Business Segments - Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)		$ (113,226)	$ (123,409)	$ (124,332)	$ (95,259)	$ (76,796)	$ (329,515)	$ (24,764)	$ 24,103	$ (456,226)	$ (406,972)	$ 283,126
Other operating income (expense), net	[1]									14,323	(1,647)	15,781
Interest income										327	964	979
Interest expense										(40,366)	(36,475)	(29,825)
Other										69	34	3
Income (loss) before income taxes										(496,196)	(442,449)	254,283
Other Operations
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)										(3,391)	(14,269)	(6,738)
Corporate
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)										(54,672)	(57,088)	(56,849)
Operating Segments | Contract Drilling
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)										(235,858)	(78,970)	241,851
Operating Segments | Pressure Pumping
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)										$ (176,628)	$ (254,998)	$ 89,081

[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.