XML 12 R1.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.20.2
Document and Entity Information - shares
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Nov. 03, 2020
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]    
Document Type 10-Q  
Document Quarterly Report true  
Document Period End Date Sep. 30, 2020  
Document Transition Report false  
Entity File Number 001-34037  
Entity Registrant Name SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES INC  
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code DE  
Entity Tax Identification Number 75-2379388  
Entity Address, Address Line One 1001 Louisiana Street  
Entity Address, Address Line Two Suite 2900  
Entity Address, City or Town Houston  
Entity Address, State or Province TX  
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 77002  
City Area Code 713  
Local Phone Number 654-2200  
Title of 12(b) Security Common Stock, $.001 par value  
Trading Symbol [1] SPNX  
Security Exchange Name [1] NONE  
Entity Current Reporting Status Yes  
Entity Interactive Data Current Yes  
Entity Filer Category Accelerated Filer  
Entity Small Business false  
Entity Emerging Growth Company false  
Entity Shell Company false  
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding   14,826,906
Entity Central Index Key 0000886835  
Amendment Flag false  
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2020  
Document Fiscal Period Focus Q3  
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-31  
[1] On September 17, 2020, our common stock was suspended from trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE). On September 18, 2020, our common stock began trading on the OTCQX Marketplace maintained by the OTC Markets Group, Inc. under the symbol “SPNX.” On October 2, 2020, the NYSE filed a Form 25 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) to delist our common stock from trading on the NYSE and to remove it from registration under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). The delisting became effective 10 days after the filing of the Form 25. In accordance with Rule 12d2-2 of the Exchange Act, the de-registration of our common stock under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act will become effective 90 days, or such shorter period as the SEC may determine, from the date of the Form 25 filing.