)	$ (74,000,000)	$ (109,000,000)	$ 7,143,000,000	$ (226,000,000)	$ 167,000,000	$ 154,000,000	$ (8,735,000,000)	$ 579,000,000	$ 1,458,000,000	$ (483,000,000)
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Charges from Parent or Subsidiary	0	0	27,000,000	43,000,000	(7,331,000,000)	(25,000,000)	105,000,000	164,000,000	9,003,000,000	(166,000,000)	(1,820,000,000)	0
Equity in (Earnings) Loss of Affiliates	0	0	23,000,000	32,000,000	(130,000,000)	(213,000,000)	(265,000,000)	(293,000,000)	1,000,000	0	362,000,000	483,000,000
Deferred Income Tax Provision (Benefit)	31,000,000	(168,000,000)	0	0	0	0	0	0	31,000,000	(168,000,000)	0	0
Other Adjustments	424,000,000	785,000,000	208,000,000	3,000,000	(65,000,000)	625,000,000	23,000,000	34,000,000	463,000,000	(82,000,000)	0	0
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	379,000,000	567,000,000	184,000,000	(31,000,000)	(383,000,000)	161,000,000	30,000,000	59,000,000	763,000,000	163,000,000	0	0
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital Expenditures for Property, Plant and Equipment	(1,045,000,000)	(1,211,000,000)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(1,045,000,000)	(1,211,000,000)	0	0
Acquisitions of Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	17,000,000	(7,000,000)	0	0	0	0	0	0	17,000,000	(7,000,000)	0	0
Acquisition of Intellectual Property	(3,000,000)	(7,000,000)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(3,000,000)	(7,000,000)	0	0
Proceeds from Sale of Assets and Businesses, Net	781,000,000	74,000,000	0	0	0	0	0	0	781,000,000	74,000,000	0	0
Capital Contribution to Subsidiary	0	0	(129,000,000)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	129,000,000
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(250,000,000)	(1,151,000,000)	(129,000,000)	0	0	0	0	0	(250,000,000)	(1,151,000,000)	0	129,000,000
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Borrowings of Short-term Debt, Net	46,000,000	932,000,000	0	0	140,000,000	905,000,000	0	(4,000,000)	(94,000,000)	31,000,000	0	0
Borrowings (Repayments) Long-term Debt, Net	(49,000,000)	(329,000,000)	0	0	0	(294,000,000)	(16,000,000)	(18,000,000)	(33,000,000)	(17,000,000)	0	0
Borrowings (Repayments) Between Subsidiaries, Net	0	0	(54,000,000)	31,000,000	246,000,000	(769,000,000)	8,000,000	(37,000,000)	(285,000,000)	860,000,000	0	0
Proceeds from Sale of EDC Treasury Shares	(22,000,000)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(22,000,000)	(129,000,000)	0	129,000,000
Other, Net	(12,000,000)	1,000,000	0	0	0	0	0	0	(12,000,000)	1,000,000	0	0
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities	7,000,000	604,000,000	(54,000,000)	31,000,000	386,000,000	(158,000,000)	(8,000,000)	(59,000,000)	(402,000,000)	1,004,000,000	0	(129,000,000)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	11,000,000	(4,000,000)	0	0	0	0	0	0	11,000,000	(4,000,000)	0	0
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	147,000,000	16,000,000	1,000,000	0	3,000,000	3,000,000	22,000,000	0	122,000,000	12,000,000	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	435,000,000	300,000,000	0	0	0	0	0	0	435,000,000	300,000,000	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$ 582,000,000	$ 316,000,000	$ 1,000,000	$ 0	$ 3,000,000	$ 3,000,000	$ 22,000,000	$ 0	$ 557,000,000	$ 312,000,000	$ 0	$ 0