Long-term Debt Schedule of Long-term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Jun. 26, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Nov. 18, 2016	Jul. 01, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 17, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 7,678		$ 7,580
Less: Amounts Due in One Year	137		177
Long-term Debt	7,541		$ 7,403
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%
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	372		$ 420
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		66
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 9.625% due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	488		489
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 5.125% due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	364		363
Senior Notes [Member] | Exchangeable Senior Notes, 5.875 Percent due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	1,170		1,147
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 7.75 Percent due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	741		739				$ 750
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 4.50% due 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	643		642
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 9.875% due 2024 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		9.875%
Total	780		528
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 8.25 Percent due 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	739		738				$ 750
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.50% due 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	447		447
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		456
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	$ 0		$ 5
Capital and Other Lease Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	86		120
Other Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	2		7
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.35% due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	0		89
Guarantor Subsidiaries, Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	$ 166		$ 148
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%					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%		5.875%
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%		7.75%
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%					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%		8.25%
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%					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%					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%					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%					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%