v2.4.0.8

Postemployment Benefit Plans (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2013 plan | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Defined contribution plans |  |  |
Number of defined contribution plans sponsored by the entity (in plans) | 2 |  |
Expense associated with severance-related costs | $ 32 |  |
Payments for involuntary terminations under one-time termination benefit plans | 21 |  |
Contribution to plan recognized during the period |  |  |
Contribution expense | $ 88 | $ 85 | $ 82
Maximum |  |  |
Defined contribution plans |  |  |
Period of employee's weekly base salary considered for calculation of lump sum benefit payment | 364 days |  |
Minimum |  |  |
Defined contribution plans |  |  |
Period of employee's weekly base salary considered for calculation of lump sum benefit payment | 28 days |  |
U.S. Savings Plan |  |  |
Defined contribution plans |  |  |
Number of defined contribution plans sponsored by the entity (in plans) | 1 |  |
U.S. Savings Plan | Maximum |  |  |
Defined contribution plans |  |  |
Matching contribution as a percentage of participant's base salary | 6.00% |  |
Non-U.S. Savings Plan |  |  |
Defined contribution plans |  |  |
Number of defined contribution plans sponsored by the entity (in plans) | 1 |  |
Non-U.S. Savings Plan | Maximum |  |  |
Defined contribution plans |  |  |
Matching contribution as a percentage of participant's base salary | 6.00% |  |
Additional matching contribution as a percentage of participant's base salary | 6.50% |  |
Non-U.S. Savings Plan | Minimum |  |  |
Defined contribution plans |  |  |
Additional matching contribution as a percentage of participant's base salary | 4.50% |  |

X
- Details
Name: | rig_DefinedContributionBenefitPlansLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | rig_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of defined contribution benefit plans sponsored by the entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rig_DefinedContributionBenefitPlansNumberOfDefinedContributionPlansSponsoredByCompany
Namespace Prefix: | rig_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the percentage of employee's gross pay, based on the employee's years of eligible service for which the employer contributes a matching contribution to a defined contribution plan. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rig_DefinedContributionPlanAdditionalEmployerMatchingContributionPercentageBasedOnParticipantYearsOfEligibleService
Namespace Prefix: | rig_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the expense associated with severance related costs under the one-time termination plans for the involuntary termination. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rig_OneTimeTerminationBenefitPlansExpenseRelatedToSeveranceCosts
Namespace Prefix: | rig_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the amount of payments made under the one-time termination benefit plans for the involuntary termination. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rig_PaymentsForInvoluntaryTerminationsUnderOneTimeTerminationBenefitPlans
Namespace Prefix: | rig_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the period of employee's weekly base salary which is based on the annual base salary and years of service considered for calculation of lump sum benefit payment to employees with additional amounts paid to those employees that would otherwise have been eligible for a bonus payment under the annual incentive program. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rig_PeriodCalculatedForLumpsumBenefitPaymentBasedOnWeeklySalary
Namespace Prefix: | rig_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedContributionPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 70 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414718&loc=d3e28014-114942 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage of employees' gross pay for which the employer contributes a matching contribution to a defined contribution plan. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration