Short-term Borrowings and Current Portion of Long-term Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	May. 02, 2013	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Apr. 09, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Credit agreement, maximum capacity		$ 1,200,000,000	$ 1,200,000,000
Short-term Debt		1,280,000,000	1,280,000,000		$ 677,000,000
Performance bonds		157,000,000	157,000,000
Revolving credit facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Credit agreement, maximum capacity		2,250,000,000	2,250,000,000
Short-term Debt		530,000,000	530,000,000		0
Commercial paper program and letters of credit [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Credit agreement, maximum capacity		2,250,000,000	2,250,000,000
Commercial paper program [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term Debt		509,000,000	509,000,000		245,000,000
Committed letters of credit [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding, amount		16,000,000	16,000,000
364-day term loan facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term Debt		0	0	$ 175,000,000	$ 175,000,000
Debt instrument, term	364 days
Domestic and foreign facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short term borrowings		241,000,000	241,000,000
Uncommitted letters of credit [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding, amount		$ 552,000,000	$ 552,000,000
Maximum [Member] | Revolving credit facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Ratio of indebtedness to net capital percent required		0.6	0.6
Bi-Lateral Revolver Debt [Member] | Domestic and foreign facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short term borrowings		$ 180,000,000	$ 180,000,000
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Domestic and foreign facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Interest rate at period end		1.86%	1.86%
Extinguishment of Debt Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 5.50% due 2016 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.50%	5.50%
Extinguishment of Debt Senior Notes [Member] | Extinguishment of Debt Senior Notes [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Book Value of Debt Repurchased		$ 236,000,000	$ 396,000,000
Gain (Loss) on Repurchase of Debt Instrument		$ 35,000,000	$ 47,000,000
Weatherford Delaware [Member] | 364-day term loan facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt instrument, term				364 days
Weatherford Delaware [Member] | Extinguishment of Debt Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 4.50% due 2022 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		4.50%	4.50%		4.50%
Weatherford Delaware [Member] | Extinguishment of Debt Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 5.95% due 2042 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.95%	5.95%		5.95%
Weatherford Delaware [Member] | Extinguishment of Debt Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.50% due 2036 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.50%	6.50%		6.50%
Weatherford Delaware [Member] | Extinguishment of Debt Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.75% due 2040 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.75%	6.75%		6.75%
Weatherford Delaware [Member] | Extinguishment of Debt Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 7.00% due 2038 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		7.00%	7.00%		7.00%
Tranche One [Member] | Bi-Lateral Revolver Debt [Member] | Domestic and foreign facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short term borrowings		$ 150,000,000	$ 150,000,000
Tranche Two [Member] | Bi-Lateral Revolver Debt [Member] | Domestic and foreign facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short term borrowings		$ 30,000,000	$ 30,000,000