GEOGRAPHIC AREA INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Consolidated revenues	$ 1,579,284	$ 1,392,607	$ 939,229
Consolidated long-lived assets	6,385,755	6,071,729	5,678,713
Rigs under construction	1,009,382	756,245	711,558
Saudi Arabia [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Consolidated revenues	412,799	376,406	204,086
Consolidated long-lived assets	1,204,915	1,103,220	1,078,663
United Kingdom [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Consolidated revenues	327,217	385,174	230,638
Consolidated long-lived assets	1,336,400	1,555,324	1,562,942
United States [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Consolidated revenues	240,820	209,296	264,255
Consolidated long-lived assets	868,147	903,823	1,234,233
Norway [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Consolidated revenues	168,931	131,251	73,829
Consolidated long-lived assets	503,308	495,518	501,447
Malaysia [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Consolidated revenues	127,216	88,960	6,776
Consolidated long-lived assets	386,402	447,949	45,039
Netherlands [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Consolidated long-lived assets	270,409	0	0
Trinidad [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Consolidated revenues	101,262	98,764	56,682
Consolidated long-lived assets	254,671	250,765	258,749
Indonesia [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Consolidated revenues	90,027	13,677	0
Consolidated long-lived assets	251,169	184,706	0
Egypt [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Consolidated revenues	89,074	25,435	5,261
Consolidated long-lived assets	215,712	220,897	0
Qatar [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Consolidated revenues	21,938	26,298	59,824
Consolidated long-lived assets	85,240	153,282	87,781
Vietnam [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Consolidated revenues	0	37,346	9,901
Consolidated long-lived assets	0	0	198,205
Mexico [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Consolidated revenues	0	0	27,977
Other [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Consolidated long-lived assets	$ 0	$ 0	$ 96