BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION - Summary of information with respect to RPC's business segments (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	[1]
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 439,994	$ 470,999	$ 1,344,254	$ 1,167,928
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income (loss)	54,553	97,357	190,380	165,933
Interest expense	(150)	(105)	(368)	(322)
Interest income	783	488	1,643	1,028
Other income, net	287	564	9,786	2,786
Income before income taxes	55,473	98,304	201,441	169,425
Depreciation and amortization	42,993	39,587	120,567	125,513
Capital expenditures			199,581	75,016
Identifiable assets	1,245,662	1,148,626	1,245,662	1,148,626	$ 1,147,224
Operating Segments
Revenues:
Revenues	439,994	470,999	1,344,254	1,167,928
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income (loss)	54,553	97,357	190,380	165,933
Operating Segments | Technical Services
Revenues:
Revenues	421,271	455,719	1,290,186	1,127,379
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income (loss)	56,209	104,349	196,838	184,455
Depreciation and amortization			110,991	111,567
Capital expenditures			194,115	66,445
Identifiable assets	984,397	894,714	984,397	894,714
Operating Segments | Support Services
Revenues:
Revenues	18,723	15,280	54,068	40,549
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income (loss)	1,787	(2,062)	2,075	(10,622)
Depreciation and amortization			9,247	13,599
Capital expenditures			4,260	7,669
Identifiable assets	77,870	75,550	77,870	75,550
Corporate
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income (loss)	(3,729)	(5,433)	(11,992)	(13,679)
Depreciation and amortization			329	347
Capital expenditures			1,206	902
Identifiable assets	183,395	178,362	183,395	178,362
Gain on disposition of assets, net
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income (loss)	$ 286	$ 503	$ 3,459	$ 5,779

[1] (Note 1)