Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016		Sep. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2016		Mar. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2015		Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]
Revenue, Net	$ 1,406		$ 1,356		$ 1,402		$ 1,585		$ 2,012		$ 2,237		$ 2,390		$ 2,794		$ 5,749	$ 9,433	$ 14,911
Gross profit	159		126		164		111		78		368		374		592		560	1,412
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	$ (549)	[1]	$ (1,780)	[2]	$ (565)	[3]	$ (498)	[4]	$ (1,208)	[5],[6]	$ (170)	[6],[7]	$ (489)	[6],[8]	$ (118)	[6],[9]	$ (3,392)	$ (1,985)	$ (584)
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.59)		$ (1.98)		$ (0.63)		$ (0.61)		$ (1.54)		$ (0.22)		$ (0.63)		$ (0.15)		$ (3.82)	$ (2.55)	$ (0.75)
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.59)		$ (1.98)		$ (0.63)		$ (0.61)		$ (1.54)		$ (0.22)		$ (0.63)		$ (0.15)		$ (3.82)	$ (2.55)	$ (0.75)

[1] Includes charges of $245 million primarily related to severance and restructuring, litigation charges and pressure pumping related charges.

[2] Includes charges of $771 million primarily related to long-lived asset impairments, inventory write-downs and severance and restructuring.

[3] Includes charges of $347 million primarily related to litigation charges, an adjustment to a note from PDVSA to fair value, a bond tender premium incurred from a tender offer and severance and restructuring charges partially offset by an estimated project income on our long-term early production facility construction contract.

[4] Includes charges of $285 million primarily related to severance and restructuring, litigation charges, pressure pumping related charges and an estimated project loss on our long-term early production facility construction contract.

[5] Includes $668 million primarily related to long-lived asset impairments, severance and restructuring and supply contracts, a $265 million charge for a non-cash tax expense on distribution of subsidiary earnings and $217 million of inventory write-downs and adjustments.

[6] Includes estimated project income of $42 million, for the first quarter of 2015, estimated project loss of $69 million, $44 million and $82 million for the second, third and fourth quarter of 2015, respectively, from our long-term early production facility construction contracts.

[7] Includes charges of $77 million primarily related to severance and restructuring and supply contracts.

[8] Includes charges of $395 million primarily related to long-lived asset impairments, litigation and severance and restructuring.

[9] Includes charges of $59 million primarily related to severance and restructuring.