Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010	Jan. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009
Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 427,785	$ 394,305	$ 319,675	$ 334,116	$ 402,600	$ 454,202	$ 311,271	$ 326,698	$ 1,475,881	$ 1,494,771	$ 1,755,310
Cost of revenues									1,260,770	1,376,558	1,951,312
Selling, general and administrative									261,355	263,224	313,209
Interest expense									1,504	22,751	7,949
Total									1,523,629	1,662,533	2,272,470
Loss from operations									(47,748)	(167,762)	(517,160)
Other:
(Loss) income from unconsolidated entities									(1,194)	23,470	(7,518)
Interest and other income									23,403	28,313	41,906
Expenses related to early retirement of debt									(3,827)	(1,208)	(13,693)
Loss before income taxes	15,277	3,888	(31,484)	(17,047)	(9,467)	823	(51,789)	(56,754)	(29,366)	(117,787)	(496,465)
Income tax (benefit) provision									(69,161)	(113,813)	259,360
Net income (loss)	$ 15,043	$ 42,108	$ (20,773)	$ 3,417	$ 50,479	$ 27,302	$ (40,401)	$ (40,754)	$ 39,795	$ (3,374)	$ (755,825)
Income (loss) per share:
Basic	$ 0.09	$ 0.25	$ (0.12)	$ 0.02	$ 0.30	$ 0.16	$ (0.24)	$ (0.25)	$ 0.24	$ (0.02)	$ (4.68)
Diluted	$ 0.09	$ 0.25	$ (0.12)	$ 0.02	$ 0.30	$ 0.16	$ (0.24)	$ (0.25)	$ 0.24	$ (0.02)	$ (4.68)
Weighted average number of shares:
Basic	166,896	168,075	166,910	166,677	166,269	165,752	165,407	165,237	167,140	165,666	161,549
Diluted	167,525	169,338	166,910	168,121	167,777	167,658	165,407	165,237	168,381	165,666	161,549