LONG-TERM DEBT (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Long-term debt
Long-term debt	$ 5,226,911	$ 3,595,277
Less current portion	(38,943)	(116,900)
Long-term debt, noncurrent	5,187,968	3,478,377
Senior Secured Term Loan Facility maturing in December 2011
Long-term debt
Long-term debt	590,000
Revolving Credit Facility due in December 2012
Long-term debt
Long-term debt	200,000
Term Loan A Facility
Long-term debt
Long-term debt		975
Revolving Credit Lines
Long-term debt
Long-term debt	4,943
Term loan facility
Long-term debt
Long-term debt	45,312
6.50% Senior Notes due in July 2016
Long-term debt
Long-term debt	950,000
Interest rate on debt (as a percent)	6.50%
6.75% Senior Notes due in October 2017
Long-term debt
Long-term debt	497,860	497,589
Interest rate on debt (as a percent)	6.75%	6.75%
6.875% Senior Notes due in December 2018
Long-term debt
Long-term debt	993,210	992,498
Interest rate on debt (as a percent)	6.875%	6.875%
7.00% Senior Notes due in October 2020
Long-term debt
Long-term debt	696,066	695,735
Interest rate on debt (as a percent)	7.00%	7.00%
6.75% Senior Notes due in August 2021
Long-term debt
Long-term debt	650,000
Interest rate on debt (as a percent)	6.75%
7.25% Senior Notes due in July 2022
Long-term debt
Long-term debt	540,200
Interest rate on debt (as a percent)	7.25%
4.00% Convertible Notes due in November 2013
Long-term debt
Long-term debt		220,792
Interest rate on debt (as a percent)		4.00%
5.375% Convertible notes due August 2014
Long-term debt
Long-term debt	41,798	196,763
Interest rate on debt (as a percent)	5.375%	5.375%
Other.
Long-term debt
Long-term debt	$ 17,522	$ 16,900