Drilling and Other Property and Equipment - Summary of Construction Work-in-Progress, Including Capitalized Interest (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Rig(s) Under Construction	$ 1,314,517	$ 1,668,211
Ultra-deepwater drillships [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Rig(s) Under Construction	733,805	868,908
Ocean GreatWhite [Member] | Ultra-deepwater semisubmersible [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Rig(s) Under Construction	207,345	195,578
Ocean Onyx [Member] | Deepwater semisubmersibles [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Rig(s) Under Construction		339,129
Ocean Apex [Member] | Deepwater semisubmersibles [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Rig(s) Under Construction	$ 373,367	$ 264,596