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Business Segments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of reportable business segments | 3 |  |
Long-lived assets | $ 3,615,383 | $ 3,167,266 |
United States |  |  |
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Marketable land-based drilling rigs | 314 |  |
Alaska |  |  |
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Marketable land-based drilling rigs | 314 |  |
Western and Northern Canada |  |  |
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Marketable land-based drilling rigs | 314 |  |
Canada | Contract Drilling |  |  |
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Oil and gas services | 79,400 | 106,000 | 65,700
Long-lived assets | $ 72,600 | $ 69,800 |

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- Definition Number of Marketable Land Based Drilling Rigs + References No definition available. + Details
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- Details
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- Definition Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization, of long-lived physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 8 -Article 7 Reference 2: 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of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 12 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph b, c -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 3: 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 Reference 4: 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 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 + 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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