Business Segments - Revenues (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total operating revenues		$ 338,566	$ 422,251	$ 472,761	$ 657,699	$ 901,219	$ 845,628	$ 757,276	$ 678,168	$ 1,891,277	$ 3,182,291	$ 2,716,034
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total operating revenues										1,892,950	3,188,472	2,721,301
Operating Segments | Contract Drilling
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total operating revenues										1,155,565	1,843,707	1,684,878
Operating Segments | Pressure Pumping
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total operating revenues										712,454	1,294,569	979,166
Operating Segments | Oil And Natural Gas
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total operating revenues										24,931	50,196	57,257
Intersegment Elimination
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	[1]									$ (1,673)	$ (6,181)	$ (5,267)

[1] Consists of contract drilling and, in 2014, pressure pumping intercompany revenues for services provided to the oil and natural gas exploration and production segment.