Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes We estimate our annual effective tax rate based on year-to-date operating results and our forecast for the remainder of the year, by jurisdiction, and apply this rate to the year-to-date operating results. If our actual results, by jurisdiction, differ from the forecasted operating results, our effective tax rate can change, affecting the tax expense for both successive interim results as well as the annual tax results. For the third quarter and the nine months of 2016, we had a tax expense of $692 million and $489 million, respectively, on a loss before income taxes of $1.1 billion and $2.3 billion, respectively. The primary component of the tax expense for the third quarter and nine months of 2016 relates to the Company’s conclusion that certain deferred tax assets that had previously been benefited are not more likely than not to be realized. As a result, additional valuation allowances have been established for the United States and other jurisdictions. Weatherford records deferred tax assets for net operating losses and temporary differences between the book and tax basis of assets and liabilities that are expected to produce tax deductions in future periods. The ultimate realization of the deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those deferred tax assets would be deductible. The Company assesses the realizability of its deferred tax assets each period by considering whether it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company considers all available evidence (both positive and negative) when determining whether a valuation allowance is required. The Company evaluated possible sources of taxable income that may be available to realize the benefit of deferred tax assets, including projected future taxable income, the reversal of existing temporary differences, taxable income in carryback years and available tax planning strategies in making this assessment. The realizability of the deferred tax assets are dependent upon judgments and assumptions inherent in the determination of future taxable income, including factors such as future operation conditions (particularly as related to prevailing oil prices and market demand for our products and services). Operations in the United States and other jurisdictions continue to experience losses due to the prolonged downturn in the demand for oil field services. Additionally, our expectations regarding the recovery in the second half of 2016 and into 2017 are more measured due to the difficulties in obtaining pricing increases from our customers and a slower recovery in the U.S. land market. Also, the Company recorded significant long-lived asset impairments and established allowances for inventory and other assets in the third quarter. As a result of the historical and projected future losses, and limited objective positive evidence to overcome negative evidence, the Company concluded that it needed to record a valuation allowance of $526 million as of September 30, 2016 against certain previously benefited deferred tax assets since it cannot support that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized. The valuation allowance primarily relates to operations in the United States. The Company will continue to evaluate whether valuation allowances are needed in future reporting periods. Valuation allowances will remain until the Company can determine that net deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized. In the event that the Company were to determine that it would be able to realize the deferred income tax assets in the future as a result of significant improvement in earnings as a result of market conditions, the Company would adjust the valuation allowance, reducing the provision for income taxes in the period of such adjustment. Results for the third quarter of 2016 also include charges with no significant tax benefit principally related to $436 million of long-lived asset impairments, $198 million of excess and obsolete inventory charges, $62 million in accounts receivable reserves and write-offs, and $44 million of other asset write-offs and charges. In addition, we recorded a tax charge of $137 million for a non-cash tax expense related to an internal restructuring of subsidiaries. Results for the nine months of 2016 also include charges with no significant tax benefit principally related to $436 million of long-lived asset impairments, $213 million of excess and obsolete inventory charges, $140 million of settlement agreement charges, $31 million of currency devaluation related to the Angolan kwanza, $78 million of bond tender premium, and $84 million of PDVSA note receivable adjustment, $62 million in accounts receivable reserves and write-offs, $20 million in pressure pumping business related charges, and $15 million in supply agreement charges related to a non-core business divestiture. In addition, we recorded a tax charge of $526 million for the establishment of a valuation allowance discussed previously, and $137 million for a non-cash tax expense related to an internal restructuring of subsidiaries. We are continuously under tax examination in various jurisdictions. We cannot predict the timing or outcome regarding resolution of these tax examinations or if they will have a material impact on our financial statements. We continue to anticipate a possible reduction in the balance of uncertain tax positions of approximately $42 million in the next twelve months due to expiration of statutes of limitations, settlements and/or conclusions of tax examinations. For the third quarter and the nine months of 2015, we had a $65 million and $197 million tax benefit, respectively, on a loss before income taxes of $226 million and $948 million, respectively. Our results for the third quarter of 2015 includes $49 million of restructuring charges, $44 million of project losses and $26 million of currency devaluation and related losses related to the Angolan kwanza and Kazakhstani tenge, with no significant tax benefit. Our results for the nine months of 2015 includes $159 million of restructuring charges, $112 million of litigation settlements, $71 million of project losses, $68 million of currency devaluation and related losses and $20 million of equity investment impairment, with no significant tax benefit.

Income Taxes

We estimate our annual effective tax rate based on year-to-date operating results and our forecast for the remainder of the year, by jurisdiction, and apply this rate to the year-to-date operating results. If our actual results, by jurisdiction, differ from the forecasted operating results, our effective tax rate can change, affecting the tax expense for both successive interim results as well as the annual tax results. For the third quarter and the nine months of 2016, we had a tax expense of $692 million and $489 million, respectively, on a loss before income taxes of $1.1 billion and $2.3 billion, respectively. The primary component of the tax expense for the third quarter and nine months of 2016 relates to the Company’s conclusion that certain deferred tax assets that had previously been benefited are not more likely than not to be realized. As a result, additional valuation allowances have been established for the United States and other jurisdictions.

Weatherford records deferred tax assets for net operating losses and temporary differences between the book and tax basis of assets and liabilities that are expected to produce tax deductions in future periods. The ultimate realization of the deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those deferred tax assets would be deductible. The Company assesses the realizability of its deferred tax assets each period by considering whether it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company considers all available evidence (both positive and negative) when determining whether a valuation allowance is required. The Company evaluated possible sources of taxable income that may be available to realize the benefit of deferred tax assets, including projected future taxable income, the reversal of existing temporary differences, taxable income in carryback years and available tax planning strategies in making this assessment. The realizability of the deferred tax assets are dependent upon judgments and assumptions inherent in the determination of future taxable income, including factors such as future operation conditions (particularly as related to prevailing oil prices and market demand for our products and services).

Operations in the United States and other jurisdictions continue to experience losses due to the prolonged downturn in the demand for oil field services. Additionally, our expectations regarding the recovery in the second half of 2016 and into 2017 are more measured due to the difficulties in obtaining pricing increases from our customers and a slower recovery in the U.S. land market. Also, the Company recorded significant long-lived asset impairments and established allowances for inventory and other assets in the third quarter. As a result of the historical and projected future losses, and limited objective positive evidence to overcome negative evidence, the Company concluded that it needed to record a valuation allowance of $526 million as of September 30, 2016 against certain previously benefited deferred tax assets since it cannot support that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized. The valuation allowance primarily relates to operations in the United States.

The Company will continue to evaluate whether valuation allowances are needed in future reporting periods. Valuation allowances will remain until the Company can determine that net deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized. In the event that the Company were to determine that it would be able to realize the deferred income tax assets in the future as a result of significant improvement in earnings as a result of market conditions, the Company would adjust the valuation allowance, reducing the provision for income taxes in the period of such adjustment.

Results for the third quarter of 2016 also include charges with no significant tax benefit principally related to $436 million of long-lived asset impairments, $198 million of excess and obsolete inventory charges, $62 million in accounts receivable reserves and write-offs, and $44 million of other asset write-offs and charges. In addition, we recorded a tax charge of $137 million for a non-cash tax expense related to an internal restructuring of subsidiaries.

Results for the nine months of 2016 also include charges with no significant tax benefit principally related to $436 million of long-lived asset impairments, $213 million of excess and obsolete inventory charges, $140 million of settlement agreement charges, $31 million of currency devaluation related to the Angolan kwanza, $78 million of bond tender premium, and $84 million of PDVSA note receivable adjustment, $62 million in accounts receivable reserves and write-offs, $20 million in pressure pumping business related charges, and $15 million in supply agreement charges related to a non-core business divestiture. In addition, we recorded a tax charge of $526 million for the establishment of a valuation allowance discussed previously, and $137 million for a non-cash tax expense related to an internal restructuring of subsidiaries.

We are continuously under tax examination in various jurisdictions. We cannot predict the timing or outcome regarding resolution of these tax examinations or if they will have a material impact on our financial statements. We continue to anticipate a possible reduction in the balance of uncertain tax positions of approximately $42 million in the next twelve months due to expiration of statutes of limitations, settlements and/or conclusions of tax examinations.

For the third quarter and the nine months of 2015, we had a $65 million and $197 million tax benefit, respectively, on a loss before income taxes of $226 million and $948 million, respectively. Our results for the third quarter of 2015 includes $49 million of restructuring charges, $44 million of project losses and $26 million of currency devaluation and related losses related to the Angolan kwanza and Kazakhstani tenge, with no significant tax benefit. Our results for the nine months of 2015 includes $159 million of restructuring charges, $112 million of litigation settlements, $71 million of project losses, $68 million of currency devaluation and related losses and $20 million of equity investment impairment, with no significant tax benefit.