Parker Wellbore Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Reportable Segments - Operations by Industry Segment (Detail)

Reportable Segments - Operations by Industry Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total identifiable assets	$ 1,320,812pkd_TotalIdentifiableAssets	$ 1,254,982pkd_TotalIdentifiableAssets
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures	179,513	155,645	191,543
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization	145,121	134,053	113,017
Assets	1,520,659us-gaap_Assets	1,534,756us-gaap_Assets
Rental Tools [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total identifiable assets	444,195	350,429
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures	95,340	76,928	61,958
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization	64,177	55,853	44,117
U.S. Barge Drilling [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total identifiable assets	117,344	89,884
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures	43,114	23,694	8,808
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization	21,118	14,338	14,492
U.S. Drilling [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total identifiable assets	308,105	354,208
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures	1,159	1,809	86,786
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization	15,948	16,385	7,017
International Drilling [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total identifiable assets	451,168	460,461
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures	25,608	39,115	15,240
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization	43,651	47,346	47,354
Technical Services [Member]
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization	227	131	37
Corporate and other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total identifiable assets	199,847	279,774
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures	14,292	14,099	18,751
Construction Contract [Member]
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Exxon Neftegas Limited (ENL) [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percent of total revenues		15.60%	12.00%
Exxon Neftegas Limited (ENL) [Member] \| International Drilling [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percent of segment revenues	41.40%	38.30%	27.00%
Exxon Neftegas Limited (ENL) [Member] \| Technical Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percent of segment revenues	74.30%	33.90%
Schlumberger [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percent of total revenues			10.00%
Schlumberger [Member] \| International Drilling [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percent of segment revenues			24.00%