BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION - Summary of information with respect to RPC's business segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 620,684	$ 491,121	$ 1,705,207	$ 1,374,508
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	106,661	85,839	274,924	210,911
Interest expense	(456)	(283)	(842)	(1,565)
Interest income	4	8	14	73
Other (expense) income, net	(454)	1,279	457	1,643
Income before income taxes	105,755	86,843	274,553	211,062
Depreciation and amortization	57,219	53,211	169,241	158,799
Capital expenditures			237,473	159,854
Operating Segments
Revenues:
Revenues	620,684	491,121	1,705,207	1,374,508
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	106,661	85,839	274,924	210,911
Interest expense	(456)	(283)	(842)	(1,565)
Interest income	4	8	14	73
Other (expense) income, net	(454)	1,279	457	1,643
Income before income taxes	105,755	86,843	274,553	211,062
Depreciation and amortization			169,241	158,799
Capital expenditures			237,473	159,854
Identifiable assets	1,616,033	1,352,329	1,616,033	1,352,329
Operating Segments | Technical Services
Revenues:
Revenues	576,908	458,168	1,588,270	1,276,209
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	102,849	86,183	267,462	210,807
Depreciation and amortization			145,054	134,599
Capital expenditures			213,244	129,599
Identifiable assets	1,384,353	1,080,177	1,384,353	1,080,177
Operating Segments | Support Services
Revenues:
Revenues	43,776	32,953	116,937	98,299
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	14,735	6,022	31,190	19,361
Depreciation and amortization			23,727	23,687
Capital expenditures			23,360	29,104
Identifiable assets	168,123	193,069	168,123	193,069
Corporate
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	(3,239)	(5,098)	(12,407)	(13,592)
Depreciation and amortization			460	513
Capital expenditures			869	1,151
Identifiable assets	63,557	79,083	63,557	79,083
Loss on disposition of assets, net
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	$ (7,684)	$ (1,268)	$ (11,321)	$ (5,665)