Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,363	$ 1,402	$ 2,749	$ 2,987
Costs and Expenses	(1,490)	(1,862)	(3,072)	(3,894)
Operating Income (Loss)	(127)	(460)	(323)	(907)
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net	(138)	(119)	(279)	(234)
Intercompany Charges, Net	0	0	0	0
Equity in Subsidiary Income (Loss)	0	0	0	0
Other, Net	117	(85)	44	(115)
Loss Before Income Taxes	(148)	(664)	(558)	(1,256)
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes	(17)	102	(50)	203
Net Loss	(165)	(562)	(608)	(1,053)
Noncontrolling Interests	6	3	11	10
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(171)	(565)	(619)	(1,063)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(181)	(574)	(586)	(929)
Other Subsidiaries
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	1,363	1,402	2,749	2,987
Costs and Expenses	(1,505)	(1,786)	(3,104)	(3,752)
Operating Income (Loss)	(142)	(384)	(355)	(765)
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net	11	(4)	15	(7)
Intercompany Charges, Net	120	27	(129)	(265)
Equity in Subsidiary Income (Loss)	0	0	0	0
Other, Net	(255)	5	(50)	(12)
Loss Before Income Taxes	(266)	(356)	(261)	(1,049)
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes	(17)	83	(50)	179
Net Loss	(283)	(273)	(311)	(870)
Noncontrolling Interests	6	3	11	10
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(289)	(276)	(322)	(880)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(298)	(285)	(288)	(746)
Weatherford Ireland
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Costs and Expenses	(5)	(81)	(8)	(147)
Operating Income (Loss)	(5)	(81)	(8)	(147)
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net	0	0	0	0
Intercompany Charges, Net	3	13	(4)	12
Equity in Subsidiary Income (Loss)	(296)	(497)	(680)	(928)
Other, Net	127	0	65	0
Loss Before Income Taxes	(171)	(565)	(619)	(1,063)
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes	0	0	0	0
Net Loss	(171)	(565)	(619)	(1,063)
Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(171)	(565)	(619)	(1,063)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(181)	(574)	(586)	(929)
Weatherford Bermuda
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Costs and Expenses	19	0	39	0
Operating Income (Loss)	19	0	39	0
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net	(144)	(106)	(283)	(204)
Intercompany Charges, Net	(82)	5	90	(41)
Equity in Subsidiary Income (Loss)	(304)	28	(132)	(260)
Other, Net	247	(73)	31	(86)
Loss Before Income Taxes	(264)	(146)	(435)	(591)
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes	0	0	0	0
Net Loss	(264)	(146)	(435)	(591)
Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(264)	(146)	(435)	(591)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(290)	(188)	(466)	(640)
Weatherford Delaware
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Costs and Expenses	1	5	1	5
Operating Income (Loss)	1	5	1	5
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net	1	(12)	(20)	(26)
Intercompany Charges, Net	(41)	(45)	43	(46)
Equity in Subsidiary Income (Loss)	(39)	47	180	(188)
Other, Net	191	(27)	52	(27)
Loss Before Income Taxes	113	(32)	170	(282)
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes	0	19	0	24
Net Loss	113	(13)	170	(258)
Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	113	(13)	170	(258)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	128	(40)	102	(286)
Eliminations
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Costs and Expenses	0	0	0	0
Operating Income (Loss)	0	0	0	0
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net	(6)	3	9	3
Intercompany Charges, Net	0	0	0	340
Equity in Subsidiary Income (Loss)	639	422	632	1,376
Other, Net	(193)	10	(54)	10
Loss Before Income Taxes	440	435	587	1,729
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes	0	0	0	0
Net Loss	440	435	587	1,729
Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	440	435	587	1,729
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	$ 460	$ 513	$ 652	$ 1,672