Business Segments - Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes (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 Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)		$ (76,796)	$ (329,515)	$ (24,764)	$ 24,103	$ 106,833	$ 30,291	$ 87,226	$ 58,776	$ (406,972)	$ 283,126	$ 322,191
Net gain on asset disposals	[1]									10,613	15,781	3,384
Interest income										964	979	918
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized										(36,475)	(29,825)	(28,359)
Other										34	3	1,691
Income (loss) before income taxes										(442,449)	254,283	296,441
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)										(359,098)	325,450	373,454
Operating Segments | Contract Drilling
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)										(91,230)	241,851	266,262
Operating Segments | Pressure Pumping
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)										(254,998)	89,081	87,244
Operating Segments | Oil And Natural Gas
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)										(12,870)	(5,482)	19,948
Corporate and other
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)										$ (58,487)	$ (58,105)	$ (54,647)

[1] Net gains or losses associated with the disposal of assets relate to corporate strategy decisions of the executive management group. Accordingly, the related gains or losses have been separately presented and excluded from the results of specific segments.