Long-term Debt Schedule of Long-term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016	Nov. 18, 2016	Jul. 01, 2016	Jun. 17, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 7,580				$ 6,253
Less amounts due in one year	177				401
Long-term debt	7,403				5,852
Senior Notes, 5.50% due 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 0
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%
Term Loan Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 420				0
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, 6.00% 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	489				1,012
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 5.125% due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	363				768
Senior Notes [Member] | Exchangeable Senior Notes, 5.875 Percent due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	1,147				0
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 7.75 Percent due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	739			$ 750	0
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 4.50% due 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	642				642
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 9.875% due 2024 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	528				0
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	447				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	456				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	$ 5				$ 9
Capital and Other Lease Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	120				116
Other Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	7				29
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 5.50% due 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total					350
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.35% due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	89				604
Guarantor Subsidiaries, Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 148				$ 862
Guarantor Subsidiaries, 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%
Guarantor Subsidiaries, 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%
Guarantor Subsidiaries, 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%
Guarantor Subsidiaries, Weatherford Delaware [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%				0.00%
Guarantor Subsidiaries, Weatherford Delaware [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 7.75 Percent due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	7.75%				0.00%
Guarantor Subsidiaries, 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%
Guarantor Subsidiaries, Weatherford Delaware [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 9.875% due 2024 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	9.875%	9.875%
Guarantor Subsidiaries, Weatherford Delaware [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 8.25 Percent due 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	8.25%				0.00%
Guarantor Subsidiaries, 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%
Guarantor Subsidiaries, 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%
Guarantor Subsidiaries, 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%
Guarantor Subsidiaries, 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%
Guarantor Subsidiaries, 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%
Guarantor Subsidiaries, 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%