BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION - Summary of information with respect to RPC's business segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Revenues
Revenues	$ 425,821	$ 502,557
Operating profit:
Loss on disposition of assets, net	(2,640)	(1,404)
Total operating profit	57,219	130,857
Interest expense	(340)	(596)
Interest income	5	5
Other income (expense), net	555	920
Income before income taxes	57,439	131,186
Identifiable assets at March 31, 2013	1,352,576
Capital expenditures	53,040	121,408
Depreciation and amortization	52,821	51,570
Technical Services
Revenues
Revenues	394,011	461,521
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	58,501	123,531
Identifiable assets at March 31, 2013	1,090,511
Capital expenditures	44,072
Depreciation and amortization	44,781
Support Services
Revenues
Revenues	31,810	41,036
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	6,258	13,985
Identifiable assets at March 31, 2013	194,967
Capital expenditures	8,480
Depreciation and amortization	7,868
Corporate
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	(4,900)	(5,255)
Identifiable assets at March 31, 2013	67,098
Capital expenditures	488
Depreciation and amortization	$ 172