Segment Information (Schedule of Segment Reporting Information) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	$ 1,199,084	$ 847,987	$ 1,172,754
Drilling services, revenues	124,304	99,756
Production services, revenues	107,674	53,593
Total revenues	231,978	153,349
Drilling services, operating costs	81,077	67,509
Production services, operating costs	60,696	33,228
Operating costs	141,773	100,737
Segment margin	90,205	52,612
Depreciation and amortization	38,373	32,256
Capital expenditures	112,377	34,694
Drilling Services Division [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	745,072	581,725
Segment margin	43,227	32,247
Depreciation and amortization	25,489	24,486
Capital expenditures	80,584	19,113
Production Services Division [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	418,934	241,836
Segment margin	46,978	20,365
Depreciation and amortization	12,718	7,495
Capital expenditures	31,554	15,444
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	35,078	24,426
Segment margin	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	166	275
Capital expenditures	$ 239	$ 137