General	9 Months Ended
General	Sep. 30, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]	General The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Weatherford International plc (the “Company,” “Weatherford” or “Weatherford Ireland”) are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which in our opinion, are considered necessary to present fairly our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018. When using phrases such as “we,” “us,” and “our,” the intent is to refer to Weatherford International plc, a public limited company organized under the laws of Ireland, and its subsidiaries as a whole or on a regional basis, depending on the context in which the statements are made. Although we believe the disclosures in these financial statements are adequate, certain information relating to our organization and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted in this Form 10-Q pursuant to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and regulations. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the year ending December 31, 2019 for which we expect to file the related Annual Report on Form 10-K as an accelerated filer, our first period affected by the change in filing status based on our public float as of the last business day of our second fiscal quarter of 2019. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions, including those related to uncollectible accounts receivable, lower of cost or net realizable value of inventories, assets and liabilities held for sale, derivative financial instruments, intangible assets and goodwill, property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”), right-of-use (“ROU”) lease assets, income taxes, accounting for long-term contracts, self-insurance, foreign currency exchange rates, lease liabilities, pension and post-retirement benefit plans, disputes, litigation, contingencies and share-based compensation. We base our estimates on historical experience, adjusted for current conditions if necessary, and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Principles of Consolidation We consolidate all wholly owned subsidiaries and controlled joint ventures. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Bankruptcy Accounting The consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared as if we were a going concern and in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic No. 852 – Reorganizations (“ASC 852”.) See “Note 2 – Chapter 11 Proceedings and Ability to Continue as a Going Concern” for additional details regarding the bankruptcy. As a result, we have segregated liabilities and obligations whose treatment and satisfaction are dependent on the outcome of the Chapter 11 proceedings and have classified these items as “Liabilities Subject to Compromise” on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. In addition, we have classified all income, expenses, gains or losses that were incurred or realized as a result of the Chapter 11 proceedings since filing as “Reorganization Items” in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. In accordance with ASC 852, the Company anticipates it will be required to adopt fresh start accounting (“Fresh Start Accounting”) upon its emergence from Chapter 11, becoming a new entity for financial reporting because (i) the holders of the then existing ordinary shares of the predecessor company received less than 50% of the new ordinary shares of the successor company outstanding upon emergence and (ii) the reorganization value of the Company’s assets immediately prior to confirmation of the Plan was less than the total of all post-petition liabilities and allowed claims. Upon adoption of Fresh Start Accounting, the reorganization value derived from the enterprise value as disclosed in the Plan will be allocated to the Company’s assets and liabilities based on their fair values (except for deferred income taxes) in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. The amount of deferred income taxes to be recorded will be determined in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes. The Plan Effective Date fair values of the Company’s assets and liabilities may differ materially from their recorded values as reflected on the historical balance sheet. Reclassifications Certain reclassifications of the financial statements and accompanying footnotes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 have been made to conform to the presentation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019. See “Note 3 – New Accounting Pronouncements” for additional details regarding accounting changes impacting the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.