General Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 Rigs	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Rigs	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
General Information [Line Items]
Outstanding common stock owned by Loews Corporation	50.40%		50.40%
Period considered to treat short-term, highly liquid investments as cash equivalents			Three months or less
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash balances held in foreign currencies	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Recoverable amount of assets held for sale	11,594,000		11,594,000		11,594,000
Amount capitalized for asset replacements and betterments			189,200,000		220,300,000
Number of cold-stacked rigs which were not classified as held for sale	0		0
Senior Notes, current	250,000,000		250,000,000
Current portion of long-term debt	249,935,000		249,935,000
Gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions recognized in income	(4,600,000)	(1,900,000)	(3,900,000)	(900,000)
Initial term of contracts minimum months			2 months
Initial term of contracts maximum months			60 months
Minimum [Member]
General Information [Line Items]
Range of rig and equipment project costs, lower limit			25,000		25,000
Estimated useful life for drilling rigs and equipment			3 years
Maximum [Member]
General Information [Line Items]
Range of rig and equipment project costs, upper limit			60,000,000		60,000,000
Estimated useful life for drilling rigs and equipment			30 years
Mid-Water Floaters [Member]
General Information [Line Items]
Number of offshore rigs held for sale	3		3		3
Jack-Ups [Member]
General Information [Line Items]
Number of offshore rigs held for sale	1		1		1
5.15% Senior Notes [Member]
General Information [Line Items]
Interest rate of senior notes	5.15%		5.15%		5.15%
Senior Notes, current maturity date			Sep. 01, 2014
Current portion of long-term debt	$ 249,935,000		$ 249,935,000