1.0.0.3 false OTHER FINANCIAL STATEMENT DISCLOSURES false 1 $ false false u000 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 u002 Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 2 Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] 0 rdc_NotesToFinancialStatementsAbstract rdc false na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 3 Other Financial Statement Disclosures - Fair Value Disclosures 1 us-gaap_FairValueDisclosuresTextBlock us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 <div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-STYLE: italic">Fair Values of Financial Instruments</font> – The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and payables and floating-rate debt approximated their fair values due to their short maturity or variable interest-rate terms, as applicable.  As of September 30, 2009, the fair values of the Company’s fixed-rate notes, which had an aggregate carrying value of $741.2 million, approximated $784.5 million.   As of December 31, 2008, the fair values of the $216.5 million carrying value of fixed-rate notes approximated $244 million.  Fair values of the Company’s fixed-rate notes were estimated based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities.</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> </div> Fair Values of Financial Instruments – The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and payables and false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 4 Other Financial Statement Disclosures - Cash Flow, Supplemental Information 1 us-gaap_CashFlowSupplementalDisclosuresTextBlock us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 <div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-STYLE: italic">Supplemental Cash Flow Information</font> – Interest payments totaled $10.5 million and $17.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  Interest capitalized totaled $12.5 million and $13.6 million for the same periods of 2009 and 2008, respectively.  Tax payments (net of refunds) were $131.8 million and $150.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  Accrued capital expenditures, which are excluded from capital expenditures in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows until settlement, were $13.3 million and $13.8 million at September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.</font></div> </div> Supplemental Cash Flow Information – Interest payments totaled $10.5 million and $17.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 5 Other Financial Statement Disclosures - Comprehensive Income 1 us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNoteTextBlock us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 <div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-STYLE: italic">Other Comprehensive Income</font> – Rowan had no items of other comprehensive income during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2009 or 2008.</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> </div> Other Comprehensive Income – Rowan had no items of other comprehensive income during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2009 or false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false false 1 4 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true