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