BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION - Summary of information with respect to RPC's business segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 298,119	$ 189,095
Operating (loss) profit:
Total operating income (loss)	1,574	(75,087)
Interest expense	(103)	(325)
Interest income	129	23
Other income, net	212	342
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,812	(75,047)
Depreciation and amortization	44,663	60,636
Capital expenditures	11,707	9,581
Identifiable assets	1,049,054		$ 1,035,452
Operating Segments
Revenues:
Total revenues	298,119	189,095
Operating (loss) profit:
Total operating income (loss)	1,574	(75,087)
Interest expense	(103)	(325)
Interest income	129	23
Other income, net	212	342
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,812	(75,047)
Depreciation and amortization	44,663	60,636
Capital expenditures	11,707	9,581
Identifiable assets	1,049,054	1,155,196
Operating Segments | Technical Services
Revenues:
Total revenues	286,198	175,472
Operating (loss) profit:
Total operating income (loss)	9,205	(63,264)
Depreciation and amortization	39,494	53,618
Capital expenditures	9,766	8,032
Identifiable assets	782,778	875,622
Operating Segments | Support Services
Revenues:
Total revenues	11,921	13,623
Operating (loss) profit:
Total operating income (loss)	(5,221)	(6,636)
Depreciation and amortization	5,052	6,899
Capital expenditures	1,909	858
Identifiable assets	74,631	94,667
Corporate
Operating (loss) profit:
Total operating income (loss)	(3,927)	(6,443)
Depreciation and amortization	117	119
Capital expenditures	32	691
Identifiable assets	191,645	184,907
Gain on disposition of assets, net
Operating (loss) profit:
Total operating income (loss)	$ 1,517	$ 1,256