Information about Service Lines and Operations in Different Geographic Areas (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 816,175	$ 879,894	$ 849,801	$ 899,240	$ 539,622	$ 732,095	$ 627,144	$ 504,882	$ 3,445,110	$ 2,403,743	$ 3,281,790
Offshore Operations
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues									1,907,806	883,559	1,107,866
Fabrication Facility
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues									446,426	412,145	499,916
Project Services and Engineering Operations
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues									343,357	255,298	403,845
Procurement Activities
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues									747,816	852,838	1,315,929
Eliminations
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues									(295)	(97)	(45,766)
Australia
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues									1,398,868	373,864	186,164
Saudi Arabia
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues									955,929	966,504	657,863
Thailand
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues									261,040	351,275	226,981
United Arab Emirates
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues									139,400	13,613	807
Vietnam
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues									127,954	43,528	166,583
India
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues									94,503	3,868	19,520
Qatar
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues									83,028	352,508	1,293,755
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues									80,196
United States
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues									57,472	108,377	131,622
Brazil
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues									53,263	57,128	243,273
Trinidad
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues									24,863	18,382	37,566
Azerbaijan
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues									5,022	4,899	22,855
Malaysia
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues									2,876	52,705	98,321
Other Countries
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues									$ 160,696	$ 57,092	$ 196,480