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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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