Business Segments - Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets		$ 4,398,170	$ 4,529,484
Operating Segments | Contract Drilling
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets		3,342,096	3,457,044
Operating Segments | Pressure Pumping
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets		760,692	813,704
Operating Segments | Oil and Natural Gas
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets		30,183	34,073
Corporate and other
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	[1]	$ 265,199	$ 224,663

[1] Corporate and other assets primarily include cash on hand, income tax receivables and certain deferred tax assets.