Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues:
Contract drilling	$ 2,843,584	$ 2,936,066	$ 3,254,313
Revenues related to reimbursable expenses	76,837	50,442	68,106
Total revenues	2,920,421	2,986,508	3,322,419
Operating expenses:
Contract drilling, excluding depreciation	1,572,525	1,537,224	1,548,502
Reimbursable expenses	74,967	48,778	66,052
Depreciation	388,092	392,913	398,612
General and administrative	64,788	64,640	65,310
Impairment of assets		62,437
Bad debt expense (recovery)	22,513	(1,018)	(6,713)
Gain on disposition of assets	(4,070)	(80,844)	(4,758)
Total operating expenses	2,118,815	2,024,130	2,067,005
Operating income	801,606	962,378	1,255,414
Other income (expense):
Interest income	701	4,910	6,668
Interest expense	(24,843)	(46,216)	(73,137)
Foreign currency transaction loss	(4,915)	(1,999)	(8,588)
Other, net	1,691	(992)	(1,086)
Income before income tax expense	774,240	918,081	1,179,271
Income tax expense	(225,554)	(197,604)	(216,729)
Net income	$ 548,686	$ 720,477	$ 962,542
Earnings per share, Basic and Diluted	$ 3.95	$ 5.18	$ 6.92
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Shares of common stock	139,035	139,029	139,027
Dilutive potential shares of common stock	29	19	11
Total weighted-average shares outstanding	139,064	139,048	139,038
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock	$ 3.50	$ 3.50	$ 3.50