Long-term Debt Schedule of Long-term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 17, 2016	Jun. 10, 2016	May 04, 2016	Feb. 29, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 7,113					$ 6,253
Less amounts due in one year	170					401
Long-term debt	6,943					5,852
Term Loan Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit agreement, maximum capacity						0
Total	$ 496			$ 500
Senior Notes, 6.35% due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			6.35%
Senior Notes, 6.00% due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			6.00%
Senior Notes, 9.625% due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			9.625%
Senior Notes, 5.125% due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			5.125%
Exchangeable Senior Notes, 5.875 Percent due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.875%
Senior Notes, 7.75 Percent due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	7.75%
Senior Notes, 8.25 Percent due 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	8.25%
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 5.50% due 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Less amounts due in one year					$ 350
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.35% due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 90					604
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.00% due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	66					498
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 9.625% due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	491					1,012
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 5.125% due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	364					768
Senior Notes [Member] | Exchangeable Senior Notes, 5.875 Percent due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	1,136					0
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 7.75 Percent due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	738	$ 750				0
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 4.50% due 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	642					642
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 8.25 Percent due 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	738	$ 750				0
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.50% due 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	446					446
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.80% due 2037 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	255					255
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 7.00% due 2038 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	455					455
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 9.875% due 2039 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	245					245
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.75% due 2040 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	456					456
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 5.95% due 2042 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 368					$ 368
Secured Borrowings [Member] | Secured Borrowing, 4.82% [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.82%					4.82%
Total	$ 7					$ 9
Capital and Other Lease Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	109					116
Other Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	11					29
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 5.50% due 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	0					350
Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 259					$ 862
Weatherford Delaware [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.00% due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	6.00%					6.00%
Weatherford Delaware [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 9.625% due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	9.625%					9.625%
Weatherford Delaware [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 5.125% due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.125%					5.125%
Weatherford Delaware [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 4.50% due 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.50%					4.50%
Weatherford Delaware [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.50% due 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	6.50%					6.50%
Weatherford Delaware [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 7.00% due 2038 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	7.00%					7.00%
Weatherford Delaware [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 9.875% due 2039 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	9.875%					9.875%
Weatherford Delaware [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.75% due 2040 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	6.75%					6.75%
Weatherford Delaware [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 5.95% due 2042 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.95%					5.95%
Weatherford Delaware [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 5.50% due 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.50%					5.50%
Weatherford Bermuda [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 6,473					$ 4,885
Weatherford Bermuda [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.35% due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	6.35%					6.35%
Weatherford Bermuda [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Exchangeable Senior Notes, 5.875 Percent due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.875%
Weatherford Bermuda [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 7.75 Percent due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	7.75%
Weatherford Bermuda [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 8.25 Percent due 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	8.25%
Weatherford Bermuda [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.80% due 2037 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	6.80%					6.80%