Business Segments - Revenues (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total operating revenues		$ 268,939	$ 657,699
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total operating revenues		269,037	658,462
Operating Segments | Contract Drilling
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total operating revenues		168,757	402,241
Operating Segments | Pressure Pumping
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total operating revenues		96,313	249,721
Operating Segments | Oil and Natural Gas
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total operating revenues		3,967	6,500
Intersegment Elimination
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	[1]	$ (98)	$ (763)

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