BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION - Summary of information with respect to RPC's business segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 470,999	$ 175,884	$ 1,167,928	$ 507,977
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income (loss)	97,357	(56,417)	165,933	(206,726)
Interest expense	(105)	(115)	(322)	(566)
Interest income	488	169	1,028	296
Other income, net	564	86	2,786	274
Income (loss) before income taxes	98,304	(56,277)	169,425	(206,722)
Depreciation and amortization	39,587	51,975	125,513	168,891
Capital expenditures			75,016	24,917
Identifiable assets	1,148,626		1,148,626		$ 1,035,452
Operating Segments
Revenues:
Total revenues	470,999	175,884	1,167,928	507,977
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income (loss)	97,357	(56,417)	165,933	(206,726)
Interest expense	(105)	(115)	(322)	(566)
Interest income	488	169	1,028	296
Other income, net	564	86	2,786	274
Income (loss) before income taxes	98,304	(56,277)	169,425	(206,722)
Depreciation and amortization			125,513	168,891
Capital expenditures			75,016	24,917
Identifiable assets	1,148,626	1,052,892	1,148,626	1,052,892
Operating Segments | Technical Services
Revenues:
Total revenues	455,719	163,331	1,127,379	470,020
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income (loss)	104,349	(48,627)	184,455	(177,581)
Depreciation and amortization			111,567	148,880
Capital expenditures			66,445	20,596
Identifiable assets	894,714	749,721	894,714	749,721
Operating Segments | Support Services
Revenues:
Total revenues	15,280	12,553	40,549	37,957
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income (loss)	(2,062)	(5,541)	(10,622)	(19,340)
Depreciation and amortization			13,599	19,657
Capital expenditures			7,669	1,953
Identifiable assets	75,550	78,471	75,550	78,471
Corporate
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income (loss)	(5,433)	(3,397)	(13,679)	(13,724)
Depreciation and amortization			347	354
Capital expenditures			902	2,368
Identifiable assets	178,362	224,700	178,362	224,700
Gain on disposition of assets, net
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income (loss)	$ 503	$ 1,148	$ 5,779	$ 3,919