Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Reportable Segments - Results of Operations by Reportable Segment (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Reportable Segments - Results of Operations by Reportable Segment (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Revenues:    
Revenues $ 204,076us-gaap_Revenues $ 229,225us-gaap_Revenues
Operating gross margin:    
Total operating gross margin 24,267us-gaap_GrossProfit 28,863us-gaap_GrossProfit
General and administration expense (10,837)us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense (8,964)us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets, net 2,441us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets (129)us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets
Total operating income 15,871us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 19,770us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Interest expense (11,078)us-gaap_InterestExpense (12,039)us-gaap_InterestExpense
Interest income 183us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest 32us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest
Loss on extinguishment of debt 0us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt (29,673)us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Other (1,380)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense 895us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
Income (loss) before income taxes 3,596us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments (21,015)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Rental Tools [Member]    
Revenues:    
Revenues 76,058us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= pkd_RentalToolsMember
80,506us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= pkd_RentalToolsMember
Operating gross margin:    
Total operating gross margin 12,630us-gaap_GrossProfit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= pkd_RentalToolsMember
13,345us-gaap_GrossProfit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= pkd_RentalToolsMember
U.S. (Lower 48) Drilling [Member]    
Revenues:    
Revenues 14,097us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= pkd_U.S.Lower48DrillingMember
35,787us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= pkd_U.S.Lower48DrillingMember
Operating gross margin:    
Total operating gross margin (5,717)us-gaap_GrossProfit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= pkd_U.S.Lower48DrillingMember
8,742us-gaap_GrossProfit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= pkd_U.S.Lower48DrillingMember
International & Alaska Drilling [Member]    
Revenues:    
Revenues 113,921us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= pkd_InternationalAlaskaDrillingMember
112,932us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= pkd_InternationalAlaskaDrillingMember
Operating gross margin:    
Total operating gross margin $ 17,354us-gaap_GrossProfit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= pkd_InternationalAlaskaDrillingMember
$ 6,776us-gaap_GrossProfit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= pkd_InternationalAlaskaDrillingMember
Exxon Neftegas Limited [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Percentage of revenue from major customer 22.90%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis
= pkd_ExxonNeftegasLimitedMember
17.10%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis
= pkd_ExxonNeftegasLimitedMember
Exxon Neftegas Limited [Member] | International & Alaska Drilling [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Percentage of revenue from major customer 41.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis
= pkd_ExxonNeftegasLimitedMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= pkd_InternationalAlaskaDrillingMember
39.60%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis
= pkd_ExxonNeftegasLimitedMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= pkd_InternationalAlaskaDrillingMember