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Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
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Feb. 11, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares | Jan. 29, 2019 shares | Oct. 07, 2018 shares | Jan. 01, 2018 USD ($) | Oct. 06, 2017 USD ($) | Oct. 05, 2017 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) continent country | Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) shares | Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) continent country shares | Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Jan. 01, 2019 USD ($)
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of contract drilling rigs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 56 |  |  |  |
Number of different countries having drilling contracts spanning | country |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14 |  |  |  |
Number of different continents having drilling contracts | continent |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  |
Bargain purchase gain |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 142,000,000 | $ 1,800,000 |  | $ 140,200,000 | $ 0 |
Net foreign currency exchange gains (losses) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (6,000,000) |  | (17,200,000) |  | (5,100,000) |  |
Short-term Investments |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 329,000,000 |  |  |  | $ 440,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 329,000,000 |  | 440,000,000 |  |
Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 40,300,000 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 182,900,000 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |  |  | $ 40,300,000 |  | $ 182,900,000 | $ 0 |
Antidilutive share options excluded from computation of diluted earnings per share | shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 500,000 |  | 1,500,000 |  | 2,000,000 |  |
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Reclassification from AOCI to Retained Earnings |  |  |  | $ 800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Three Percent Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Twenty Four [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3.00% |  |  |  |
Rowan Companies [Member] | Common Class A [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Entity shares issued per acquiree share | shares |  |  | 2.215 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Atwood Oceanics, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of contract drilling rigs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  |
Consideration transferred |  |  |  |  | $ 770,700,000 | $ 781,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 781,800,000 |  |  |  |  |
Cash settlement for business acquisitions |  |  |  |  |  | 11,100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  |  |  |  | 445,400,000 |  |  | $ 445,400,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 445,400,000 |  | $ 445,400,000 |  |  |
Payments to extinguish acquiree liabilities |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,300,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Bargain purchase gain |  |  |  |  | $ 140,200,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,800,000 |  |  |
Atwood Oceanics, Inc. | Common Class A [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Entity shares issued per acquiree share | shares |  |  |  |  |  | 1.60 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of ordinary shares | shares |  |  |  |  |  | 132,200,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ultra Deepwater Drillships [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of contract drilling rigs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  |
Semisubmersible Rigs [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of contract drilling rigs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9 |  |  |  |
Moored Semisubmersible Rigs [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of contract drilling rigs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |
Moored Semisubmersible Rigs [Member] | Atwood Oceanics, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of contract drilling rigs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |
Jackup Rigs [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of contract drilling rigs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 35 |  |  |  |
Jackup Rigs [Member] | Atwood Oceanics, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of contract drilling rigs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |  |  |
Construction in Progress [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of contract drilling rigs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |
Construction in Progress [Member] | Atwood Oceanics, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of contract drilling rigs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |
Drilling rigs and equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 years |  |  |  |
Drilling rigs and equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 35 years |  |  |  |
Drilling rigs and equipment [Member] | Atwood Oceanics, Inc. | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life |  |  |  |  | 30 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 years |  |  |  |
Drilling rigs and equipment [Member] | Atwood Oceanics, Inc. | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life |  |  |  |  | 35 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 35 years |  |  |  |
Building and Building Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7 years |  |  |  |
Building and Building Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30 years |  |  |  |
Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 years |  |  |  |
Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 years |  |  |  |
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Rowan Companies [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Consideration transferred | $ 1,500,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition, Share Price | $ / shares | $ 4.41 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Rowan Companies [Member] | Common Class A [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of ordinary shares | shares | 351,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] | New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption, Effect [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Lease, Liability |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 75,000,000
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 65,000,000
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] | New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption, Effect [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Lease, Liability |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 80,000,000
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 70,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Rowan Companies [Member] | Common Class A [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description Of The Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Entity shares issued per acquiree share | shares |  | 2.750 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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