Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable, pertaining to costs that are statutory in nature, are incurred on contractual obligations, or accumulate over time and for which invoices have not yet been received or will not be rendered. Examples include taxes, interest, rent and utilities. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 334,775		$ 284,355	$ 306,426		$ 521,375
Short-term investments	45,748		41,461
Accounts receivable, net	508,183		565,202
Inventories of materials and supplies, net	150,126		158,134
Prepaid expenses and other	77,406		66,398
Total current assets	1,116,238		1,115,550
Investments	48,291		98,696
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,583,673		4,857,382
Intercompany receivables	0		0
Goodwill	67,902		64,777
Intangible assets, net	69,093		73,207
Other assets	12,182		5,255
Investment in subsidiaries	0		0
Total assets	5,897,379		6,214,867
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	134,077		132,664
Accrued liabilities	256,449		244,504
Total current liabilities	390,526		377,168
Noncurrent Liabilities:
Long-term debt, net	491,651		493,968
Deferred income taxes	827,027		853,136
Intercompany payables	0		0
Other	78,490		93,606
Noncurrent liabilities - discontinued operations	14,631		14,254
Total noncurrent liabilities	1,411,799		1,454,964
Shareholders' Equity:
Common stock	11,208		11,201
Additional paid-in capital	501,585		500,393
Retained earnings	3,750,785		4,027,779
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(16,085)		16,550
Treasury stock, at cost, 2,647,064 shares and 3,015,243 shares as of June 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively	(152,439)		(173,188)
Total shareholders’ equity	4,095,054	$ 4,318,620	4,382,735	$ 4,442,491	$ 4,503,153	$ 4,164,591
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	5,897,379		6,214,867
Eliminations
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Short-term investments	0		0
Accounts receivable, net	(993)		(272)
Inventories of materials and supplies, net	0		0
Prepaid expenses and other	148		(573)
Total current assets	(845)		(845)
Investments	0		0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0		0
Intercompany receivables	(2,781,351)		(2,480,390)
Goodwill	0		0
Intangible assets, net	0		0
Other assets	0		0
Investment in subsidiaries	(6,203,820)		(6,153,710)
Total assets	(8,986,016)		(8,634,945)
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	(361)		(264)
Accrued liabilities	(484)		(580)
Total current liabilities	(845)		(844)
Noncurrent Liabilities:
Long-term debt, net	0		0
Deferred income taxes	0		0
Intercompany payables	(2,781,251)		(2,480,290)
Other	0		0
Noncurrent liabilities - discontinued operations	0		0
Total noncurrent liabilities	(2,781,251)		(2,480,290)
Shareholders' Equity:
Common stock	(100)		(100)
Additional paid-in capital	(53,477)		(53,477)
Retained earnings	(6,162,267)		(6,080,404)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	11,924		(19,830)
Treasury stock, at cost, 2,647,064 shares and 3,015,243 shares as of June 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively	0		0
Total shareholders’ equity	(6,203,920)		(6,153,811)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	(8,986,016)		(8,634,945)
Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (Guarantor) \| Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	94,354		0
Short-term investments	0		0
Accounts receivable, net	(291)		(29)
Inventories of materials and supplies, net	0		0
Prepaid expenses and other	14,414		20,783
Total current assets	108,477		20,754
Investments	15,774		16,200
Property, plant and equipment, net	45,450		46,859
Intercompany receivables	299,182		161,532
Goodwill	0		0
Intangible assets, net	0		0
Other assets	318		268
Investment in subsidiaries	5,926,270		5,981,197
Total assets	6,395,471		6,226,810
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	84,703		83,819
Accrued liabilities	25,190		43,449
Total current liabilities	109,893		127,268
Noncurrent Liabilities:
Long-term debt, net	482,962		0
Deferred income taxes	(4,273)		(7,112)
Intercompany payables	1,690,102		1,701,694
Other	21,733		22,225
Noncurrent liabilities - discontinued operations	0		0
Total noncurrent liabilities	2,190,524		1,716,807
Shareholders' Equity:
Common stock	11,208		11,201
Additional paid-in capital	501,585		500,393
Retained earnings	3,750,785		4,027,779
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(16,085)		16,550
Treasury stock, at cost, 2,647,064 shares and 3,015,243 shares as of June 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively	(152,439)		(173,188)
Total shareholders’ equity	4,095,054		4,382,735
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	6,395,471		6,226,810
Helmerich & Payne International Drilling Co. (Issuer) \| Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	224,838		273,214
Short-term investments	44,071		41,461
Accounts receivable, net	462,885		499,644
Inventories of materials and supplies, net	118,530		127,154
Prepaid expenses and other	19,160		10,649
Total current assets	869,484		952,122
Investments	32,226		82,496
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,270,440		4,515,077
Intercompany receivables	1,959,592		2,024,652
Goodwill	0		0
Intangible assets, net	0		0
Other assets	6,471		907
Investment in subsidiaries	277,550		172,513
Total assets	7,415,763		7,747,767
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	45,946		43,626
Accrued liabilities	205,630		164,542
Total current liabilities	251,576		208,168
Noncurrent Liabilities:
Long-term debt, net	8,689		493,968
Deferred income taxes	783,109		834,714
Intercompany payables	259,027		178,759
Other	47,537		48,836
Noncurrent liabilities - discontinued operations	0		0
Total noncurrent liabilities	1,098,362		1,556,277
Shareholders' Equity:
Common stock	100		100
Additional paid-in capital	52,437		52,437
Retained earnings	6,025,212		5,910,955
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(11,924)		19,830
Treasury stock, at cost, 2,647,064 shares and 3,015,243 shares as of June 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively	0		0
Total shareholders’ equity	6,065,825		5,983,322
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	7,415,763		7,747,767
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries \| Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	15,583		11,141
Short-term investments	1,677		0
Accounts receivable, net	46,582		65,859
Inventories of materials and supplies, net	31,596		30,980
Prepaid expenses and other	43,684		35,539
Total current assets	139,122		143,519
Investments	291		0
Property, plant and equipment, net	267,783		295,446
Intercompany receivables	522,577		294,206
Goodwill	67,902		64,777
Intangible assets, net	69,093		73,207
Other assets	5,393		4,080
Investment in subsidiaries	0		0
Total assets	1,072,161		875,235
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	3,789		5,483
Accrued liabilities	26,113		37,093
Total current liabilities	29,902		42,576
Noncurrent Liabilities:
Long-term debt, net	0		0
Deferred income taxes	48,191		25,534
Intercompany payables	832,122		599,837
Other	9,220		22,545
Noncurrent liabilities - discontinued operations	14,631		14,254
Total noncurrent liabilities	904,164		662,170
Shareholders' Equity:
Common stock	0		0
Additional paid-in capital	1,040		1,040
Retained earnings	137,055		169,449
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	0		0
Treasury stock, at cost, 2,647,064 shares and 3,015,243 shares as of June 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively	0		0
Total shareholders’ equity	138,095		170,489
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 1,072,161		$ 875,235