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Segment Information (Company's information by geographic area) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]      
Total Revenues $ 917,235us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet $ 1,061,418us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet  
Total, Long-lived assets 2,690,491us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet   2,733,839us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
UNITED STATES      
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]      
Revenue 760,443us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US
892,319us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US
 
Long-lived assets 2,311,191us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US
  2,416,306us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US
Other Countries Member      
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]      
Revenue 156,792us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= spn_OtherCountriesMember
169,099us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= spn_OtherCountriesMember
 
Long-lived assets $ 379,300us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= spn_OtherCountriesMember
  $ 317,533us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= spn_OtherCountriesMember