Income Taxes (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Income before income tax expense:
US									$ 486,393	$ 755,982	$ 1,250,094
Foreign									692,878	580,034	618,337
Income before income tax expense	203,547	334,849	344,026	296,849	310,512	298,566	320,926	406,012	1,179,271	1,336,016	1,868,431
Expected income tax expense at federal statutory rate									412,745	467,606	653,951
Foreign earnings of foreign subsidiaries (not taxed at the statutory federal income tax rate) net of related foreign taxes									(192,975)	(191,789)	(184,783)
Foreign earnings of foreign subsidiaries for which US federal income taxes have been provided									(14,681)	29,736	62,025
Foreign taxes of domestic and foreign subsidiaries for which US federal income taxes have also been provided									65,521	119,009	111,381
Foreign tax credits									(67,232)	(89,809)	(167,756)
Reduction of deferred tax liability related to a goodwill deduction resulting from a prior period stock acquisition									(2,950)	(8,850)	(8,850)
Domestic production activities deduction											(6,271)
Uncertain tax positions									(7,733)	30,950	8,003
Amortization of deferred charges associated with intercompany rig sales to other tax jurisdictions									29,556	30,442	14,167
Long-term capital gain on dividend distribution											2,450
Net expense (benefit) in connection with resolutions of tax issues and adjustments relating to prior years									(6,085)	(7,346)	6,916
Other									563	610	979
Income tax expense, Total									$ 216,729	$ 380,559	$ 492,212