Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from unaffiliated clients	$ 203,889	$ 267,562	$ 417,532	$ 530,465
Inter-segment revenue	0	0	0	0
Segment operating income (loss)	47,893	84,134	90,610	166,961
Total assets (at end of period)	658,985	689,128	658,985	689,128	$ 675,653
Capital expenditures	5,441	12,119	12,310	19,787
Depreciation and amortization	6,930	6,318	13,496	12,951
Operating Segments [Member] \| Reservoir Description [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from unaffiliated clients	118,911	130,589	240,670	255,845
Inter-segment revenue	2,411	2,763	5,187	5,532
Segment operating income (loss)	30,944	36,341	59,474	71,194
Total assets (at end of period)	330,417	318,370	330,417	318,370
Capital expenditures	4,297	6,280	8,734	11,096
Depreciation and amortization	4,232	3,935	8,015	7,783
Operating Segments [Member] \| Production Enhancement [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from unaffiliated clients	70,589	110,993	145,734	221,273
Inter-segment revenue	652	384	1,369	1,181
Segment operating income (loss)	14,376	37,660	24,299	74,862
Total assets (at end of period)	229,899	264,784	229,899	264,784
Capital expenditures	709	1,755	2,512	2,830
Depreciation and amortization	1,649	1,880	3,410	3,775
Operating Segments [Member] \| Reservoir Management [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from unaffiliated clients	14,389	25,980	31,128	53,347
Inter-segment revenue	58	347	207	767
Segment operating income (loss)	3,452	9,794	7,318	20,268
Total assets (at end of period)	26,048	39,795	26,048	39,795
Capital expenditures	45	282	266	367
Depreciation and amortization	422	366	853	605
Corporate & Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from unaffiliated clients	0	0	0	0
Inter-segment revenue	(3,121)	(3,494)	(6,763)	(7,480)
Segment operating income (loss)	(879)	339	(481)	637
Total assets (at end of period)	72,621	66,179	72,621	66,179
Capital expenditures	390	3,802	798	5,494
Depreciation and amortization	$ 627	$ 137	$ 1,218	$ 788

Income (loss) before interest expense and income taxes.

No definition available.

Name:	clb_IncomeBeforeInterestExpenseAndTaxes
Namespace Prefix:	clb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.18)

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

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

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

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 12

-Article 7

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 18

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Assets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Revenues
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=clb_OperatingSegmentReservoirDescriptionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=clb_OperatingSegmentProductionEnhancementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=clb_OperatingSegmentReservoirManagementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: