Business Segments - Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets		$ 3,908,873	$ 4,529,484
Operating Segments | Contract Drilling
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets		3,113,229	3,457,044
Operating Segments | Pressure Pumping
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets		677,100	813,704
Operating Segments | Oil and Natural Gas
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets		31,347	34,073
Corporate and other
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	[1]	$ 87,197	$ 224,663

[1] Corporate and other assets primarily include cash on hand, income tax receivables, certain deferred tax assets and the assets of a business acquired in September 2016 that designs, manufactures, repairs and services pipe handling equipment and other rig components, including top drives and tubular tongs.