Business Segments - Revenues (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenues		$ 193,907	$ 472,761	$ 462,846	$ 1,130,460
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenues		193,907	473,028	462,944	1,131,490
Operating Segments | Contract Drilling
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenues		115,235	288,588	283,992	690,829
Operating Segments | Pressure Pumping
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenues		73,950	176,624	170,263	426,345
Operating Segments | Oil and Natural Gas
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenues		$ 4,722	7,816	8,689	14,316
Intersegment Elimination
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenues	[1]		$ (267)	$ (98)	$ (1,030)

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