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, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 406,270	$ 501,692
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	6,170	65,232
Interest expense	(691)	(337)
Interest income	6	4
Other income, net	5,789	80
Income before income taxes	11,274	64,979
Depreciation and amortization	65,976	55,505
Capital expenditures	103,492	40,295
Operating Segments
Revenues:
Revenues	406,270	501,692
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	6,170	65,232
Interest expense	(691)	(337)
Interest income	6	4
Other income, net	5,789	80
Income before income taxes	11,274	64,979
Depreciation and amortization	65,976	55,505
Capital expenditures	103,492	40,295
Identifiable assets	1,549,980	1,434,295
Operating Segments | Technical Services
Revenues:
Revenues	378,093	466,970
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	5,862	64,896
Depreciation and amortization	57,676	47,344
Capital expenditures	96,387	30,302
Identifiable assets	1,331,402	1,180,519
Operating Segments | Support Services
Revenues:
Revenues	28,177	34,722
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	3,907	7,457
Depreciation and amortization	8,166	7,989
Capital expenditures	6,583	9,973
Identifiable assets	141,498	156,836
Corporate
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	(4,557)	(4,889)
Depreciation and amortization	134	172
Capital expenditures	522	20
Identifiable assets	77,080	96,940
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets, net
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	$ 958	$ (2,232)