Performance bonds not under the credit facility.

No definition available.

Name:	clb_PerformanceBonds
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Performance bonds under credit facility

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

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-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

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+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

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-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

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+ Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Topic 210

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-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))

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+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of cash paid for interest during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

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-SubTopic 10

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-Paragraph 25

-Subparagraph (e)

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+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

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-Number 210

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-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

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-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20, 22

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

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+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt, after unamortized discount or premium, scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

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-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20)

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-Number 210

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-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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-Paragraph 19

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer (current maturities). Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

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-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a set, unchanging rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a rate subject to change from time to time.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

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- Details

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Debt and Capital Lease Obligations (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Fixed Interest, Amount	$ 200,000,000
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Aug. 29, 2019
Long-term Debt	356,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt	267,028,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities	356,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent	267,002,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Cash payments for interest	10,272,000us-gaap_InterestPaid	8,869,000us-gaap_InterestPaid	7,352,000us-gaap_InterestPaid
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity	350,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	400,000,000
Performance bonds under credit facility	25,000,000clb_PerformanceBondsUnderCreditFacility
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity	119,000,000
Performance Bonds	19,800,000clb_PerformanceBonds
Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Variable Interest, Amount	156,000,000
Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	150,000,000
Long-term Debt	150,000,000	150,000,000
Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	206,000,000	117,000,000
Capital Lease Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	0	28,000
Short-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	0	26,000
senior notes series a [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	75,000,000
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Sep. 30, 2021
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage	4.01%
Senior Notes Series B [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 75,000,000
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Sep. 30, 2023
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage	4.11%
Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	1.25%	1.50%
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	2.00%