CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating revenues:
Other		$ 18,133,000	$ 24,931,000	$ 50,196,000
Total operating revenues		915,866,000	1,891,277,000	3,182,291,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Contract drilling		305,804,000	608,848,000	1,066,659,000
Pressure pumping		334,588,000	612,021,000	1,036,310,000
Other		8,384,000	11,500,000	13,102,000
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment		668,434,000	864,759,000	718,730,000
Impairment of goodwill			124,561,000
Selling, general and administrative		69,205,000	74,913,000	80,145,000
Other operating (income) expense, net	[1]	(14,323,000)	1,647,000	(15,781,000)
Total operating costs and expenses		1,372,092,000	2,298,249,000	2,899,165,000
Operating income (loss)		(456,226,000)	(406,972,000)	283,126,000
Other income (expense):
Interest income		327,000	964,000	979,000
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized		(40,366,000)	(36,475,000)	(29,825,000)
Other		69,000	34,000	3,000
Total other expense		(39,970,000)	(35,477,000)	(28,843,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes		(496,196,000)	(442,449,000)	254,283,000
Income tax expense (benefit)		(177,562,000)	(147,963,000)	91,619,000
Net income (loss)		$ (318,634,000)	$ (294,486,000)	$ 162,664,000
Net income (loss) per common share:
Basic		$ (2.18)	$ (2.00)	$ 1.12
Diluted		$ (2.18)	$ (2.00)	$ 1.11
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic		146,178	145,416	144,066
Diluted		146,178	145,416	145,376
Cash dividends per common share		$ 0.16	$ 0.40	$ 0.40
Contract Drilling
Operating revenues:
Oil and gas services		$ 543,663,000	$ 1,153,892,000	$ 1,838,830,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Impairment of goodwill			0
Pressure Pumping
Operating revenues:
Oil and gas services		$ 354,070,000	$ 712,454,000	$ 1,293,265,000

[1] Other operating income (expense), net includes 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. This caption also includes expenses related to certain legal settlements net of insurance reimbursements.