Long-Term Debt and Credit Arrangements - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 14, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	May 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in the Remainder of 2018		$ 204,500,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in 2019		47,500,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in 2020		7,500,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in 2021		7,500,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in 2022		7,500,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal , thereafter		215,300,000
Long-term debt		280,710,000	$ 227,114,000	$ 178,453,000
Current maturities of long-term debt		207,982,000	14,796,000	46,048,000
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		500,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity		300,000,000
Line of Credit, Current		150,000,000
Line of Credit, minimum cash balance		150,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Increase (Decrease), Net		100,000,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		33,000,000		0
Proceeds from long-term debt		$ 105,250,000	0
Consolidated Leverage Ratio, Maximum		0.0300
Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio, Actual		0.2392
Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio, Covenant		0.0400
Layne Christensen Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Acquisition purchase price	$ 349,840,000
Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated leverage ratio financial covenant		0.0300
Acquisition purchase price		$ 100,000,000
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated leverage ratio financial covenant		0.0350
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 200,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity		350,000,000
Proceeds from long-term debt		99,000,000	30,000,000	55,000,000
Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Current maturities of long-term debt		7,500,000	5,000,000	6,200,000
Long-term debt		$ 142,500,000	87,500,000	83,800,000
Debt instrument redemption price percentage		1.25%
8.0 % Convertible Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Common stock conversion rate		23.1305
Common stock conversion principal amount		$ 1,000
Conversion price per share		$ 43.23
8.0 % Convertible Notes [Member] | Layne Christensen Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	8.00%	8.00%
Debt instrument, fair value	$ 121,600,000
Debt instrument frequency of periodic payment		convertible notes that have an interest rate of 8.0% per annum, payable semi-annually on May 1 and November 1 (“8.0% Convertible Notes”).
Debt instrument maturity, Ending date	Aug. 15, 2018
Debt Instrument, maturity date, description		The 8.0% Convertible Notes mature on May 1, 2019; however, if any of the then outstanding 4.25% Convertible Notes remain outstanding on August 15, 2018, the 8.0% Convertible Notes will mature on August 15, 2018 (“Maturity Date”).
Debt instrument maturity date	May 01, 2019
Debt instrument, extended maturity date	Aug. 15, 2018
Senior Notes [Member] | 2019 Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		$ 80,000,000	120,000,000	80,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		6.11%
Long-term debt		$ 40,000,000	110,000,000	$ 40,000,000
Current maturities of long-term debt		40,000,000	10,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] | 2019 Notes [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in the Remainder of 2018		0	$ 30,000,000
Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity		$ 218,000,000
Consolidated leverage ratio financial covenant		0.0210
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate, LIBOR Loans		1.63%
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		0.63%
Derivative, Variable Interest Rate					2.76%
Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Minimum, Collateral Release Period		1.25
Consolidated Leverage Ratio, Maximum, Collateral Release Period		2.50
Consolidated Tangible Net Worth, Actual		$ 1,000,000,000
Consolidated Tangible Net Worth, Covenant		$ 757,300,000
Line of Credit [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate at Period End		3.96%
Line of Credit [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate at Period End		5.63%
Convertible Notes [Member] | 8.0 % Convertible Notes [Member] | Layne Christensen Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Current maturities of long-term debt		$ 90,900,000
Additional paid-in capital		$ 30,700,000
Convertible Notes [Member] | 4.25% Notes due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Common stock conversion rate		11.8012
Common stock conversion principal amount		$ 1,000
Conversion price per share		$ 84.74
Convertible Notes [Member] | 4.25% Notes due 2018 [Member] | Layne Christensen Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	4.25%
Current maturities of long-term debt		$ 69,900,000
Debt instrument, fair value	$ 69,900,000
Debt instrument frequency of periodic payment		convertible notes that have an interest rate of 4.25% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 (“4.25% Convertible Notes”).
Debt instrument maturity, Beginning date		May 31, 2015
Debt instrument maturity, Ending date		Nov. 30, 2015
Debt instrument, extended maturity date		Nov. 30, 2015