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, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 501,692	$ 425,821
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	65,232	57,219
Interest expense	(337)	(340)
Interest income	4	5
Other income, net	80	555
Income before income taxes	64,979	57,439
Identifiable assets at March 31	1,434,295	1,352,576
Capital expenditures	40,295	53,040
Depreciation and amortization	55,505	52,821
Operating Segments
Revenues:
Revenues	501,692	425,821
Operating Segments | Technical Services
Revenues:
Revenues	466,970	394,011
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	64,896	58,501
Identifiable assets at March 31	1,180,519	1,090,511
Capital expenditures	30,302	44,072
Depreciation and amortization	47,344	44,781
Operating Segments | Support Services
Revenues:
Revenues	34,722	31,810
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	7,457	6,258
Identifiable assets at March 31	156,836	194,967
Capital expenditures	9,973	8,480
Depreciation and amortization	7,989	7,868
Corporate
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	(4,889)	(4,900)
Identifiable assets at March 31	96,940	67,098
Capital expenditures	20	488
Depreciation and amortization	172	172
Loss on disposition of assets, net
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	$ (2,232)	$ (2,640)