Amount of outstanding principal due under the debt instrument at the end of the reporting period, net of unamortized discount.

Name:	cam_DebtInstrumentPrincipalOutstandingNetUnamortizedDiscount
Namespace Prefix:	cam
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Description of the interest rate for the amounts borrowed under Senior notes due June 2, 2014., including the terms and the method for determining the interest rate (for example, fixed or variable, LIBOR plus a percentage, increasing rate, timing of interest rate resets, remarketing provisions).

+ Details

Name:	cam_FloatingRate
Namespace Prefix:	cam
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity of credit facility specified at some future date.

+ Details

Name:	cam_FutureAmountOfRevolvingCreditFacilityMaximumCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	cam
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Future date where revolving credit facility maximum capacity changes whether increase or decrease or new capacity amount.

+ Details

Name:	cam_FutureDateWhereRevolvingCreditFacilityMaximumCapacityChanges
Namespace Prefix:	cam
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of letters of credit issued and outstanding under revolving letter of credit facility.

+ Details

Name:	cam_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	cam
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of outstanding principal due under the debt instrument at the end of the reporting period, net of unamortized discount.

+ Details

Name:	cam_LongTermMaturitiesTotal
Namespace Prefix:	cam
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of principal amount of outstanding convertible debentures to be redeemed as reported or per contractual agreements.

+ Details

Name:	cam_PercentageOfPrincipalAmountOfOutstandingConvertibleDebenturesToBeRedeemedInHundredths
Namespace Prefix:	cam
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow for the premium paid on purchased convertible debt.

+ Details

Name:	cam_PremiumForPurchasedCovertibleDebt
Namespace Prefix:	cam
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Principal amount of debentures to be converted per election by holders under the terms of the debenture agreement.

+ Details

Name:	cam_PrincipalAmountOfDebenturesToBeConvertedIntoEquityPerElectionOfHolders
Namespace Prefix:	cam
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Gross amount of debt to be repurchased on the open market or redeemed for cash.

+ Details

Name:	cam_PurchaseOrRedemptionOfDebtAmount
Namespace Prefix:	cam
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Decrease for amounts repaid on the debt instrument for the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph f

-Article 4

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentDecreaseRepayments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, which may be presented in a variety of ways (year, month and year, day, month and year, quarter, etc.).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number APB14-1

-Paragraph 31

-Subparagraph b

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Gross amount of debt extinguished.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements (net) which have taken place during the period in relation to assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 157

-Paragraph 32

-Subparagraph c(2)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetPurchasesSalesIssuancesSettlements
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Balance held at close of period in number of contracts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 12C

-Paragraph Column B

-Article 12

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 12

-Paragraph Column B

-Article 12

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 14

-Paragraph Column B

-Article 12

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentOwnedBalanceContracts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Description of the interest rate for the amounts borrowed under the credit facility, including the terms and the method for determining the interest rate (for example, fixed or variable, LIBOR plus a percentage, increasing rate, timing of interest rate resets, remarketing provisions).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateDescription
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total of the portions of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of long-term debt, which may include notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans, and commercial paper, which are scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Debt (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended							9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 Senior Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Senior Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Senior Notes [Member] Floating rate Senior Notes due June 2, 2014	Dec. 31, 2010 Senior Notes [Member] Floating rate Senior Notes due June 2, 2014	Sep. 30, 2011 Senior Notes [Member] 6.375% Notes due July 15, 2018	Dec. 31, 2010 Senior Notes [Member] 6.375% Notes due July 15, 2018	Sep. 30, 2011 Senior Notes [Member] 4.5% Notes due June 1, 2021	Dec. 31, 2010 Senior Notes [Member] 4.5% Notes due June 1, 2021	Sep. 30, 2011 Senior Notes [Member] 7.0% Notes due July 15, 2038	Dec. 31, 2010 Senior Notes [Member] 7.0% Notes due July 15, 2038	Sep. 30, 2011 Senior Notes [Member] 5.95% Notes due June 1, 2041	Dec. 31, 2010 Senior Notes [Member] 5.95% Notes due June 1, 2041	Sep. 30, 2011 Convertible Debt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Convertible Debt [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Convertible Debt [Member] 2.5% Convertible Debenture Notes due June 15, 2026	Jun. 30, 2011 Convertible Debt [Member] 2.5% Convertible Debenture Notes due June 15, 2026	Dec. 31, 2010 Convertible Debt [Member] 2.5% Convertible Debenture Notes due June 15, 2026	Sep. 30, 2011 Other Long Term Debt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Other Long Term Debt [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Obligations Under Capital Leases [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Obligations Under Capital Leases [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Amended Line of Credit [Member]	Jun. 06, 2011 Amended Line of Credit [Member]	Apr. 14, 2008 Line of Credit [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Line of Credit Multi Currency [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding amount	$ 1,587.2	$ 1,292.8			$ 250.0	$ 0	$ 450.0	$ 450.0	$ 250.0	$ 0	$ 300.0	$ 300.0	$ 250.0	$ 0			$ 0		$ 500.0	$ 73.7	$ 37.5	$ 17.4	$ 14.0
Unamortized original issue discount			(3.9)	(1.8)											0	(6.9)
Current maturities	(10.9)	(519.9)
Long-term maturities Total	1,576.3	772.9
Maturity date					Jun. 02, 2014		Jul. 15, 2018		Jun. 01, 2021		Jul. 15, 2038		Jun. 01, 2041				Jun. 15, 2026							Jun. 06, 2016
Interest rate (in hundredths)							6.375%		4.50%		7.00%		5.95%				2.50%
Floating rate Senior Notes due June 2, 2014					3-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 0.93, per annum
Retirement of debentures																	500.0
Percentage of principal amount of outstanding convertible debentures to be redeemed (in hundredths)																	100.00%
Principal amount of debentures to be converted into equity per election of holders																	295.5
Principal amount of debentures to be purchased by the company on open market or redeemed for cash																	204.5
Total cash paid to retire convertible debentures																	705.7
Conversion value in excess of principal																	203.3
Number of common stock call options purchased from a third party financial intermediary (in shares)																		5.0
Total amount of premium paid for common stock call options purchased from a third party financial intermediary	21.9																21.9
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity																									835.0	585.0	250.0
Future amount of borrowing capacity after previous period expires																								730.0
Maturity date					Jun. 02, 2014		Jul. 15, 2018		Jun. 01, 2021		Jul. 15, 2038		Jun. 01, 2041				Jun. 15, 2026							Jun. 06, 2016
Interest rate description																								LIBOR plus a spread, which varies based on the Company's current debt rating, and, if aggregate outstanding credit exposure exceeds one-half of the total facility amount, an additional fee will be incurred
Date when revolving credit facility maximum capacity changes																								Apr. 14, 2013
Letters of credit outstanding																								25.4			70.8
Remaining capacity under revolving line of credit facility																								$ 809.6			$ 179.2