Information about Segment Assets and Property, Plant and Equipment by Country (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets, continuing operations	$ 2,934,046		$ 2,511,377		$ 2,411,399
Total assets held for sale	58,768		87,311		2,437,711
Total assets	2,992,814		2,598,688		4,849,110
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	1,101,865	[1]	915,569	[1]
Asia Pacific
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets, continuing operations	934,134		564,403		395,102
Atlantic
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets, continuing operations	419,258		265,607		568,601
Middle East
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets, continuing operations	1,065,478		1,302,398		885,222
Corporate and other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets, continuing operations	515,176		378,969		562,474
United Arab Emirates
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	322,233		407,423
Indonesia
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	144,274		163,111
Singapore
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	139,258		5,818
Saudi Arabia
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	131,637		116,289
Spain
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	89,539		16,376
United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	69,552		114,499
Mexico
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	65,039		49,597
Australia
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	63,065		14,732
Brazil
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	58,780
Other Countries
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	$ 18,488		$ 27,724

[1] Our marine vessels are included in the country in which they were located as of year-end.