Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable operating segments | segment									2
Segment Information
Revenues	$ 161,464	$ 55,438	$ 42,195	$ 30,314	$ 40,418	$ 54,581	$ 73,231	$ 64,142	$ 289,411	$ 232,372	$ 468,456
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									153,207	204,179	166,383
Other operating expenses									113,890	141,628	190,434
Interest expense									93,693	54,422	50,907
Other (income) expense									251,099	(14,522)	(7,836)
Income (loss) before income taxes									(322,478)	(153,335)	68,568
Income tax (expense) benefit									30,327	55,139	(24,687)
Net income (loss)	(27,177)	$ (148,776)	$ (80,937)	$ (35,261)	(47,209)	$ (9,423)	$ (23,332)	$ (18,232)	(292,151)	(98,196)	43,881
Total assets	1,494,639				1,287,420				1,494,639	1,287,420	1,501,633
Additions to property and equipment									112,487	126,747	435,444
Operating Segments | Oil and Gas
Segment Information
Revenues									289,246	232,279	440,428
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									138,875	187,913	157,164
Other operating expenses									110,119	135,177	170,878
Interest expense									93,693	54,422	50,907
Other (income) expense									241,557	(17,091)	(8,001)
Income (loss) before income taxes									(294,998)	(128,142)	69,480
Income tax (expense) benefit									20,709	46,129	(23,384)
Net income (loss)									(274,289)	(82,013)	46,096
Total assets	1,524,220				1,283,649				1,524,220	1,283,649	1,473,611
Additions to property and equipment									112,429	124,996	412,951
Operating Segments | Contract Drilling
Segment Information
Revenues									165	2,837	59,107
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									14,332	16,832	13,307
Other operating expenses									3,771	9,178	41,912
Interest expense									0	0	0
Other (income) expense									9,542	2,569	165
Income (loss) before income taxes									(27,480)	(25,742)	3,723
Income tax (expense) benefit									9,618	9,010	(1,303)
Net income (loss)									(17,862)	(16,732)	2,420
Total assets	19,180				48,943				19,180	48,943	70,051
Additions to property and equipment									58	1,202	27,128
Intercompany Eliminations
Segment Information
Revenues									0	(2,744)	(31,079)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									0	(566)	(4,088)
Other operating expenses									0	(2,727)	(22,356)
Interest expense									0	0	0
Other (income) expense									0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes									0	549	(4,635)
Income tax (expense) benefit									0	0	0
Net income (loss)									0	549	(4,635)
Total assets	$ (48,761)				$ (45,172)				(48,761)	(45,172)	(42,029)
Additions to property and equipment									$ 0	$ 549	$ (4,635)