BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION - Summary of information with respect to RPC's business segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 297,560	$ 582,831	$ 703,830	$ 1,084,523
Operating (loss) profit:
Total operating (loss) profit	(52,537)	103,031	(46,367)	168,263
Interest expense	(390)	(49)	(1,081)	(386)
Interest income	9	6	15	10
Other income, net	332	831	6,121	911
(Loss) income before income taxes	(52,586)	103,819	(41,312)	168,798
Depreciation and amortization	69,801	56,517	135,777	112,022
Capital expenditures			139,347	112,804
Operating Segments
Revenues:
Revenues	297,560	582,831	703,830	1,084,523
Operating (loss) profit:
Total operating (loss) profit	(52,537)	103,031	(46,367)	168,263
Interest expense	(3,544)	(49)	(1,081)	(386)
Interest income	9	6	15	10
Other income, net	332	831	6,121	911
(Loss) income before income taxes	(52,586)	103,819	(41,312)	168,798
Depreciation and amortization			135,777	112,022
Capital expenditures			139,347	112,804
Identifiable assets	1,383,782	1,530,861	1,383,782	1,530,861
Operating Segments | Technical Services
Revenues:
Revenues	275,806	544,392	653,899	1,011,362
Operating (loss) profit:
Total operating (loss) profit	(49,253)	99,717	(43,391)	164,613
Depreciation and amortization			119,052	95,839
Capital expenditures			130,562	92,820
Identifiable assets	1,164,373	1,284,577	1,164,373	1,284,577
Operating Segments | Support Services
Revenues:
Revenues	21,754	38,439	49,931	73,161
Operating (loss) profit:
Total operating (loss) profit	(1,458)	8,998	2,449	16,455
Depreciation and amortization			16,469	15,863
Capital expenditures			8,256	19,417
Identifiable assets	126,689	161,572	126,689	161,572
Corporate
Operating (loss) profit:
Total operating (loss) profit	(3,544)	(4,279)	(8,101)	(9,168)
Depreciation and amortization			256	320
Capital expenditures			529	567
Identifiable assets	92,720	84,712	92,720	84,712
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets, net
Operating (loss) profit:
Total operating (loss) profit	$ 1,718	$ (1,405)	$ 2,676	$ (3,637)