Name:	rig_FinancialSecurityForAppealOfTaxAssessmentOnTransactionsNorway
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the amount of guarantee provided by the entity with respect to the tax assessment related to the migration of a subsidiary.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_GuaranteeAmountForTaxAssessmentRelatedToTheMigrationOfSubsidiary
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The estimated loss resulting from the income tax examination that has been accrued net of any adjustments as of the balance sheet date, excluding interest and penalties by the Brazilian taxing authorities.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_IncomeTaxExaminationLiabilityExcludingInterestAndPenaltiesRecordedBrazil
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The estimated loss resulting from the U.S. federal income tax examinations, excluding interest, related to the assessment of transfer pricing for certain charters of drilling rigs and the creation of intangible assets resulting from the performance of engineering services between subsidiaries.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_IncomeTaxExaminationLiabilityFederalIncomeTaxReturn
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the number of appeals to tax assessments expected to be filed or filed by the entity.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_IncomeTaxExaminationNumberOfAppealsToTaxAssessmentsExpectedToBeFiledOrFiled
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The amount of penalty expense recorded in the period based upon the specific tax examination.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltyFromExamination
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The rate of penalty to be assessed by Brazilian tax authorities if entity's efforts to overturn tax assessment are unsuccessful.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_IncomeTaxExaminationPercentagePenaltiesAssessedBeforeExaminationBrazil
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The rate of penalty to be assessed by Norwegian court if entity's efforts to overturn tax assessment are unsuccessful.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_IncomeTaxExaminationPercentagePenaltiesAssessedBeforeExaminationNorway
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the total interest assessed by Brazilian tax authorities.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_IncomeTaxInterestAssessmentBrazil
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the financial claim dropped by the tax authorities against one of the entity's subsidiaries.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_IncomeTaxInvestigationFinancialClaimDropped
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the financial claim issued by the Norweigian authorities supplementing the criminal indictments.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_IncomeTaxInvestigationFinancialClaimIssuedUnderCriminalIndictment
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Maximum number of years the enterprise has agreed to extensions beyond the statute of limitations in four major jurisdictions.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_MaximumNumberYearsAgreedToExtensionsBeyondStatuteOfLimitations
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of former external tax advisors, who issued indictments against the entity with respect to disclosures in the tax returns.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_NumberOfFormerExternalTaxAdvisorsIssuedIndictmentsAgainstEntity
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of jurisdictions with extensions beyond the statute of limitations.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_NumberOfMajorJurisdictionsWithExtensionsBeyondStatuteOfLimitations
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of subsidiaries of the entity against which criminal indictments charges are dropped.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_NumberOfSubsidiariesAgainstWhichCriminalIndictmentsHaveBeenDropped
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of subsidiaries of the entity against which additional criminal indictments have been extended.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_NumberOfSubsidiariesAgainstWhichCriminalIndictmentsHaveBeenExtended
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of subsidiaries of the entity against which criminal indictments charges are filed.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_NumberOfSubsidiariesAgainstWhichCriminalIndictmentsHaveBeenFiled
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Range of period that the tax returns in the major jurisdictions in which the enterprise operates are generally subject to examination.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_RangeOfTaxReturnsSubjectToExamination
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The estimated lower bound of the reasonably possible change in the percentage of the unrecognized tax benefit (that will significantly increase or decrease within twelve months of the balance sheet date) for a tax position taken.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_SignificantChangesInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleEstimatedRangeOfChangeLowerBound
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The estimated upper bound of the reasonably possible change in the percentage of the unrecognized tax benefit (that will significantly increase or decrease within twelve months of the balance sheet date) for a tax position taken.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_SignificantChangesInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleEstimatedRangeOfChangeUpperBound
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Tax assessments by Norway on entity's actions involving dividend payment.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_TaxAssessmentDueTo2001DividendNorway
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Tax assessments by Norway on entity's actions involving certain foreign exchange deductions and dividend withholding taxes.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_TaxAssessmentDueToForeignExchangeNorway
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Tax assessments by Norway on entity's actions involving the migration of a subsidiary that was previously subject to tax in Norway.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_TaxAssessmentOnMigrationOfSubsidiaryNorway
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The amount of current tax benefit recognized from the settlement of dispute with tax authorities and from the expiration statutes of limitations, including interest and penalties.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_TaxBenefitRecognizedFromSettlementWithTaxAuthoritiesAndLapseOfApplicableStatutesOfLimitationsIncludingInterestAndPenalties
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	rig_TaxReturnsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, that if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsExcludingInterestAndPenaltiesThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits (tax reductions recognized in financial reports but excluded from tax returns) pertaining to uncertain tax positions taken in tax returns as of the beginning balance sheet date, excluding amounts pertaining to examined tax returns. This amount includes Interest and Penalties.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncludingInterestAndPenalties
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

A ratio calculated by dividing the reported amount of income tax expense attributable to continuing operations for the period by GAAP-basis pretax income from continuing operations.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32687-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 13

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32698-109319

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph h

-Subparagraph 2

-Article 4

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 109

-Paragraph 47

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The amount of the additional liability or refund received or expected based on a final settlement with a taxing authority.

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the total of accruals as of the date of the statement of financial position for interest recognized for an underpayment of income taxes computed by applying the applicable statutory rate of interest to the difference between a tax position recognized for financial reporting purposes and the amount previously taken or expected to be taken in a tax return of the entity and the amount of statutory penalties for a tax position claimed or expected to be claimed by the entity, in its tax return, that does not meet the minimum statutory threshold to avoid payment of penalties.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)

-Number 48

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)

-Number 48

-Paragraph 15, 16

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.