Current report filing

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
country
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
segment
country
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]                      
Number Of Countries In Which Entity Has Operated Since Inception 50pkd_NumberOfCountriesInWhichEntityHasOperatedSinceInception               50pkd_NumberOfCountriesInWhichEntityHasOperatedSinceInception    
Number of countries with operations 23us-gaap_NumberOfCountriesInWhichEntityOperates               23us-gaap_NumberOfCountriesInWhichEntityOperates    
Number of operating segments                 2us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments    
Percentage accounted for under the equity method 5000.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage               5000.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage    
Reimbursement cost                 $ 82,600,000us-gaap_CostOfReimbursableExpense $ 69,700,000us-gaap_CostOfReimbursableExpense $ 44,900,000us-gaap_CostOfReimbursableExpense
Collection period                 90 days    
Capitalized interest costs of construction of rigs                 1,200,000us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized 2,400,000us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized 10,200,000us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized
Consumed and replenished period                 1 year    
Rate of recognized income tax position being realized                 50.00%pkd_ThresholdForRecognizingIncomeTaxPositions    
Deposits in domestic bank 59,300,000us-gaap_CashUninsuredAmount       104,300,000us-gaap_CashUninsuredAmount       59,300,000us-gaap_CashUninsuredAmount 104,300,000us-gaap_CashUninsuredAmount  
Deposits in foreign banks 54,400,000pkd_DepositsInForeignBanksUninsured       50,100,000pkd_DepositsInForeignBanksUninsured       54,400,000pkd_DepositsInForeignBanksUninsured 50,100,000pkd_DepositsInForeignBanksUninsured  
Percentage of revenue from major customer                 18.70%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1    
Contract margin 36,768,000us-gaap_GrossProfit 45,066,000us-gaap_GrossProfit 43,485,000us-gaap_GrossProfit 28,863,000us-gaap_GrossProfit 48,564,000us-gaap_GrossProfit 48,733,000us-gaap_GrossProfit 50,273,000us-gaap_GrossProfit 20,877,000us-gaap_GrossProfit 154,182,000us-gaap_GrossProfit 168,447,000us-gaap_GrossProfit 151,556,000us-gaap_GrossProfit
Share-based awards vesting period                 3 years    
Exxon Neftegas Limited [Member]                      
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]                      
Percentage of revenue from major customer                 18.70%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis
= pkd_ExxonNeftegasLimitedMember 		15.60%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis
= pkd_ExxonNeftegasLimitedMember 		12.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis
= pkd_ExxonNeftegasLimitedMember
ITS [Member]                      
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]                      
Adjusted amount for definite lived intangible assets $ 8,500,000pkd_BusinessCombinationFairValueAdjustedAmountforFiniteLivedIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= pkd_ITSMember 		              $ 8,500,000pkd_BusinessCombinationFairValueAdjustedAmountforFiniteLivedIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= pkd_ITSMember 		   
Definite lived assets, weighted average useful life         3 years 146 days       3 years    
Land and Barge Drilling Equipment | Minimum [Member]                      
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]                      
Barge drilling equipment, useful life                 3 years    
Land and Barge Drilling Equipment | Maximum [Member]                      
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]                      
Barge drilling equipment, useful life                 20 years    
Drill pipe, rental tools and other | Minimum [Member]                      
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]                      
Barge drilling equipment, useful life                 4 years    
Drill pipe, rental tools and other | Maximum [Member]                      
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]                      
Barge drilling equipment, useful life                 10 years    
Buildings and improvements | Minimum [Member]                      
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]                      
Barge drilling equipment, useful life                 5 years    
Buildings and improvements | Maximum [Member]                      
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]                      
Barge drilling equipment, useful life                 30 years