Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all debt, including all short-term borrowings, long-term debt, and capital lease obligations.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

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Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Amount of the required periodic payments applied to principal.

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The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

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The effective interest rate at the end of the reporting period.

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Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

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Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

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Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Amount of long-term debt and capital leases due within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt, classified as current. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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Amount of borrowings from a bank classified as other, maturing within one year or operating cycle, if longer.

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Reflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Debt Instrument, Covenant, Asset Coverage Ratio

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Debt Instrument, Covenant, Senior Leverage Ratio, Period Two

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Debt Instrument, Covenant, Specified Leverage and Letter of Credit Ratio, Period Two

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Letters of Credit Outstanding, Cash Collateral

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Performance bonds with various domestic and international institutions.

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Short-term Borrowings and Other Debt Obligations Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 26, 2017	Nov. 18, 2016	Jul. 01, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 1,375,000,000
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations		$ 7,678,000,000	$ 7,580,000,000
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
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity		$ 890,000,000
Performance bonds		15,000,000
Current Portion of Long-term Debt		137,000,000	177,000,000
Committed Letters of Credit [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		110,000,000
Cash collateralized		82,000,000
Domestic and Foreign Facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short term borrowings		11,000,000
Uncommitted Letters of Credit [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		375,000,000
A&R Credit Agreement [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		1,000,000,000
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal		12,500,000
Senior Notes, 9.875% due 2024 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Long-term Debt				$ 540,000,000	$ 250,000,000
Term Loan Agreement [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations		$ 372,000,000	$ 420,000,000
Senior Notes, 6.00% due 2018 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage							6.00%
Senior Notes, 6.35% due 2017 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term Debt				$ 88,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage							6.35%
Senior Notes, 5.50% due 2016 [Member] \| Guarantor Subsidiaries, Weatherford Delaware [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage								5.50%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Domestic and Foreign Facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Interest rate at period end			1.95%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| A&R Credit Agreement [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		2.80%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Term Loan Agreement [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	2.30%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Term Loan Agreement [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate			1.425%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Term Loan Agreement [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate			3.20%
Base Rate [Member] \| Term Loan Agreement [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate			0.425%
Base Rate [Member] \| Term Loan Agreement [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate			2.20%
Tranche One [Member] \| Bi-Lateral Revolver Debt [Member] \| Domestic and Foreign Facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short term borrowings			$ 180,000,000
Extending Lenders [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| A&R Credit Agreement [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		1.925%
Extending Lenders [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| A&R Credit Agreement [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		3.70%
Extending Lenders [Member] \| Base Rate [Member] \| A&R Credit Agreement [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		0.925%
Extending Lenders [Member] \| Base Rate [Member] \| A&R Credit Agreement [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		2.70%
Capital and Other Lease Obligations [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations		$ 86,000,000	120,000,000
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities		21,000,000
Term Loan Agreement [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities		50,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Notes, 9.875% due 2024 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations		$ 780,000,000	528,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage					9.875%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Notes, 9.875% due 2024 [Member] \| Guarantor Subsidiaries, Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		9.875%				9.875%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Notes, 6.00% due 2018 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations		$ 66,000,000	$ 66,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Notes, 6.00% due 2018 [Member] \| Weatherford Bermuda [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities		$ 66,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.00%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Notes, 6.00% due 2018 [Member] \| Guarantor Subsidiaries, Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.00%	6.00%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Notes, 6.35% due 2017 [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations		$ 0	$ 89,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Notes, 6.35% due 2017 [Member] \| Weatherford Bermuda [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			6.35%	6.35%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Notes, 5.50% due 2016 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Current Portion of Long-term Debt								$ 350,000,000