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Acquisition Of Pride International, Inc. (Schedule Of Business Acquisitions, Components Of The Merger Consideration) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified |  | 9 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2011 Common Stock [Member] | Sep. 30, 2011 Employee Stock Options [Member] | Sep. 30, 2011 ENSCO ADSs [Member] | Sep. 30, 2011 ENSCO ADSs [Member] Pride International, Inc. [Member] | May 31, 2011 Ensco Plc [Member] | Sep. 30, 2011 Pride International, Inc. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Share consideration paid | $ 4,577.5 |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and other consideration paid, 179.7 million outstanding shares of Pride common stock at $15.60 per share |  | 2,803.0 |  |  |  |  |
Estimated fair value of 2.5 million vested Pride employee stock options assumed by Ensco | 35.4 |  |  |  |  |  |
Merger consideration | $ 7,415.9 |  |  |  |  |  |
Pride common stock shares outstanding |  |  |  |  | 179.7 |  | 179.7
Ensco ADSs shares issued |  |  |  | 85.8 |  |  |
Common stock exchange ratio |  |  |  | 0.4778 |  |  |
Closing price of Ensco ADSs |  |  |  | $ 53.32 |  | $ 53.32 |
Common stock, par value per share |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 15.60
Business acquisition, number of vested stock options assumed by Ensco |  |  | 2,500,000 |  |  |  |

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