Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) Lawsuit	Apr. 28, 2016 USD ($)
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Potential environmental liabilities	$ 0
Liquidated damages exposure	320,000,000
Reduction in Transaction Price [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Liquidated damages exposure	66,000,000
Consolidated Joint Venture Projects [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Loss contingency accrual liability amount	$ 0
Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V. [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of shareholders filed seperate law suits under federal securities laws | Lawsuit	5
Number of actions allege violations | Lawsuit	5
Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V. [Member] | Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V. Sale of Nuclear Operations [Memeber]
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Loss contingency accrual liability amount	$ 0
Closing working capital amount		$ 1,600,000,000
Amount of working capital greater than target working capital		427,800,000
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC [Member] | Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V. Sale of Nuclear Operations [Memeber]
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated negative closing working capital amount		976,500,000
Amount of working capital less than target working capital		$ 2,100,000,000