Business Reportable Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 302,069	$ 340,400	$ 361,518	$ 370,897	$ 354,359	$ 345,987	$ 296,855	$ 246,054	$ 1,374,884	$ 1,243,255	$ 728,239
Direct operating costs									(902,584)	(766,112)	(506,860)
Segment profits	92,218	118,009	128,504	133,569	138,990	136,647	111,538	89,968	472,300	477,143	221,379
Depreciation and amortization									187,083	154,341	135,001
Capital expenditures, (excluding acquisitions)									171,440	221,839	63,579
Identifiable assets	1,595,918				1,459,928				1,595,918	1,459,928	1,029,813
Completion and Remedial Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									586,070	537,134	261,436
Direct operating costs									(357,960)	(297,276)	(156,573)
Segment profits									228,110	239,858	104,863
Depreciation and amortization									56,043	45,651	33,538
Capital expenditures, (excluding acquisitions)									58,235	57,928	15,795
Identifiable assets	444,504				398,664				444,504	398,664	215,503
Fluid Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									352,246	332,010	241,164
Direct operating costs									(236,588)	(211,959)	(178,152)
Segment profits									115,658	120,051	63,012
Depreciation and amortization									52,331	42,612	38,745
Capital expenditures, (excluding acquisitions)									33,637	51,543	18,247
Identifiable assets	286,662				241,720				286,662	241,720	185,057
Well Servicing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									376,268	333,057	204,872
Direct operating costs									(268,219)	(228,723)	(156,885)
Segment profits									108,049	104,334	47,987
Depreciation and amortization									56,310	48,016	50,530
Capital expenditures, (excluding acquisitions)									42,641	46,805	23,797
Identifiable assets	303,901				280,992				303,901	280,992	248,441
Contract Drilling
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									60,300	41,054	20,767
Direct operating costs									(39,817)	(28,154)	(15,250)
Segment profits									20,483	12,900	5,517
Depreciation and amortization									12,350	9,994	5,171
Capital expenditures, (excluding acquisitions)									12,141	53,112	2,435
Identifiable assets	64,127				77,402				64,127	77,402	28,375
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization									10,049	8,068	7,017
Capital expenditures, (excluding acquisitions)									24,786	12,451	3,305
Identifiable assets	$ 496,724				$ 461,150				$ 496,724	$ 461,150	$ 352,437