Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Stock-Based Compensation (Details)	Dec. 31, 2018 plan
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Number of plans	2

Share-based Payment Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Plans

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	clb_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant