Name:	sdrl_DefinedBenefitPlanEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsYearFive
Namespace Prefix:	sdrl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The employer's best estimate, as soon as it can be reasonably determined, of contributions expected to be paid to the plan during the fourth fiscal year after the date of the latest statement of financial position. Estimated contributions may be presented in the aggregate combining (1) contributions required by funding regulations or laws, (2) discretionary contributions, and (3) noncash contributions.

No definition available.

Name:	sdrl_DefinedBenefitPlanEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	sdrl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The employer's best estimate, as soon as it can be reasonably determined, of contributions expected to be paid to the plan during the third fiscal year after the date of the latest statement of financial position. Estimated contributions may be presented in the aggregate combining (1) contributions required by funding regulations or laws, (2) discretionary contributions, and (3) noncash contributions.

No definition available.

Name:	sdrl_DefinedBenefitPlanEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	sdrl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The employer's best estimate, as soon as it can be reasonably determined, of contributions expected to be paid to the plan during the second fiscal year after the date of the latest statement of financial position. Estimated contributions may be presented in the aggregate combining (1) contributions required by funding regulations or laws, (2) discretionary contributions, and (3) noncash contributions.

No definition available.

Name:	sdrl_DefinedBenefitPlanEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	sdrl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The employer's best estimate, as soon as it can be reasonably determined, of contributions expected to be paid to the plan during the first through tenth fiscal years after the date of the latest statement of financial position. Estimated contributions may be presented in the aggregate combining (1) contributions required by funding regulations or laws, (2) discretionary contributions, and (3) noncash contributions.

No definition available.

Name:	sdrl_DefinedBenefitPlanEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsYearsOneThroughTen
Namespace Prefix:	sdrl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The employer's best estimate, as soon as it can be reasonably determined, of contributions expected to be paid to the plan during the sixth through tenth fiscal years after the date of the latest statement of financial position. Estimated contributions may be presented in the aggregate combining (1) contributions required by funding regulations or laws, (2) discretionary contributions, and (3) noncash contributions.

No definition available.

Name:	sdrl_DefinedBenefitPlanEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsYearsSixThroughTen
Namespace Prefix:	sdrl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of contributions expected to be received by defined benefit plan from employer in next fiscal year following latest fiscal year.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118255775&loc=d3e1928-114920