CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues		$ 3,326,997,000	$ 2,356,684,000	$ 915,866,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment		916,318,000	783,341,000	668,434,000
Impairment of goodwill		211,129,000
Selling, general and administrative		134,071,000	105,847,000	69,205,000
Merger and integration expenses		2,738,000	74,451,000
Other operating income, net	[1]	(17,569,000)	(31,957,000)	(14,323,000)
Total operating costs and expenses		3,649,174,000	2,649,222,000	1,372,092,000
Operating loss		(322,177,000)	(292,538,000)	(456,226,000)
Other income (expense):
Interest income		5,597,000	1,866,000	327,000
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized		(51,578,000)	(37,472,000)	(40,366,000)
Other		750,000	343,000	69,000
Total other expense		(45,231,000)	(35,263,000)	(39,970,000)
Loss before income taxes		(367,408,000)	(327,801,000)	(496,196,000)
Income tax benefit		(45,987,000)	(333,711,000)	(177,562,000)
Net income (loss)		$ (321,421,000)	$ 5,910,000	$ (318,634,000)
Net income (loss) per common share:
Basic		$ (1.47)	$ 0.03	$ (2.18)
Diluted		$ (1.47)	$ 0.03	$ (2.18)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic		218,643	198,447	146,178
Diluted		218,643	199,882	146,178
Contract Drilling
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues		$ 1,430,492,000	$ 1,040,033,000	$ 543,663,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Operating costs and expenses		885,704,000	667,105,000	305,804,000
Impairment of goodwill		0
Pressure Pumping
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues		1,573,396,000	1,200,311,000	354,070,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Operating costs and expenses		1,263,850,000	966,835,000	334,588,000
Impairment of goodwill		121,444,000
Directional Drilling
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues		209,275,000	45,580,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Operating costs and expenses		175,829,000	32,172,000
Impairment of goodwill		89,685,000
Other
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues		113,834,000	70,760,000	18,133,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Operating costs and expenses		$ 77,104,000	$ 51,428,000	$ 8,384,000

[1] Other operating income (expense), net includes net gains or losses associated with the disposal of assets relate to corporate strategy decisions of the executive management group. Accordingly, the related gains or losses have been separately presented and excluded from the results of specific segments. This caption also includes expenses related to certain legal-related expenses and settlements, net of insurance reimbursements and certain research and development expenses.