Segments and Geographic Area Analysis (Details 1) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 Bonds Rigs Country	Sep. 30, 2011 United States [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 United States [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 United States [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 United States [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 South America [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 South America [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 South America [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 South America [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 Australia/Asia/Middle East [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 Australia/Asia/Middle East [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 Australia/Asia/Middle East [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 Australia/Asia/Middle East [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 Europe/Africa/Mediterranean [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 Europe/Africa/Mediterranean [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 Europe/Africa/Mediterranean [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 Europe/Africa/Mediterranean [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 Mexico [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 Mexico [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 Mexico [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 Mexico [Member] USD ($)
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Entity-Wide Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Entity's Country of Domicile						$ 93,870	$ 146,229	$ 245,365	$ 573,796
Entity-Wide Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Individual Foreign Countries, Amount										454,350	318,117	1,339,674	913,440	121,450	181,550	344,572	482,942	198,551	120,113	597,701	396,796	9,956	33,715	46,750	115,034
Total revenues	$ 878,177	$ 799,724	$ 2,574,062	$ 2,482,008
Segments and Geographic Area Analysis (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of countries with rigs					11