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

The payments made in the period which reduced contractual obligation.

No definition available.

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

Represents the amount of criminal fine installments to be paid, excluding interest.

No definition available.

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

Estimated number of plaintiffs in lawsuits alleging personal injury from asbestos exposure for subsidiary involved in design, construction and refurbishment of major industrial complexes.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_EstimatedNumberOfPlaintiffsInLawsuitsAllegingPersonalInjuryFromAsbestosExposureForSubsidiaryInvolvedInDesignConstructionAndRefurbishmentOfMajorIndustrialComplexes
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Amount of income (loss) recognized related to settlement of litigation and insurance claims associated with recovery or reimbursement of previous costs or losses. These recoveries or reimbursements reduce costs.

No definition available.

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

No definition available.

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

Amount of income (loss) recognized related to settlement of litigation and insurance claims per diluted share associated with recovery or reimbursement of previous costs or losses. These recoveries or reimbursements reduce costs.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_IncomeLossRelatedToLitigationSettlementAndInsuranceRecoveriesPerDilutedShare
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of increase/decrease in current liabilities during the period associated with insurance recoveries and cost reimbursements.

No definition available.

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

Represents the aggregate insurance coverage provided under the entity's excess liability insurance program at the time of the Macondo well incident.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_InsuranceCoverageUnderExcessLiabilityInsuranceProgram
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the deductible amount under the entity's excess liability insurance program at the time of Macondo well incident.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_InsuranceCoverageUnderExcessLiabilityInsuranceProgramDeductibleAmount
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the amount of insurance coverage provided under the fifth layer of the entity's excess liability insurance program at the time of Macondo well incident.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_InsuranceCoverageUnderExcessLiabilityInsuranceProgramLayerFifth
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the amount of insurance coverage provided under the first layer of the entity's excess liability insurance program at the time of Macondo well incident.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_InsuranceCoverageUnderExcessLiabilityInsuranceProgramLayerFirst
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the amount of insurance coverage provided under the fourth layer of the entity's excess liability insurance program at the time of Macondo well incident.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_InsuranceCoverageUnderExcessLiabilityInsuranceProgramLayerFourth
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the amount of insurance coverage provided under the second layer of the entity's excess liability insurance program at the time of Macondo well incident.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_InsuranceCoverageUnderExcessLiabilityInsuranceProgramLayerSecond
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the amount of insurance coverage provided under the third layer of the entity's excess liability insurance program at the time of Macondo well incident.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_InsuranceCoverageUnderExcessLiabilityInsuranceProgramLayerThird
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the self insured retention layer under the entity's excess liability insurance program at the time of Macondo well incident.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_InsuranceCoverageUnderExcessLiabilityInsuranceProgramSelfInsuredLayer
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Insurance limits potentially available for damages in lawsuits regarding personal injury from asbestos exposure for subsidiary involved in design, construction and refurbishment of major industrial complexes.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_InsuranceLimitsPotentiallyAvailableForDamagesInLawsuitsRegardingPersonalInjuryFromAsbestosExposureForSubsidiaryInvolvedInDesignConstructionAndRefurbishmentOfMajorIndustrialComplexes
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the number of claimants that opted out of the settlement agreement to pursue punitive damages claims against the entity.

No definition available.

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

Represents the number of claimants that opted out of the settlement agreement to pursue punitive damages claims against the entity that later revoked their opt out requests.

No definition available.

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

Number of classes of plaintiffs that have filed claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

No definition available.

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

Represents the number of plaintiffs whose litigation remains pending against subsidiaries.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffsWhoseLitigationIsPendingAgainstSubsidiaries
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Payment in cash deposited into escrow account pending approval of a settlement between the entity and plaintiff by appropriate authorities.

No definition available.

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

Represents the amount of Plea Agreement required payments to be paid, excluding interest.

No definition available.

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

Amount of settlement agreement entered into by the entity with plaintiffs in litigation agreement

No definition available.

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

Amount of settlement agreement entered into by the entity with plaintiffs in litigation agreement, legal fee portion.

No definition available.

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

Percentage of settlement allocated to the Assigned Claims Class of plaintiffs.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_LossContingencySettlementPercentAllocatedAssignedClaimsClass
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of settlement allocated to the Punitive Damage Class of plaintiffs.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_LossContingencySettlementPercentAllocatedPunitiveDamageClass
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The minimum number of subsidiaries likely to be named a potentially responsible party by the US Environmental Protection Agency for a superfund site.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_MinimumNumberOfSubsidiariesLikelyToBeNamedPotentiallyResponsiblePartyByUSEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyForSuperfundSite
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the number of claims pending against the entity and subsidiaries, along with other unaffiliated defendants, in state and federal courts.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_NumberOfActionsOrClaimsPendingInStateAndFederalCourts
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The number of excess liability insurance coverage layers.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_NumberOfExcessLiabilityInsuranceCoverageLayers
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Number of lawsuits alleging personal injury from asbestos exposure for subsidiary involved in design, construction and refurbishment of major industrial complexes.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_NumberOfLawsuitsAllegingPersonalInjuryFromAsbestosExposureForSubsidiaryInvolvedInDesignConstructionAndRefurbishmentOfMajorIndustrialComplexes
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Number of misdemeanor count.

No definition available.

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

Represents the number of pending lawsuits.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_NumberOfPendingLawsuits
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Number of subsidiaries involved in lawsuits arising from design, construction and refurbishment of major industrial complexes.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_NumberOfSubsidiariesInvolvedInLawsuitsArisingFromDesignConstructionAndRefurbishmentOfMajorIndustrialComplexes
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Number of subsidiaries ordered by California Regional Water Quality Control Board to develop a testing plan for Alhambra, California site.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_NumberOfSubsidiariesOrderedByCaliforniaRegionalWaterQualityControlBoardToDevelopTestingPlanForAlhambraCaliforniaSite
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Number of subsidiaries that pled guilty to charges.

No definition available.

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

Represents the number of subsidiaries that were served a Notice and Demand from the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

No definition available.

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

Percentage of liability under participation agreement for remediation and related costs from hazardous waste disposal site.

No definition available.

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

Represents the percentage of surcharge imposed on subsidiaries.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_PercentageOfSurchargeOnValueOfContractsImposedOnSubsidiaries
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of settlement obligation redeemable at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the next rolling twelve months following the latest balance sheet presented.

No definition available.

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

Tax assessment from federal tax authorities of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil relating to failure to timely apply for and improper information on import license application.

No definition available.

Name:	rig_TaxAssessmentFromStateTaxAuthorities
Namespace Prefix:	rig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of contractual obligation, including but not limited to, long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations, purchase obligations, and other commitments.

No definition available.

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

The designation of funds furnished by a borrower to a lender to assure future payments of the borrower's real estate taxes and insurance obligations with respect to a mortgaged property. Escrow deposits may be made for a variety of other purposes such as earnest money and contingent payments. This element excludes replacement reserves which are an escrow separately provided for within the US GAAP taxonomy.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.10)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Name:	us-gaap_EscrowDeposit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The amount recovered from insurance. These recoveries reduce costs and losses that are reported as a separate line item under operating expenses.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Name:	us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

The excess or deficiency of insurance recoveries compared to the recorded loss incurred from an insured event (including a conversion of nonmonetary assets to monetary assets). An excess would occur from recovery of lost profits, and recoveries at current replacement cost less carrying amounts of assets that were damaged or destroyed. This element is (1) intended to be used whenever a relevant insurance event concept is needed and (2) moved to the portion of the income statement to correspond to the entity's classification as a component of operating results, nonoperating item, discontinued operations, or extraordinary item.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6397426&loc=d3e17499-108355

Name:	us-gaap_InsuredEventGainLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

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

Reflects the estimated amount of loss from the specified contingency as of the balance sheet date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

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

Number of plaintiffs that have filed claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffs
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=rig_MacondoWellIncidentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=rig_InsuranceCoverageMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	rig_LitigationCaseTypeOfAgreementAxis=rig_PleaAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	rig_LitigationCaseTypeOfAgreementAxis=rig_ConsentDecreeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=rig_BpSettlementAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=rig_PscSettlementAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=rig_NationalFishAndWildlifeFoundationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=rig_NationalAcademyOfSciencesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=rig_AsbestosLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=rig_MsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=rig_LaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=rig_WrongfulDeathAndPersonalInjuryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=rig_RioDeJaneiroTaxAssessmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=rig_NigerianCabotageActLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=rig_HazardousWasteDisposalSitesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: