Business Segments - Revenues (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenues		$ 704,171	$ 809,164
Contract Drilling
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenues		372,392	327,803
Pressure Pumping
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenues		247,601	406,784
Directional Drilling
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenues		52,959	48,616
Operating Segments | Contract Drilling
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenues		372,743	328,153
Operating Segments | Pressure Pumping
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenues		247,601	406,784
Operating Segments | Directional Drilling
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenues		52,959	48,616
Other Operations
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenues	[1]	35,391	29,653
Intersegment Elimination
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenues	[2]	$ (4,523)	$ (4,042)

[1] Other operations includes the Company’s oilfield rentals business, pipe handling components and related technology business, the electrical controls and automation business, the oil and natural gas working interests and Middle East/North Africa activities.

[2] Intercompany revenues consists of contract drilling and revenues from other operations for services provided to contract drilling, pressure pumping and within other operations.