Short-term Borrowings and Other Debt Obligations (Narrative) (Details)		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	May 04, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 26, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Credit agreement, maximum capacity		$ 1,388,000,000	$ 1,388,000,000
Remaining borrowing capacity		$ 691,000,000	691,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Collateral		72
Debt instrument, covenant, senior leverage ratio, period two	2.5
Debt instrument, covenant, specified leverage and letter of credit ratio, period two	3.5
Debt instrument, covenant, asset coverage ratio	4.0
Borrowings of Long-term Debt			250,000,000	$ 3,153,000,000
Short-term debt		$ 253,000,000	253,000,000				$ 2,000,000
Performance bonds		59,000,000	59,000,000
Current portion of long-term debt		138,000,000	138,000,000				177,000,000
Current portion of long-term debt and term loan agreement		22,000,000	22,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term debt		225,000,000	225,000,000				$ 0
Committed letters of credit
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		387,000,000	387,000,000
Domestic and foreign facility
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short term borrowings		28,000,000	28,000,000
A&R Credit Agreement
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Credit agreement, maximum capacity		1,000,000,000.0	1,000,000,000.0
Term Loan Agreement
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Current portion of long-term debt		50,000,000	50,000,000
Senior Notes, 9.875 Percent due 2024
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Long-term Debt					$ 540,000,000	$ 250,000,000
Term Loan Borrowings before Debt Issuance Cost [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations		$ 388,000,000	$ 388,000,000
Senior Notes, 6.35% due 2017
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term debt					$ 88,000,000
Senior Notes | Senior Notes, 9.875 Percent due 2024
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt						9.875%
Weatherford Bermuda | Senior Notes | Senior Notes, 6.35% due 2017
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt					6.35%		6.35%
Weatherford Bermuda | Senior Notes | Senior Notes, 6.00% due 2018
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt		6.00%	6.00%
Current portion of long-term debt		$ 66,000,000	$ 66,000,000
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Term Loan Agreement
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)		2.30%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Extending Lenders | Minimum | A&R Credit Agreement
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)		2.80%