Segments and Geographic Area Analysis (Details 1) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011 United States [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 United States [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 United States [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 United States [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 South America [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 South America [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 South America [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 South America [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 Australia/Asia/Middle East [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 Australia/Asia/Middle East [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 Australia/Asia/Middle East [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 Australia/Asia/Middle East [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 Europe/Africa/Mediterranean [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 Europe/Africa/Mediterranean [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 Europe/Africa/Mediterranean [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 Europe/Africa/Mediterranean [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 Mexico [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 Mexico [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 Mexico [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 Mexico [Member] USD ($)
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Entity-Wide Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Entity's Country of Domicile						$ 101,221	$ 189,019	$ 151,495	$ 427,566
Entity-Wide Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Individual Foreign Countries, Amount										441,221	312,207	885,324	595,323	118,454	142,463	223,122	301,392	209,102	140,078	399,150	276,683	19,498	38,836	36,794	81,320
Total revenues	$ 889,496	$ 822,603	$ 1,695,885	$ 1,682,284
Segments and Geographic Area Analysis (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of countries with rigs					12