Business Segments - Operating Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)		$ (124,332)	$ (24,764)	$ (219,591)	$ (661)
Other operating income (expense), net	[1]	4,822	2,998	6,167	(6,346)
Interest income		100	318	210	601
Interest expense		(10,678)	(9,249)	(21,478)	(17,790)
Other		17		33
Loss before income taxes		(134,893)	(33,695)	(240,826)	(17,850)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)		(115,207)	(12,949)	(197,117)	35,871
Operating Segments | Contract Drilling
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)		(70,449)	9,426	(105,545)	77,824
Operating Segments | Pressure Pumping
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)		(46,025)	(18,744)	(89,984)	(33,760)
Operating Segments | Oil and Natural Gas
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)		1,267	(3,631)	(1,588)	(8,193)
Corporate and other
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)		$ (13,947)	$ (14,813)	$ (28,641)	$ (30,186)

[1] Other operating income (expense) includes net gains or losses associated with the disposal of assets related to corporate strategy decisions of the executive management group. Accordingly, the related gains or losses have been excluded from the results of specific segments. This caption also includes expenses related to certain legal settlements.