SEGMENT REPORTING - REVENUE, PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended								12 Months Ended												12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013 United States and Puerto Rico	Dec. 31, 2012 United States and Puerto Rico	Dec. 31, 2011 United States and Puerto Rico	Dec. 31, 2013 United States	Dec. 31, 2012 United States	Dec. 31, 2013 Canada	Dec. 31, 2012 Canada	Dec. 31, 2011 Canada	Dec. 31, 2013 Other International Locations	Dec. 31, 2012 Other International Locations	Dec. 31, 2011 Other International Locations	Dec. 31, 2013 Technical Services	Dec. 31, 2012 Technical Services	Dec. 31, 2011 Technical Services	Dec. 31, 2013 Oil Refining and Recycling	Dec. 31, 2012 Oil Refining and Recycling	Dec. 28, 2012 Oil Refining and Recycling	Dec. 31, 2013 Environmental Services	Dec. 31, 2012 Environmental Services	Dec. 31, 2011 Environmental Services	Dec. 28, 2012 Environmental Services	Dec. 31, 2013 Industrial and Field Services	Dec. 31, 2012 Industrial and Field Services	Dec. 31, 2011 Industrial and Field Services	Dec. 28, 2012 Industrial and Field Services	Dec. 31, 2013 Oil and Gas Field Services	Dec. 31, 2012 Oil and Gas Field Services	Dec. 31, 2011 Oil and Gas Field Services	Dec. 31, 2013 Corporate Items	Dec. 31, 2012 Corporate Items	Dec. 31, 2011 Corporate Items	Dec. 31, 2013 Operating segments	Dec. 31, 2012 Operating segments	Dec. 31, 2011 Operating segments	Dec. 31, 2013 Operating segments Technical Services	Dec. 31, 2012 Operating segments Technical Services	Dec. 31, 2011 Operating segments Technical Services	Dec. 31, 2013 Operating segments Oil Refining and Recycling	Dec. 31, 2012 Operating segments Oil Refining and Recycling	Dec. 31, 2011 Operating segments Oil Refining and Recycling	Dec. 31, 2013 Operating segments Environmental Services	Dec. 31, 2012 Operating segments Environmental Services	Dec. 31, 2011 Operating segments Environmental Services	Dec. 31, 2013 Operating segments Industrial and Field Services	Dec. 31, 2012 Operating segments Industrial and Field Services	Dec. 31, 2011 Operating segments Industrial and Field Services	Dec. 31, 2013 Operating segments Oil and Gas Field Services	Dec. 31, 2012 Operating segments Oil and Gas Field Services	Dec. 31, 2011 Operating segments Oil and Gas Field Services	Dec. 31, 2013 Operating segments Corporate Items	Dec. 31, 2012 Operating segments Corporate Items	Dec. 31, 2011 Operating segments Corporate Items
Total revenues	$ 879,430	$ 907,535	$ 860,528	$ 862,163	$ 558,962	$ 533,806	$ 523,118	$ 572,022	$ 3,509,656	$ 2,187,908	$ 1,984,136	$ 2,376,200	$ 1,254,200	$ 1,149,400			$ 1,125,000	$ 933,000	$ 833,600				$ 1,147,815	$ 991,696	$ 945,741	$ 336,981			$ 770,745	$ 0	$ 0		$ 866,979	$ 787,253	$ 695,893		$ 399,500	$ 409,353	$ 343,192	$ (12,364)	$ (394)	$ (690)	$ 3,509,656	$ 2,187,908	$ 1,984,136	$ 1,023,926	$ 957,764	$ 910,896	$ 583,567	$ 0	$ 0	$ 610,076	$ 0	$ 0	$ 908,556	$ 828,119	$ 731,626	$ 392,472	$ 400,549	$ 340,563	$ (8,941)	$ 1,476	$ 1,051
Segment reporting information revenue percent												67.70%	57.30%	57.90%			32.10%	42.60%	42.00%	1.00%	1.00%	1.00%
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,602,170				1,533,053				1,602,170	1,533,053							652,000	642,100					400,544	405,447		211,513	178,210		239,596	239,993			405,327	371,386			237,335	257,985		107,855	80,032
Permits and other intangibles, net	569,973				590,044				569,973	590,044							110,800	74,100					80,302	86,403		160,807	151,840		265,104	277,460			35,332	41,163			28,428	33,178
Property Plant And Equipment Net Percent																	40.70%	41.90%
Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill Percent																	19.40%	12.60%
Goodwill	570,960				579,715				570,960	579,715	122,392												45,599	45,991		171,161	173,158	173,200	172,308	174,089		174,100	144,385	146,715		75,400	37,507	39,762
Total intangible assets and goodwill	1,140,933				1,169,759				1,140,933	1,169,759													125,901	132,394		331,968	324,998		437,412	451,549			179,717	187,878			65,935	72,940
Total assets	$ 3,953,678				$ 3,838,086				$ 3,953,678	$ 3,838,086					$ 2,684,686	$ 2,555,926	$ 1,266,505	$ 1,281,384		$ 2,487	$ 776		$ 699,675	$ 716,309		$ 643,256	$ 636,745		$ 774,401	$ 815,446			$ 634,541	$ 612,664			$ 395,805	$ 348,771		$ 806,000	$ 708,151