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Business Segments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of reportable business segments | 3 |  |
Marketable land-based drilling rigs | 328 |  |
Long-lived assets | $ 3,167,266 | $ 2,620,900 |
West Texas and southeastern New Mexico |  |  |
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Marketable land-based drilling rigs | 64 |  |
North central and east Texas, northern Louisiana and Mississippi |  |  |
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Marketable land-based drilling rigs | 73 |  |
Rocky Mountain region (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota) |  |  |
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Marketable land-based drilling rigs | 48 |  |
South Texas and southern Louisiana |  |  |
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Marketable land-based drilling rigs | 62 |  |
Texas panhandle, Oklahoma and Arkansas |  |  |
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Marketable land-based drilling rigs | 27 |  |
Appalachian Basin |  |  |
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Marketable land-based drilling rigs | 34 |  |
Western Canada |  |  |
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Marketable land-based drilling rigs | 20 |  |
Canada | Contract Drilling |  |  |
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Oil and gas services | 106,000 | 65,700 | 45,400
Long-lived assets | $ 69,800 | $ 70,700 |

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- Definition Number of Reportable Business Segments + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Tangible assets that are held by an entity for use in the production or supply of goods and services, for rental to others, or for administrative purposes and that are expected to provide economic benefit for more than one year; net of accumulated depreciation. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.13) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 7 -Section 03 -Paragraph 8 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 12 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph b, 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 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229 + Details
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- Definition Revenue from oil and gas-related services including well services (such as drilling, rigs and analytic evaluations), transportation, and other supporting contractor services, during the reporting period. + References 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 210.5-03.1(d)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
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