Business Segments - Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)		$ (23,383)	$ (22,102)
Other operating income, net	[1]	8,736	2,421
Interest income		1,032	1,423
Interest expense		(12,984)	(13,625)
Other		117	169
Loss before income taxes		(35,218)	(34,135)
Corporate
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)		(23,697)	(23,807)
Operating Segments | Contract Drilling
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)		21,217	(17,103)
Operating Segments | Pressure Pumping
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)		(18,768)	25,389
Operating Segments | Directional Drilling
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)		(5,667)	(4,913)
Other Operations
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)		$ (5,204)	$ (4,089)

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