Document And Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Oct. 31, 2022
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2022
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-34037
Entity Registrant Name	SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	87-4613576
Entity Address, Address Line One	1001 Louisiana Street
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 2900
Entity Address, City or Town	Houston
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	77002
City Area Code	713
Local Phone Number	654-2200
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Bankruptcy Proceedings, Reporting Current	true
Entity Central Index Key	0000886835
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2022
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Common Class A [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		19,998,695
Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		76,269