Superior Energy Services 10-K 21 Feb 19 2018 FY Annual report Financial data

Document And Entity Information

Document And Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Feb. 14, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Superior Energy Services Inc
Entity Central Index Key	886,835
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		155,931,859
Entity Public Float			$ 1,520
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Trading Symbol	spn
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Small Business	false

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 158,050	$ 172,000
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $12,080 and $29,037 at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively	447,353	398,056
Income taxes receivable		959
Prepaid expenses	45,802	42,128
Inventory and other current assets	121,700	134,032
Assets held for sale		13,644
Total current assets	772,905	760,819
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and depletion	1,109,126	1,316,944
Goodwill	136,788	807,860
Notes receivable	63,993	60,149
Restricted cash	5,698	20,483
Intangible and other long-term assets, net of accumulated amortization	127,452	143,970
Total assets	2,215,962	3,110,225
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	139,325	119,716
Accrued expenses	219,180	221,757
Income taxes payable	734
Current portion of decommissioning liabilities	3,538	27,261
Liabilities held for sale		6,463
Total current liabilities	362,777	375,197
Deferred income taxes		61,058
Decommissioning liabilities	126,558	103,136
Long-term debt, net	1,282,921	1,279,771
Other long-term liabilities	152,967	158,634
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock of $0.01 par value. Authorized - 5,000,000 shares; none issued
Common stock of $0.001 par value. Authorized-250,000,000, Issued and Outstanding-154,885,418 at December 31, 2018; Authorized-250,000,000, Issued and Outstanding-153,263,097 at December 31, 2017	155	153
Additional paid in capital	2,735,125	2,713,161
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(73,177)	(67,427)
Retained deficit	(2,371,364)	(1,513,458)
Total stockholders' equity	290,739	1,132,429
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 2,215,962	$ 3,110,225

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 12,080	$ 29,037
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	250,000,000	250,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	154,885,418	153,263,097
Common stock, shares outstanding	154,885,418	153,263,097

Consolidated Statements Of Oper

Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 539,331	$ 573,068	$ 535,548	$ 482,318	$ 2,130,265	$ 1,874,076	$ 1,450,047
Costs and expenses:
Costs (exclusive of depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion)	384,445	404,389	369,810	343,460	1,502,104	1,398,695	1,123,274
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	97,264	99,892	97,973	105,719	400,848	438,716	509,971
General and administrative expenses					289,252	295,507	346,606
Reduction in value of assets	739,725				739,725	14,155	500,405
Loss from operations					(801,664)	(272,997)	(1,030,209)
Other expense:
Interest expense, net					(99,477)	(101,455)	(92,753)
Other expense					(1,678)	(3,299)	22,621
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes					(902,819)	(377,751)	(1,100,341)
Income taxes					(45,433)	(190,740)	(267,001)
Net loss from continuing operations	(750,185)	(21,816)	(25,437)	(59,948)	(857,386)	(187,011)	(833,340)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax			(953)	224	(729)	(18,910)	(53,559)
Net loss	$ (750,185)	$ (21,816)	$ (26,390)	$ (59,724)	$ (858,115)	$ (205,921)	$ (886,899)
Basic and diluted:
Net loss from continuing operations	$ (4.85)	$ (0.14)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.39)	$ (5.55)	$ (1.22)	$ (5.50)
Loss from discontinued operations	$ (4.85)		$ (0.01)		(0.01)	(0.13)	(0.35)
Net loss					$ (5.56)	$ (1.35)	(5.85)
Cash dividends declared per share							$ 0.08
Weighted average common shares used in computing loss per share:
Basic and diluted					154,367	152,933	151,558
Services [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues					$ 1,749,969	$ 1,594,140	$ 1,162,244
Costs and expenses:
Costs (exclusive of depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion)					1,365,969	1,284,567	975,941
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion					329,187	372,787	408,752
Rentals [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues					380,296	279,936	287,803
Costs and expenses:
Costs (exclusive of depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion)					136,135	114,128	147,333
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion					$ 71,661	$ 65,929	$ 101,219

Consolidated Statements Of Comp

Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Loss - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Loss [Abstract]
Net loss	$ (750,185)	$ (21,816)	$ (26,390)	$ (59,724)	$ 8,593	$ (59,049)	$ (63,806)	$ (91,659)	$ (858,115)	$ (205,921)	$ (886,899)
Change in cumulative translation adjustment, net of tax									(5,750)	12,821	(34,554)
Comprehensive loss									$ (863,865)	$ (193,100)	$ (921,453)

Consolidated Statements Of Chan

Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net [Member]	Retained Deficit [Member]	Total
Beginning balance, value at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 151	$ 2,664,517	$ (45,694)	$ (408,162)	$ 2,210,812
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2015	150,861,500
Net loss				(886,899)	(886,899)
Foreign currency translation adjustment			(34,554)		(34,554)
Cash dividends declared				(12,476)	(12,476)
Stock-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures		30,122			30,122
Restricted stock forfeited, shares	(1,495)
Exercise of stock options, value		524			524
Exercise of stock options, shares	40,723
Restricted stock units vested, Value	$ 1	(1)
Restricted stock units vested, shares	1,034,068
Shares withheld and retired, value		(3,669)			(3,669)
Shares withheld and retired, shares	(364,122)
Tax effect		(5,112)			(5,112)
Shares issued under Employee Stock Purchase Plan, value		5,172			$ 5,172
Shares issued under Employee Stock Purchase Plan	290,987				290,987
Ending balance, value at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 152	2,691,553	(80,248)	(1,307,537)	$ 1,303,920
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016	151,861,661
Net loss				(205,921)	(205,921)
Foreign currency translation adjustment			12,821		12,821
Stock-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures		26,221			26,221
Exercise of stock options, value		99			99
Exercise of stock options, shares	5,998
Restricted stock units vested, Value	$ 2	(2)
Restricted stock units vested, shares	(1,500,605)
Shares withheld and retired, value	$ (1)	(8,325)			(8,326)
Shares withheld and retired, shares	(465,632)
Shares issued under Employee Stock Purchase Plan, value		3,615			$ 3,615
Shares issued under Employee Stock Purchase Plan	360,465				360,465
Ending balance, value at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 153	2,713,161	(67,427)	(1,513,458)	$ 1,132,429
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2017	153,263,097
Net loss				(858,115)	(858,115)
Foreign currency translation adjustment			(5,750)		(5,750)
Forfeited dividends				209	209
Stock-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures		24,076			24,076
Restricted stock units vested, Value	$ 2	(2)
Restricted stock units vested, shares	1,533,018
Shares withheld and retired, value		(5,198)			(5,198)
Shares withheld and retired, shares	(461,647)
Shares issued under Employee Stock Purchase Plan, value		3,088			$ 3,088
Shares issued under Employee Stock Purchase Plan	550,950				550,950
Ending balance, value at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 155	$ 2,735,125	$ (73,177)	$ (2,371,364)	$ 290,739
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2018	154,885,418

Consolidated Statements of Ch_2

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016$ / shares
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Cash dividends declared per share	$ 0.08

Condensed Consolidated Statemen

Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$ (858,115)	$ (205,921)	$ (886,899)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	400,848	438,716	509,971
Deferred income taxes	(61,058)	(182,553)	(142,520)
Reduction in value of assets	739,725	14,155	500,405
Stock based compensation expense	31,451	36,503	41,779
Other reconciling items, net	(9,545)	2,505	62,056
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(50,116)	(93,309)	128,086
Inventory and other current assets	(7,559)	(2,455)	(7,646)
Accounts payable	8,912	23,648	3,667
Accrued expenses	(21,113)	(8,458)	(73,902)
Income taxes	2,320	99,089	(107,643)
Other, net	(10,693)	(25,494)	33,898
Net cash provided by operating activities	165,057	96,426	61,252
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for capital expenditures	(221,370)	(164,933)	(80,548)
Proceeds from sales of assets	33,299	28,269	7,515
Other			(1,014)
Net cash used in investing activities	(188,071)	(136,664)	(74,047)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		500,000
Principal payments on long-term debt		(500,000)	(337,576)
Payment of debt issuance costs		(11,967)	(2,711)
Cash dividends			(12,111)
Tax withholdings for vested restricted stock units	(5,199)	(8,326)	(3,669)
Other	2,613	3,268	587
Net cash used in financing activities	(2,586)	(17,025)	(355,480)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(3,135)	3,654	(7,959)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	(28,735)	(53,609)	(376,234)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period	192,483	246,092	622,326
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	163,748	192,483	246,092
Cash Payments:
Interest paid	101,056	88,125	93,353
Income taxes paid (net of income tax refunds received)	3,137	(117,376)	(28,933)
Non-cash investing activity:
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	$ 26,259	$ 11,522	$ 4,905

Summary Of Significant Accounti

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies  Basis of Presentation  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Superior Energy Services, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2018 presentation.  Business  The Company provides a wide variety of services and products to the energy industry. The Company serves major, national and independent oil and natural gas companies around the world and offers products and services with respect to the various phases of a well’s economic life cycle. The Company reports its operating results in four business segments: Drilling Products and Services; Onshore Completion and Workover Services; Production Services; and Technical Solutions. Given the Company’s long-term strategy of expanding geographically, the Company also provides supplemental segment revenue information in three geographic areas: U.S. land; Gulf of Mexico; and International.  Use of Estimates  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Major Customers and Concentration of Credit Risk  The majority of the Company’s business is conducted with major and independent oil and gas companies. The Company evaluates the financial strength of its customers and provides allowances for probable credit losses when deemed necessary.  The market for the Company’s services and products is the oil and gas industry in the U.S. land and Gulf of Mexico areas and select international market areas. Oil and gas companies make capital expenditures on exploration, development and production operations. The level of these expenditures historically has been characterized by significant volatility.  The Company derives a large amount of revenue from a small number of major and independent oil and gas companies. There were no customers that exceeded 10% of the Company’s total revenues in 2018. Anadarko accounted for approximately 13% and 11% of the Company’s revenues in 2017 and 2016, respectively, primarily within the Onshore Completion and Workover Services segment.  The Company’s assets that are potentially exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and trade receivables. The financial institutions in which the Company transacts business are large, investment grade financial institutions which are “well capitalized” under applicable regulatory capital adequacy guidelines , thereby minimizing it s exposure to credit risks for deposits in excess of federally insured amounts.  Cash Equivalents  The Company considers all short-term investments with a maturity of 90 days or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.  Accounts Receivable and Allowances  Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount or the earned amount but not yet invoiced and do not bear interest. The Company maintains allowances for estimated uncollectible receivables, including bad debts and other items. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the Company’s best estimate of probable uncollectible amounts in existing accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience and specific identification.  Inventory  Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The Company applies net realizable value and obsolescence to the gross value of the inventory. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out or weighted-average cost methods for finished goods and work-in-process. Supplies and consumables consist principally of products used in the Company’s services provided to its customers. The components of inventory balances are as follows (in thousands):      December 31,  2018 2017  Finished goods $ 54,144 $ 61,764  Raw materials 16,795 13,727  Work-in-process 5,544 6,174  Supplies and consumables 30,822 24,923  Total $ 107,305 $ 106,588   Property, Plant and Equipment  Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, except for assets for which reduction in value is recorded during the period and assets acquired using purchase accounting, which are recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition. Depreciation is computed using the straight line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets as follows:   Buildings and improvements 5 to 40 years  Marine vessels and equipment 5 to 25 years  Machinery and equipment 2 to 25 years  Automobiles, trucks, tractors and trailers 3 to 10 years  Furniture and fixtures 2 to 10 years  Reduction in Value of Long-Lived Assets  Long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment and purchased intangibles subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is assessed by a comparison of the carrying amount of such assets to their fair value calculated, in part, by the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the assets. Cash flow estimates are based upon, among other things, historical results adjusted to reflect the best estimate of future market rates, utilization levels, and operating performance. Estimates of cash flows may differ from actual cash flows due to, among other things, changes in economic conditions or changes in an asset’s operating performance. The Company’s assets are grouped by subsidiary or division for the impairment testing, which represent the lowest level of identifiable cash flows. If the asset grouping’s fair value is less than the carrying amount of those items, impairment losses are recorded in the amount by which the carrying amount of such assets exceeds the fair value. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less estimated costs to sell. The net carrying value of assets not fully recoverable is reduced to fair value. The estimate of fair value represents the Company’s best estimate based on industry trends and reference to market transactions and is subject to variability. The oil and gas industry is cyclical and estimates of the period over which future cash flows will be generated, as well as the predictability of these cash flows, can have a significant impact on the carrying values of these assets and, in periods of prolonged down cycles, may result in impairment charges. See note 10 for a discussion of the reduction in value of long-lived assets recorded during 2018, 2017 and 2016. Goodwill  The following table summarizes the activity for the Company’s goodwill (in thousands):     Onshore  Drilling Completion  Products and Workover Production  and Services Services Services Total   Balance, December 31, 2016 $ 135,961 $ 583,550 $ 84,406 $ 803,917  Foreign currency translation adjustment 2,532 - 1,411 3,943  Balance, December 31, 2017 138,493 583,550 85,817 807,860  Foreign currency translation adjustment (1,705) - (529) (2,234)  Reduction in value of assets - (583,550) (85,288) (668,838)  Balance, December 31, 2018 $ 136,788 $ - $ - $ 136,788   During 2017, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) update (ASU) 2017-04, Intangibles- Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The amendments in the ASU eliminate Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. The annual or interim goodwill impairment test is performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value.  The Company performs the goodwill impairment test on an annual basis as of October 1 or more often if events or circumstances indicate there may be impairment. Goodwill impairment testing is performed at the reporting unit level, which is consistent with the reporting segments. The Company assesses whether any indicators of impairment exist, which requires a significant amount of judgment. Such indicators may include a sustained decrease in the Company’s stock price and market capitalization; a decline in the expected future cash flows; overall weakness in the industry; and slower growth rates.  Goodwill impairment exists when the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is below the carrying value. In estimating the fair value of the reporting units, the Company uses a combination of an income approach and a market-based approach.  · Income approach – The Company discounts the expected cash flows of each reporting unit. The discount rate used represents the estimated weighted average cost of capital, which reflects the overall level of inherent risk involved in the Company’s operations and cash flows and the rate of return an outside investor would expect to earn. · Market-based approach – The Company uses the guideline public company method, which focuses on comparing the Company’s risk profile and growth prospects to select reasonably similar publicly traded companies. The Company weighted the income approach 80% and the market-based approach 20% due to differences between the Company’s reporting units and the peer companies’ size, profitability and diversity of operations. In order to validate the reasonableness of the estimated fair values obtained for the reporting units, a reconciliation of fair value to market capitalization was performed for each unit on a standalone basis. A control premium, derived from market transaction data, was used in this reconciliation to ensure that fair values were reasonably stated in conjunction with the Company’s capitalization. The Company uses all available information to estimate fair value of the reporting units, including discounted cash flows. A significant amount of judgment was involved in performing these evaluations given that the results are based on estimated future events. During the fourth quarter of 2018, the industry climate deteriorated rapidly due to the dramatic decline in crude oil prices and the related large sell-off in the equity markets for issuers in the energy industry. As a result of the adverse changes in the business environment that occurred during the fourth quarter of 2018 and the strategic review of the Company’s expected near-term cash flows from operations, the Company reviewed the goodwill for impairment. It was concluded that at December 31, 2018, the Onshore Completion and Workover Services segment’s goodwill of $583.6 million and the Production Services segment’s goodwill of $85.3 million were fully impaired. The fair value of the Drilling Products and Services segment was substantially in excess of its carrying value. A significant amount of judgment was involved in performing these evaluations given that the results are based on estimated future events. See note 10 for a discussion of the reduction in value of goodwill recorded during 2018 and 2016. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company’s accumulated reduction in value of goodwill was $2,417.1 million and $1,748.2 million, respectively.  Notes Receivable  The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Wild Well, has decommissioning obligations related to its ownership of the oil and gas property and related assets. Notes receivable consist of a commitment from the seller of the property’s sole platform towards its eventual abandonment. Pursuant to an agreement with the seller, the Company will invoice the seller an agreed upon amount at the completion of certain decommissioning activities. The gross amount of this obligation totaled $ 115.0 million and is recorded at present value using an effective interest rate of 6.58 %. The related discount is amortized to interest income based on the expected timing of the platform’s removal. The Company recorded interest income related to notes receivable of $ 3.9 million during 2018 and $ 3.6 million in each of 2017 and 2016 .  Restricted Cash  Restricted cash represents cash held in escrow to secure the future decommissioning obligations related to the oil and gas property.  Intangible and Other Long-Term Assets  Intangible assets consist of the following (in thousands):    December 31,  2018 2017  Estimated Gross Accumulated Net Gross Accumulated Net  Useful Lives Amount Amortization Balance Amount Amortization Balance  Customer relationships 17 years $ 133,374 $ (59,711) $ 73,663 $ 165,036 $ (62,930) $ 102,106  Tradenames 10 years 20,717 (13,334) 7,383 30,732 (17,188) 13,544  Non-compete agreements 3 years 4,474 (3,313) 1,161 4,299 (3,241) 1,058  Total $ 158,565 $ (76,358) $ 82,207 $ 200,067 $ (83,359) $ 116,708  Amortization expense was $ 12.7 million, $12.7 million and $16.2 million during 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively. Based on the carrying values of intangible assets at December 31, 2018, amortization expense for the next five years (2019 through 2023) is estimated to be $ 10.0 million per year.  During 2018, the Company recorded $21.7 million of expense related to the reduction in carrying values of intangibles in the Onshore Completion and Workover Services and Production Services segments (see note 10).  Decommissioning Liabilities  The Company’s decommissioning liabilities associated with the oil and gas property and its related assets consist of costs related to the plugging of wells, the removal of the related platform and equipment, and site restoration. The Company reviews the adequacy of its decommissioning liabilities whenever indicators suggest that the estimated cash flows and/or relating timing needed to satisfy the liability have changed materially.  The following table summarizes the activity for the Company’s decommissioning liabilities (in thousands):     December 31,  2018 2017  Balance at beginning of period $ 130,397 $ 123,677  Accretion 4,906 6,837  Liability acquisitions and dispositions - (117)  Liabilities settled (5,207) -  Balance at end of period $ 130,096 $ 130,397   Income Taxes  The Company accounts for income taxes and the related accounts under the asset and liability method. Deferred income taxes reflect the impact of temporary differences between amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and such amounts as measured by tax laws and rates that are in effect when the temporary differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on the deferred income taxes is recognized in income in the period in which the change occurs. A valuation allowance is recorded when management believes it is more likely than not that at least some portion of any deferred tax asset will not be realized. It is the Company’s policy to recognize interest and applicable penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.  Earnings per Share  Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed in the same manner as basic earnings per share except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional shares of common stock that could have been outstanding assuming the exercise of stock options and conversion of restricted stock units.  During 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company incurred losses from continuing operations; as such, the impact of any incremental shares would be anti-dilutive. Foreign Currency  Results of operations for foreign subsidiaries with functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated using average exchange rates during the period. Assets and liabilities of these foreign subsidiaries are translated using the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet dates, and the resulting translation adjustments are reported as accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Company’s stockholders’ equity.  For international subsidiaries where the functional currency is the U.S. dollar, financial statements are remeasured into U.S. dollars using the historical exchange rate for most of the long-term assets and liabilities and the balance sheet date exchange rate for most of the current assets and liabilities. An average exchange rate is used for each period for revenues and expenses. These transaction gains and losses, as well as any other transactions in a currency other than the functional currency, are included in other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of operations in the period in which the currency exchange rates change. During 2018, 2017 and 2016 , the Company recorded foreign currency gains/(losses) of $(1.9) million, $(2.2) million and $23.5 million, respectively.  Stock-Based Compensation  The Company records compensation costs relating to share-based payment transactions and includes such costs in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. The cost is measured at the grant date, based on the calculated fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity award). Self-Insurance Reserves  The Company is self-insured, through deductibles and retentions, up to certain levels for losses under its insurance programs. The Company accrues for these liabilities based on estimates of the ultimate cost of claims incurred as of the balance sheet date. The Company regularly reviews the estimates of asserted and unasserted claims and provides for losses through reserves. The Company obtains actuarial reviews to evaluate the reasonableness of internal estimates for losses related to workers’ compensation, auto liability and group medical on an annual basis.  New Accounting Pronouncements  Standards adopted  In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. The guidance in this ASU applies to all entities that change the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. The amendments provide clarity and reduce diversity in practice as well as cost and complexity when applying the guidance in Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation, to the modification of the terms and conditions of a share-based payment award. The amendments in ASU 2017-09 include guidance on determining which changes to the terms and conditions of share-based payment awards require an entity to apply modification accounting under Topic 718. The Company adopted the accounting guidance as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The amendments affect all companies and other reporting organizations that must determine whether they have acquired or sold a business. The amendments are intended to help companies and other organizations evaluate whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The amendments provide a more robust framework to use in determining when a set of assets and activities is a business. The Company adopted the accounting guidance as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statements of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. The guidance in this ASU requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. As a result, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted the accounting guidance as of January 1, 2018 and applied it retrospectively to the periods presented in the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows. For 2017, net cash used in investing activities was adjusted to exclude the change in restricted cash related to cash held in escrow for the future decommissioning obligations associated with an oil and gas property. The adjustment resulted in a $30.6 million decrease in net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017.  In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. The guidance in this ASU requires entities to recognize at the transaction date the income tax consequences of intercompany asset transfers other than inventory. The Company adopted the accounting guidance as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) , which replaced most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP. The guidance in this ASU requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue that it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The Company adopted this ASU as of January 1, 2018. The Company adopted this ASU using the modified retrospective adoption method. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and no cumulative effect adjustment was recognized.  In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) , which requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities arising from leases on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The new standard establishes a right-of-use model (ROU) that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months.  The Company adopted the new standard on January 1, 2019 and used the effective date as the date of initial application. Therefore, prior period financial information that will be presented in the Company’s future filings will not be adjusted and will continue to be reflected in accordance with the Company’s historical accounting policy.  The new standard provides a number of optional practical expedients in transition. The Company elected the “package of practical expedients,” which, among other things, allows the Company to carry forward its historical lease classification.  On January 1, 2019, the Company recognized additional operating liabilities of approximately $100.0 million, with corresponding ROU assets of the same amount based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments for existing operating leases.  Subsequent Events  In accordance with authoritative guidance, the Company has evaluated and disclosed all material subsequent events that occurred after the balance sheet date, but before financial statements were issued .

Revenue

Revenue	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenue [Abstract]
Revenue	(2) Revenue Adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers  Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The Company adopted this ASU using the modified retrospective adoption method. There was no impact on the consolidated financial statements and no cumulative effect adjustment was recognized.  Revenue Recognition  Revenues are recognized when performance obligations are satisfied in accordance with contractual terms, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for services rendered or rentals provided. Taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities and revenues are reported on a net basis in the Company’s financial statements.  Performance Obligations  A performance obligation arises under contracts with customers to render services or provide rentals, and is the unit of account under Topic 606. The Company accounts for services rendered and rentals provided separately if they are distinct and the service or rental is separately identifiable from other items provided to a customer and if a customer can benefit from the services rendered or rentals provided on its own or with other resources that are readily available to the customer. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. A contract’s standalone selling prices are determined based on the prices that the Company charges for its services rendered and rentals provided. The majority of the Company’s performance obligations are satisfied over time, which is generally represented by a period of 30 days or less. The Company’s payment terms vary by the type of products or services offered. The term between invoicing and when the payment is due is typically 30 days.  Services revenue primarily represents amounts charged to customers for the completion of services rendered, including labor, products and supplies necessary to perform the service. Rates for these services vary depending on the type of services provided and can be based on a per job, per hour or per day basis.  Rentals revenue is primarily priced on a per day, per man hour or similar basis and consists of fees charged to customers for use of the Company’s rental equipment over the term of the rental period, which is generally less than twelve months.  The Company expenses sales commissions when incurred because the amortization period would have been one year or less.  Disaggregation of revenue  The following table presents the Company’s revenues by segment disaggregated by geography (in thousands):      2018 2017 2016  U.S. land  Drilling Products and Services $ 176,448 $ 117,856 $ 64,251  Onshore Completion and Workover Services 1,057,656 935,183 523,966  Production Services 195,363 151,632 87,434  Technical Solutions 31,137 34,283 42,097  Total U.S. land $ 1,460,604 $ 1,238,954 $ 717,748   Gulf of Mexico  Drilling Products and Services $ 100,855 $ 91,507 $ 120,323  Onshore Completion and Workover Services - - -  Production Services 66,512 74,033 84,839  Technical Solutions 160,507 161,766 157,603  Total Gulf of Mexico $ 327,874 $ 327,306 $ 362,765   International  Drilling Products and Services $ 106,416 $ 84,327 $ 108,968  Onshore Completion and Workover Services - - -  Production Services 156,650 147,116 176,090  Technical Solutions 78,721 76,373 84,476  Total International $ 341,787 $ 307,816 $ 369,534  Total Revenues $ 2,130,265 $ 1,874,076 $ 1,450,047     The following table presents the Company’s revenues by segment disaggregated by type (in thousands):        2018 2017 2016  Services  Drilling Products and Services $ 101,969 $ 81,788 $ 77,628  Onshore Completion and Workover Services 1,015,908 903,048 503,777  Production Services 381,957 354,445 308,226  Technical Solutions 250,135 254,859 272,613  Total services $ 1,749,969 $ 1,594,140 $ 1,162,244   Rentals  Drilling Products and Services $ 281,750 $ 211,902 $ 215,915  Onshore Completion and Workover Services 41,748 32,135 20,188  Production Services 36,568 18,336 40,137  Technical Solutions 20,230 17,563 11,563  Total rentals $ 380,296 $ 279,936 $ 287,803  Total Revenues $ 2,130,265 $ 1,874,076 $ 1,450,047   

Property, Plant And Equipment

Property, Plant And Equipment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Property, Plant And Equipment [Abstract]
Property, Plant And Equipment	(3) Property, Plant and Equipment A summary of property, plant and equipment is as follows (in thousands):     December 31,  2018 2017  Machinery and equipment $ 3,229,793 $ 3,505,171  Buildings, improvements and leasehold improvements 278,339 293,133  Automobiles, trucks, tractors and trailers 26,522 32,185  Furniture and fixtures 52,045 62,632  Construction-in-progress 38,119 37,236  Land 58,047 58,363  Oil and gas producing assets 66,605 64,844  Total 3,749,470 4,053,564  Accumulated depreciation and depletion (2,640,344) (2,736,620)  Property, plant and equipment, net $ 1,109,126 $ 1,316,944   The Company had $ 74.9 million and $73.6 million of leasehold improvements at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. These leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the life of the asset or the term of the lease using the straight line method. Depreciation expense (excluding depletion, amortization and accretion) was $ 374.5 million, $419.2 million and $ 486.9 million during 2018, 2017 and 2016 , respectively. During 2018, the Company recorded $49.1 million related to reduction in value of property, plant and equipment (see note 10).

Debt

Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt [Abstract]
Debt	(4) Debt  The Company’s outstanding debt is as follows (in thousands):     December 31,  2018 2017  Long-term Long-term  Senior unsecured notes due September 2024 $ 500,000 $ 500,000  Senior unsecured notes due December 2021 800,000 800,000  Total debt, gross 1,300,000 1,300,000  Unamortized debt issuance costs (17,079) (20,229)  Total debt, net $ 1,282,921 $ 1,279,771  Debt maturities presented as of December 31, 2018 are as follows (in thousands):     2019 $ -  2020 -  2021 800,000  2022 -  2023 -  Thereafter 500,000  Total $ 1,300,000  Credit Facility  The Company has an asset-based revolving credit facility which matures in October 2022. The borrowing base under the credit facility is calculated based on a formula referencing the borrower’s and the subsidiary guarantors’ eligible accounts receivable, eligible inventory and eligible premium rental drill pipe less reserves. Availability under the credit facility is the lesser of (i) the commitments, (ii) the borrowing base and (iii) the highest principal amount permitted to be secured under the indenture governing the 7 1/8% senior unsecured notes due 2021. At December 31, 2018, the borrowing base was $2 49.6 million and the Company had $52.3 million of letters of credit outstanding that reduced its borrowing availability under the revolving credit facility. The credit agreement contains various covenants, including, but not limited to, limitations on the incurrence of indebtedness, permitted investments, liens on assets, making distributions, transactions with affiliates, merger, consolidations, dispositions of assets and other provisions customary in similar types of agreements.  Senior Unsecured Notes  The Company has outstanding $500 million of 7 3/4% senior unsecured notes due September 2024. The indenture governing the 7 3/4% senior unsecured notes due 2024 requires semi-annual interest payments on March 15 and September 15 of each year through the maturity date of September 15, 2024.  The Company also has outstanding $ 800 million of 7 1/8% senior unsecured notes due December 2021. The indenture governing the 7 1/8% senior unsecured notes due 2021 requires semi-annual interest payments on June 15 and December 15 of each year through the maturity date of December 15, 2021.

Stock-Based And Long-Term Incen

Stock-Based And Long-Term Incentive Compensation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Stock-Based And Long-Term Incentive Compensation [Abstract]
Stock-Based And Long-Term Incentive Compensation	(5) Stock-Based and Long-Term Incentive Compensation The Company is authorized to grant restricted stock units, stock options, performance share units and other cash and stock awards as part of the Long-Term Incentive Program (LTIP). The Compensation Committee determines the recipients of the equity awards, the type of awards made, the required performance measures, and the timing and duration of each grant. At December 31, 2018, 5,877,000 shares of the Company’s common stock were available for future grants under the plan.  Total stock-based compensation expense and the associated tax benefits are as follows (in thousands):     Years ended December 31,  2018 2017 2016  Stock options $ 4,247 $ 4,289 $ 4,870  Restricted stock - - 382  Restricted stock units 19,828 21,899 24,762  Performance share units 6,912 9,740 10,167  Total compensation expense 30,987 35,928 40,181   Related income taxes 7,189 8,335 14,867  Total compensation expense, net of income taxes $ 23,798 $ 27,593 $ 25,314   Total stock-based compensation expense is reflected in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.  Stock Options  Stock options are granted with an exercise price equal to the market price of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant. The stock options generally vest in equal installments over three years and expire in ten years from the grant date. Non-vested stock options are generally forfeited upon termination of employment.  The Company recognizes compensation expense for stock option grants based on the fair value at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model. The Company uses historical data, among other factors, to estimate the expected volatility and the expected life of the stock options. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the expected life of the stock option. The dividend yield is based on our historical and projected dividend payouts.  The weighted average fair values of stock options granted and the assumptions used in estimating those fair values are as follows:     Years ended December 31,  2018 2017 2016  Weighted average fair value of stock options granted $ 5.61 $ 8.36 $ 3.61   Black-Scholes-Merton Assumptions:  Risk free interest rate 2.43 % 1.96 % 1.46 %  Expected life (years) 6 6 5  Volatility 51.21 % 48.22 % 55.72 %  Dividend yield - - 3.28  The following table summarizes stock option activity for 2018:     Number of Options Weighted Average Option Price Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years) Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)  Outstanding at beginning of period 6,138,653 $ 18.75 5.4 $ -  Granted 567,967 $ 11.04  Exercised - $ -  Expired (271,167) $ 14.1  Outstanding at end of period 6,435,453 $ 18.27 5.0 $ -  Exercisable at end of period 5,022,592 $ 20.13 4.2 $ -  Options expected to vest at end of period 1,412,861 $ 11.65 8.0 $ -   The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $0 , $ 0 and $0.3 million, respectively. The Company received $0 , $0.1 million and $0.5 million during 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, from employee stock option exercises. The Company has reported tax benefits of $ 0 , $0 and $0.1 million from the exercise of stock options for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  The following table summarizes non-vested stock option activity for 2018:     Number of Options Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value  Non-vested at beginning of period 1,748,933 $ 12.18  Granted 567,967 $ 11.04  Vested (904,039) $ 12.3  Non-vested at end of period 1,412,861 $ 8.00   At December 31, 2018 , the unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock options was $3.3 million. The Company expects to recognize $2.2 million and $1.1 million of compensation expense associated with these options during 2019 and 2020, respectively.  Restricted Stock Units  Restricted stock unit awards (RSUs) vest in equal annual installments over three years. On the vesting date, each RSU is converted to one share of the Company’s common stock having an aggregate value determined by the Company’s closing stock price on the vesting date. Holders of RSUs are not entitled to any rights of a stockholder, such as the right to vote shares.  The following table summarizes RSU activity for 2018:     Number of RSUs Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value  Non-vested at beginning of period 3,192,000 $ 14.87  Granted 2,030,896 $ 11.31  Vested (1,534,153) $ 14.26  Forfeited (266,307) $ 12.51  Non-vested at end of period 3,422,436 $ 13.22  At December 31, 2018 , there was $21.0 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested RSUs. The Company expects to recognize $13.7 million, $7.0 million, and $0.3 million associated with unvested RSUs for 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively.  Performance Share Units  The Company has issued performance share units (PSUs) to its employees as part of the Company’s LTIP. There is a three -year performance period associated with each PSU grant. The two performance metrics are the Company’s return on assets and total stockholder return relative to those of the Company’s pre-defined “peer group.” The PSUs will settle in cash or a combination of cash and up to 50 % of equivalent value in the Company’s common stock, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. At December 31, 2018 , there were 320,284 PSUs outstanding ( 115,397 , 97,044 and 107,843 related to performance periods ending December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively). The Company has recorded both current and long-term liabilities for this liability-based compensation award.  Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) Eligible employees are allowed to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a discount during six-month offering periods beginning on January 1st and July 1st of each year and ending on June 30 and December 31 of each year, respectively. The following table summarizes ESPP activity (in thousands except shares):     Years ended December 31,  2018 2017 2016  Cash received for shares issued $ 2,625 $ 3,074 $ 3,681  Compensation expense $ 463 $ 542 $ 1,492  Shares issued 550,950 360,465 290,987 401(k)/Profit Sharing Plan  The Company maintains a defined contribution profit sharing plan for employees who have satisfied minimum service requirements. Employees may contribute up to 75 % of their eligible earnings to the plan subject to the contribution limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. The Company provides a nondiscretionary match of 100 % of an employee’s contributions to the plan, up to 4 % of the employee’s salary. The Company made contributions of $ 10.0 million, $ 8.4 million and $ 8.7 million 2018, 2017 and 2016 , respectively.  Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans  The Company maintains a non-qualified deferred compensation plan which allows senior management to defer up to 75 % of their base salary, up to 100 % of their bonus, up to 100 % of the cash portion of their PSU compensation and up to 100% of the vested RSUs to the plan. The Company also maintains a non-qualified deferred compensation plan for its non-employee directors which allows each director to defer up to 100 % of their cash compensation paid by the Company and up to 100% of their vested RSUs to the plan. Payments are made to participants based on their annual enrollment elections and plan balances.  The following table summarizes deferred compensation balances (in thousands):     December 31,  Balance sheet location 2018 2017  Deferred compensation assets Intangible and other long-term assets, net $ 13,306 $ 14,187  Deferred compensation liabilities, short-term Accounts payable $ 1,138 $ 1,253  Deferred compensation liabilities, long-term Other long-term liabilities $ 19,766 $ 21,085  Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan  The Company has a supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP). The SERP provides retirement benefits to the Company’s executive officers and certain other designated key employees. The SERP is an unfunded, non-qualified defined contribution retirement plan, and all contributions under the plan are unfunded credits to a notional account maintained for each participant. Under the SERP, the Company will generally make annual contributions to a retirement account based on age and years of service. The participants in the plan receive contributions ranging from 5 % to 35 % of salary and annual cash bonus, which totaled $1. 2 million, $ 0. 9 million and $2.2 million during 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively. During 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company paid $ 0 , $0 and $ 1.4 million, respectively, to eligible participants in the SERP.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income Taxes	(6) Income Taxes  The components of loss from continuing operations before income taxes are as follows (in thousands):     Years ended December 31,  2018 2017 2016  Domestic $ (880,988) $ (336,095) $ (1,097,109)  Foreign (21,831) (41,656) (3,232)  $ (902,819) $ (377,751) $ (1,100,341)  The components of income tax benefit (provision) are as follows (in thousands):     Years ended December 31,  2018 2017 2016  Current:  Federal $ - $ - $ (101,578)  State 2,118 (750) (159)  Foreign 14,856 9,137 19,156  16,974 8,387 (82,581)  Deferred:  Federal (68,469) (201,768) (179,721)  State (4,161) 6,109 (9,348)  Foreign 10,223 (3,468) 4,649  (62,407) (199,127) (184,420)  $ (45,433) $ (190,740) $ (267,001)  A reconciliation of the U.S. statutory federal tax rate to the consolidated effective tax rate is as follows (in thousands):     Years ended December 31,  2018 2017 2016  Computed expected tax benefit $ (189,592) $ (132,213) $ (385,119)  Increase (decrease) resulting from  State and foreign income taxes 10,437 16,437 (8,038)  Reduction in value of assets 115,253 - 115,725  U.S. Tax Reform - (76,529) -  Other 18,469 1,565 10,431  Income tax benefit $ (45,433) $ (190,740) $ (267,001)  During 2018, the Company recorded a $668.9 million reduction in value of goodwill relating to its Onshore Completion and Workover Services and Production Services segments. For tax purposes, the goodwill impairment generated a reduction to the permanent book-tax basis difference of $548.8 million and a reduction to the book-tax temporary basis difference of $102.0 million net of current year amortization expense of $18.0 million.  On December 22, 2017, U.S. Tax Reform was signed into law making significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code. Changes include, but are not limited to, a corporate tax rate decrease from 35% to 21% effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and the transition of U.S. international taxation from a worldwide tax system to a modified territorial system. As a result, the Company recorded a provisional income tax benefit of $76.5 million during the fourth quarter of 2017. During 2018, the Company finalized its assessment of the impact of U.S. Tax Reform and no material adjustments were recorded.  The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):     December 31,  2018 2017  Deferred tax assets:  Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 856 $ 5,717  Operating loss and tax credit carryforwards 146,926 118,687  Compensation and employee benefits 38,006 38,261  Decommissioning liabilities 27,979 26,875  Other 25,331 28,807  239,098 218,347  Valuation allowance (25,571) (8,722)  Net deferred tax assets 213,527 209,625   Deferred tax liabilities:  Property, plant and equipment 146,971 177,231  Notes receivable 12,977 12,977  Goodwill and other intangible assets 38,955 64,746  Other 14,624 15,729  Deferred tax liabilities 213,527 270,683  Net deferred tax liability $ - $ 61,058  At December 31, 2018 , the Company had $ 222.8 million in U.S. net operating loss carryforwards, which are available to reduce future taxable income. The expiration date for utilization of the U.S. loss carryforwards is 2037 for losses generated before 2018. Losses generated in 2018 and later cannot be carried back and have an indefinite carryforward that is limited to 80% of taxable income. At December 31, 2018 , the Company also had various state net operating loss carryforwards with expiration dates from 2019 to 2038. A net deferred tax asset of $ 24.6 million reflects the expected future tax benefit for the state loss carryforwards. At December 31, 2018, the Company also had a U.S. foreign tax credit carryforward of $54.5 million with expiration dates from 2021 to 2028.  The net deferred tax assets reflect management’s estimate of the amount that will be realized from future profitability and the reversal of taxable temporary differences that can be predicted with reasonable certainty. After considering all available evidence at December 31, 2018, the Company determined that it was more likely than not that a portion of the carryforwards would not be realized. Accordingly, the Company increased deferred income tax expense by an additional $16. 8 million in the valuation allowance.  The Company has not provided income tax expense on earnings of its foreign subsidiaries, since the Company has reinvested or expects to reinvest undistributed earnings outside the U.S. indefinitely. At December 31, 2018 , the Company’s foreign subsidiaries had an overall accumulated deficit in earnings. The Company does not intend to repatriate the earnings of its profitable foreign subsidiaries. The Company has not provided U.S. income taxes for such earnings, except to the extent that such earnings were previously subject to U.S. income taxes. These earnings could become subject to U.S. income tax if repatriated. It is not practicable to estimate the amount of taxes that might be payable on such undistributed earnings.  The U.S. Tax Reform imposes a tax on post-1986 earnings of non-U.S. affiliates that have not been repatriated for purposes of US federal income tax, with those earnings taxed at rates of 15.5% for earnings reflected by cash and cash equivalent items and 8% for other assets. The cash tax effects of this deemed repatriation can be remitted in installments over an eight-year period. The Company made reasonable estimates of the effects and determined the impact was not material to its financial statements.  The Company files income tax returns in the U.S., including federal and various state filings, and certain foreign jurisdictions. The number of years that are open under the statute of limitations and subject to audit varies depending on the tax jurisdiction. The Company remains subject to U.S. federal tax examinations for years after 2017.  The Company had unrecognized tax benefits of $30. 6 million, $ 30. 7 million and $ 29. 9 million as of December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively, all of which would impact the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized.  The activity in unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):      Years ended December 31,  2018 2017 2016  Unrecognized tax benefits at beginning of period $ 30,656 $ 29,956 $ 29,715  Additions based on tax positions related to prior years 1,899 5,576 6,874  Reductions based on tax positions related to prior years (1,864) (4,671) (3,582)  Reductions as a result of a lapse of the applicable statute of limitations (133) (205) (3,051)  Unrecognized tax benefits at end of period $ 30,558 $ 30,656 $ 29,956  The amounts above include accrued interest and penalties of $9.7 million, $9.7 million and $7.4 million at December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively . The Company recorded $0 , $2.2 million and $2.5 million of interest and penalties for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, classified as a component of income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

Segment Information

Segment Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Information [Abstract]
Segment Information	(7) Segment Information  Business Segments  The Drilling Products and Services segment rents and sells bottom hole assemblies, premium drill pipe, tubulars and specialized equipment for use with onshore and offshore oil and gas well drilling, completion, production and workover activities. It also provides on-site accommodations and machining services. The Onshore Completion and Workover Services segment provides pressure pumping services used to complete and stimulate production in new oil and gas wells, fluid handling services and well servicing rigs that provide a variety of well completion, workover and maintenance services. The Production Services segment provides intervention services such as coiled tubing, cased hole and mechanical wireline, hydraulic workover and snubbing, production testing and optimization, and remedial pumping services. The Technical Solutions segment provides services typically requiring specialized engineering, manufacturing or project planning, including well containment systems, stimulation and sand control services, well plug and abandonment services and the production and sale of oil and gas.  The Company evaluates the performance of its reportable segments based on income or loss from operations excluding allocated corporate expenses. The segment measure is calculated as follows: segment revenues less segment operating expenses, depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion expense and reduction in value of assets. The Company uses this segment measure to evaluate its reportable segments because it is the measure that is most consistent with how the Company organizes and manages its business operations. Corporate and other costs primarily include expenses related to support functions, salaries and benefits for corporate employees and stock-based compensation expense.      Summarized financial information for the Company’s segments is as follows (in thousands):       2018   Onshore  Drilling Completion  Products and and Workover Production Technical Corporate and Consolidated  Services Services Services Solutions Other Total  Revenues $ 383,719 $ 1,057,656 $ 418,525 $ 270,365 $ - $ 2,130,265  Cost of services and rentals (exclusive of  depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion) 148,019 846,907 342,420 164,758 - 1,502,104  Depreciation, depletion, amortization  and accretion 112,111 190,592 66,993 25,653 5,499 400,848  General and administrative expenses 53,688 37,170 41,499 57,600 99,295 289,252  Reduction in value of assets - 644,813 92,252 - 2,660 739,725  Income (loss) from operations 69,901 (661,826) (124,639) 22,354 (107,454) (801,664)  Interest income (expense), net - - - 3,915 (103,392) (99,477)  Other expense - - - - (1,678) (1,678)  Income (loss) from continuing operations  before income taxes $ 69,901 $ (661,826) $ (124,639) $ 26,269 $ (212,524) $ (902,819)      2017   Onshore  Drilling Completion  Products and and Workover Production Technical Corporate and Consolidated  Services Services Services Solutions Other Total  Revenues $ 293,690 $ 935,183 $ 372,781 $ 272,422 $ - $ 1,874,076  Cost of services and rentals (exclusive of  depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion) 128,381 791,581 303,256 175,477 - 1,398,695  Depreciation, depletion, amortization  and accretion 131,394 193,098 78,999 29,506 5,719 438,716  General and administrative expenses 51,265 44,766 48,655 51,679 99,142 295,507  Reduction in value of assets 1,356 4,684 - 8,115 - 14,155  Income (loss) from operations (18,706) (98,946) (58,129) 7,645 (104,861) (272,997)  Interest income (expense), net - - - 3,567 (105,022) (101,455)  Other expense - - - - (3,299) (3,299)  Income (loss) from continuing operations  before income taxes $ (18,706) $ (98,946) $ (58,129) $ 11,212 $ (213,182) $ (377,751)      2016   Onshore  Drilling Completion  Products and and Workover Production Technical Corporate and Consolidated  Services Services Services Solutions Other Total  Revenues $ 293,543 $ 523,965 $ 348,363 $ 284,176 $ - $ 1,450,047  Cost of services and rentals (exclusive of  depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion) 136,719 515,784 276,223 194,548 - 1,123,274  Depreciation, depletion, amortization  and accretion 159,937 207,038 93,878 42,393 6,725 509,971  General and administrative expenses 64,182 48,837 49,687 65,299 118,601 346,606  Reduction in value of assets 48,903 190,835 235,067 25,600 - 500,405  Income (loss) from operations (116,198) (438,529) (306,492) (43,664) (125,326) (1,030,209)  Interest income (expense), net - - (1,343) 3,553 (94,963) (92,753)  Other expense - - - - 22,621 22,621  Income (loss) from continuing operations  before income taxes $ (116,198) $ (438,529) $ (307,835) $ (40,111) $ (197,668) $ (1,100,341)        Identifiable Assets  Onshore  Drilling Completion  Products and and Workover Production Technical Corporate and Consolidated  Services Services Services Solutions Other Total  December 31, 2018 $ 587,264 $ 808,037 $ 434,430 $ 340,161 $ 46,070 $ 2,215,962  December 31, 2017 $ 662,968 $ 1,501,214 $ 512,256 $ 377,549 $ 56,238 $ 3,110,225  December 31, 2016 $ 824,287 $ 1,534,008 $ 598,167 $ 439,521 $ 74,272 $ 3,470,255       Capital Expenditures  Onshore  Drilling Completion  Products and and Workover Production Technical Corporate and Consolidated  Services Services Services Solutions Other Total  December 31, 2018 $ 46,649 $ 147,793 $ 8,651 $ 16,221 $ 2,056 $ 221,370  December 31, 2017 $ 27,219 $ 115,415 $ 7,860 $ 13,296 $ 1,143 $ 164,933  December 31, 2016 $ 35,413 $ 20,094 $ 20,848 $ 3,829 $ 364 $ 80,548   Geographic Segments  The Company attributes revenue to various countries based on the location where services are performed or the destination of the drilling products or equipment sold or rented. Long-lived assets consist primarily of property, plant and equipment and are attributed to various countries based on the physical location of the asset at the end of a period. The Company’s revenue attributed to the U.S. and to other countries and the value of its long-lived assets by those locations is as follows (in thousands):    Revenues  Years ended December 31,  2018 2017 2016  United States $ 1,788,478 $ 1,566,260 $ 1,080,513  Other countries 341,787 307,816 369,534  Total $ 2,130,265 $ 1,874,076 $ 1,450,047   Long-Lived Assets   December 31,  2018 2017  United States $ 903,520 $ 1,064,823  Other countries 205,606 252,121  Total $ 1,109,126 $ 1,316,944

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	(8) Fair Value Measurements  Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or the price paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Inputs used in determining fair value are characterized according to a hierarchy that prioritizes those inputs based on the degree to which they are observable. The three input levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:  Level 1 : Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;  Level 2 : Observable inputs other than those included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets or model-derived valuations or other inputs that can be corroborated by observable market data; and  Level 3 : Unobservable inputs reflecting management’s own assumptions about the inputs used in pricing the asset or liability.  The following tables provide a summary of the financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):     Fair Value at December 31, 2018  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total  Intangible and other long-term assets, net:  Non-qualified deferred compensation assets $ 376 $ 12,930 $ - $ 13,306  Accounts payable:  Non-qualified deferred compensation liabilities $ - $ 1,138 $ - $ 1,138  Other long-term liabilities:  Non-qualified deferred compensation liabilities $ - $ 19,766 $ - $ 19,766  Total debt $ 1,084,711 $ - $ - $ 1,084,711   Fair Value at December 31, 2017  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total  Intangible and other long-term assets, net:  Non-qualified deferred compensation assets $ 370 $ 13,817 $ - $ 14,187  Accounts payable:  Non-qualified deferred compensation liabilities $ - $ 1,253 $ - $ 1,253  Other long-term liabilities:  Non-qualified deferred compensation liabilities $ - $ 21,085 $ - $ 21,085  Total debt $ 1,346,985 $ - $ - $ 1,346,985  The Company’s non-qualified deferred compensation plans allow officers, certain highly compensated employees and non-employee directors to defer receipt of a portion of their compensation and contribute such amounts to one or more hypothetical investment funds (see note 5). The Company entered into separate trust agreements, subject to general creditors, to segregate assets of each plan and reports the accounts of the trusts in its consolidated financial statements. These investments are reported at fair value based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identifiable assets and observable inputs for similar assets and liabilities, which represent Levels 1 and 2, respectively, in the fair value hierarchy. The carrying amount of cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, as reflected in the consolidated balance sheets, approximates fair value due to the short maturities. The fair value of the debt instruments is determined by reference to the market value of the instrument as quoted in an over-the-counter market.  The following table reflects the fair value measurements used in testing the impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill (in thousands):      Years Ended December 31, 2018  Impairment Fair Value  Property, plant and equipment, net $ 49,198 $ 65,441  Goodwill $ 668,838 $ -  Intangible assets $ 21,689 $ -  Fair value is measured as of the impairment date using Level 3 inputs. See note 10 for discussion of reduction in value of assets recorded during 2018.

Commitments And Contingencies

Commitments And Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]
Commitments And Contingencies	(9) Commitments and Contingencies The Company leases most of its office, service and assembly facilities under operating leases. In addition, the Company also leases certain assets used in providing services under operating leases. The leases expire at various dates over an extended period of time. For 2018, total operating lease expense, which includes short-term and variable lease expenses, was $ 53.9 million. For 2017 and 2016, total rent expense was $ 15.3 million and $ 24.1 million, respectively. Future minimum lease payments under long-term leases for the five years ending December 31, 2019 through 2023 and thereafter are as follows: $ 30.8 million, $ 24.3 million, $ 16.6 million, $ 9.8 million and $ 6.9 million, respectively.  Due to the nature of the Company’s business, the Company is involved, from time to time, in routine litigation or subject to disputes or claims regarding its business activities. Legal costs related to these matters are expensed as incurred. However, based on current circumstances, the Company does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these proceedings, after considering available defenses and any insurance coverage or indemnification rights, will have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Reduction in Value of Assets

Reduction in Value of Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Reduction In Value Of Assets [Abstract]
Reduction In Value Of Assets	(10) Reduction in Value of Assets  During 201 8 , 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded $739.7 million, $14. 2 million and $500.4 million in expense related to reduction in value of assets, respectively. The components of the reductions in value of assets are as follows (in thousands):     Years ended December 31,  2018 2017 2016  Reduction in value of goodwill $ 668,838 $ - $ 330,500  Reduction in value of long-lived assets 70,887 14,155 143,803  Retirements of long-lived assets - - 26,102  Total reduction in value of assets $ 739,725 $ 14,155 $ 500,405   Reduction in Value of Goodwill  During 2018, the Company recorded a $668.9 million reduction in value of goodwill relating to its Onshore Completion and Workover Services and Production Services segments. The Company determined that the fair value of its goodwill for the Onshore Completion and Workover Services segment was less than its carrying value and fully wrote-off the goodwill balance of $583.6 million. In addition, the Company determined that the fair value of its goodwill for the Production Services segment was less than its carrying value and fully wrote-off the goodwill balance of $85.3 million. During 2016 , the Company recorded a $330.5 million reduction in value of goodwill relating to its Onshore Completion and Workover Services and Production Services segments. The Company determined that the implied fair value of its goodwill for the Onshore Completion and Workover Services segment was less than its carrying value and recorded a $140.0 million impairment of the Onshore Completion and Workover Services segment’s goodwill. In addition, the Company determined that the implied fair value of its goodwill for the Production Services segment was less than its carrying value and recorded a $190.5 million impairment of the Production Services segment’s goodwill. Reduction in Value of Long-Lived Assets  During 2018, the Company recorded $70.8 million in connection with the reduction in value of its long-lived assets. The reduction in value of assets was comprised of $41.4 million and $19.8 million related to property, plant and equipment and intangibles, respectively, in the well servicing rigs business in the Onshore Completion and Workover Services segment and $5.1 million related to property, plant and equipment and $1.9 million related to intangibles in the Production Services segment. The reduction in value of assets recorded during 2018 was primarily driven by the decline in demand for these services and the forecast did not indicate a timely recovery sufficient to support the carrying values of these assets. In addition, the Company recorded a $2.6 million reduction in carrying value of its former corporate facility and its related assets.  During 2017, the Company recorded $14.2 million in connection with the reduction in value of its long-lived assets. The reduction in value of assets was comprised of $8.1 million related to property, plant and equipment in the Technical Solutions segment and $6.1 million related to property, plant and equipment primarily in the Onshore Completion and Workover Services segment.  During 2016, the Company recorded $ 143.8 million in connection with the reduction in value of its long-lived assets. The reduction in value of assets was comprised of $4.9 million related to equipment and $45.9 million related to intangibles in the fluid management business in the Onshore Completion and Workover Services segment and $21.4 million related to equipment and $21.0 million related to intangibles, primarily relating to the cementing business in the Production Services segment. Also, the Company recorded $25.0 million related to the reduction in carrying values of certain accommodation units included in the Drilling Products and Services segment. In addition, the Company recorded $25.6 million related to the reduction in carrying values of the marine vessels and equipment in the conventional decommissioning division in its Technical Solutions segment. The reduction in value of assets recorded during 2016 was primarily driven by the decline in demand for these services.  Retirements of Long-Lived Assets  During 2016, the Company recorded $26.1 million, primarily in the Drilling Products and Services segment, for retirement and abandonment of excess and inoperable and/or functionally obsolete long-lived assets that would require a significant cost to refurbish.

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Discontinued Operations	(11) Discontinued Operations  During 2018, the remaining marine vessels and equipment of the Company’s former subsea construction business were disposed of, resulting in a $0.8 million loss on sale. Loss from discontinued operations for 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $0.7 million, $18.9 million and $53.6 million, respectively.  The following summarizes the assets and liabilities related to the business reported as discontinued operations (in thousands):     December 31, 2017  Current assets $ 3,144  Property, plant and equipment, net 10,500  Total assets $ 13,644  Current liabilities $ 6,463

Supplemental Guarantor Informat

Supplemental Guarantor Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Supplemental Guarantor Information [Abstract]
Supplemental Guarantor Information	(12) Supplemental Guarantor Information  SESI, L.L.C. (the Issuer), a 100% owned subsidiary of Superior Energy Services, Inc. (Parent), has $500 million of 7 3/4% senior unsecured notes due 2024. The Parent, along with certain of its 100% owned domestic subsidiaries, fully and unconditionally guaranteed the senior unsecured notes, and such guarantees are joint and several.        SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets  December 31, 2018  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Assets  Current assets:  Cash and cash equivalents $ - $ 102,224 $ 707 $ 55,119 $ - $ 158,050  Accounts receivable, net - 160 367,497 79,696 - 447,353  Intercompany accounts receivable - 12,279 74,906 3,489 (90,674) -  Other current assets - 12,805 111,560 43,137 - 167,502  Total current assets - 127,468 554,670 181,441 (90,674) 772,905   Property, plant and equipment, net - 10,129 920,978 178,019 - 1,109,126  Goodwill - - 80,544 56,244 - 136,788  Notes receivable - - 63,993 - - 63,993  Long-term intercompany accounts receivable 2,243,431 - 1,991,912 182,284 (4,417,627) -  Equity investments of consolidated subsidiaries (1,952,647) 3,754,887 5,992 - (1,808,232) -  Restricted cash - - 5,653 45 - 5,698  Intangible and other long-term assets, net - 19,255 100,847 7,350 - 127,452  Total assets $ 290,784 $ 3,911,739 $ 3,724,589 $ 605,383 $ (6,316,533) $ 2,215,962   Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity  Current liabilities:  Accounts payable $ - $ 8,807 $ 109,903 $ 20,615 $ - $ 139,325  Accrued expenses 45 102,845 86,926 29,364 - 219,180  Income taxes payable - 1,237 - (503) - 734  Intercompany accounts payable - 724 6,869 83,081 (90,674) -  Current portion of decommissioning liabilities - - - 3,538 - 3,538  Total current liabilities 45 113,613 203,698 136,095 (90,674) 362,777   Decommissioning liabilities - - 126,558 - - 126,558  Long-term debt, net - 1,282,921 - - - 1,282,921  Long-term intercompany accounts payable - 4,417,627 - - (4,417,627) -  Other long-term liabilities - 50,225 76,543 26,199 - 152,967  Total stockholders' equity (deficit) 290,739 (1,952,647) 3,317,790 443,089 (1,808,232) 290,739  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 290,784 $ 3,911,739 $ 3,724,589 $ 605,383 $ (6,316,533) $ 2,215,962          SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets  December 31, 2017  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Assets  Current assets:  Cash and cash equivalents $ - $ 126,533 $ 440 $ 45,027 $ - $ 172,000  Accounts receivable, net - - 332,402 70,889 (5,235) 398,056  Income taxes receivable - - (221) 1,180 - 959  Intercompany accounts receivable - 6,460 58,375 5,865 (70,700) -  Other current assets - 11,895 129,970 34,295 - 176,160  Assets held for sale - - - 13,644 - 13,644  Total current assets - 144,888 520,966 170,900 (75,935) 760,819   Property, plant and equipment, net - 12,055 1,093,446 211,443 - 1,316,944  Goodwill - - 657,099 150,761 - 807,860  Notes receivable - - 60,149 - - 60,149  Long-term intercompany accounts receivable 2,221,697 - 2,032,056 177,842 (4,431,595) -  Equity investments of consolidated subsidiaries (1,088,736) 4,481,702 6,590 - (3,399,556) -  Restricted cash - - 20,483 - - 20,483  Intangible and other long-term assets, net - 22,118 113,632 8,220 - 143,970  Total assets $ 1,132,961 $ 4,660,763 $ 4,504,421 $ 719,166 $ (7,907,086) $ 3,110,225   Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity  Current liabilities:  Accounts payable $ - $ 14,339 $ 89,714 $ 20,898 $ (5,235) $ 119,716  Accrued expenses 532 116,767 80,825 23,633 - 221,757  Intercompany accounts payable - 724 7,918 62,058 (70,700) -  Current portion of decommissioning liabilities - - 25,670 1,591 - 27,261  Liabilities held for sale - - - 6,463 - 6,463  Total current liabilities 532 131,830 204,127 114,643 (75,935) 375,197   Deferred income taxes - (147,116) 205,386 2,788 - 61,058  Decommissioning liabilities - - 101,293 1,843 - 103,136  Long-term debt, net - 1,279,771 - - - 1,279,771  Long-term intercompany accounts payable - 4,431,595 - - (4,431,595) -  Other long-term liabilities - 53,419 79,061 26,154 - 158,634  Total stockholders' equity (deficit) 1,132,429 (1,088,736) 3,914,554 573,738 (3,399,556) 1,132,429  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 1,132,961 $ 4,660,763 $ 4,504,421 $ 719,166 $ (7,907,086) $ 3,110,225        SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations  Year Ended December 31, 2018  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Revenues $ - $ - $ 1,889,751 271,769 (31,255) $ 2,130,265  Cost of services and rentals (exclusive of depreciation,  depletion, amortization and accretion) - (13,265) 1,355,524 191,100 (31,255) 1,502,104  Depreciation, depletion, amortization and  accretion - 3,945 351,974 44,929 - 400,848  General and administrative expenses - 95,725 142,451 51,076 - 289,252  Reduction in value of assets - - 647,441 92,284 - 739,725  Income (loss) from operations - (86,405) (607,639) (107,620) - (801,664)   Other income (expense):  Interest expense, net - (103,594) 3,950 167 - (99,477)  Other income (expense) - 71 1,014 (2,763) - (1,678)  Equity in earnings (losses) of consolidated subsidiaries (858,115) (707,348) (597) - 1,566,060 -  Income (loss) from operations before income taxes (858,115) (897,276) (603,272) (110,216) 1,566,060 (902,819)  Income taxes - (39,161) (6,554) 282 - (45,433)  Net loss from continuing operations (858,115) (858,115) (596,718) (110,498) 1,566,060 (857,386)  Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax - - - (729) - (729)  Net income (loss) $ (858,115) $ (858,115) $ (596,718) $ (111,227) $ 1,566,060 $ (858,115)      SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Loss  Year Ended December 31, 2018  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Net income (loss) $ (858,115) $ (858,115) $ (596,718) $ (111,227) $ 1,566,060 $ (858,115)  Change in cumulative translation adjustment, net of tax (5,750) (5,750) - (5,750) 11,500 (5,750)  Comprehensive income (loss) $ (863,865) $ (863,865) $ (596,718) $ (116,977) $ 1,577,560 $ (863,865)         SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations  Year Ended December 31, 2017  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Revenues $ - $ - $ 1,655,114 $ 234,663 $ (15,701) $ 1,874,076  Cost of services and rentals (exclusive of depreciation,  depletion, amortization and accretion) - (4,123) 1,242,486 176,033 (15,701) 1,398,695  Depreciation, depletion, amortization and  accretion - 4,149 383,713 50,854 - 438,716  General and administrative expenses - 86,840 152,076 56,591 - 295,507  Reduction in value of assets - - 6,038 8,117 - 14,155  Loss from operations - (86,866) (129,199) (56,932) - (272,997)   Other income (expense):  Interest expense, net - (105,585) 4,451 (321) - (101,455)  Other income (expense) - (1,350) 202 (2,151) - (3,299)  Equity in losses of consolidated subsidiaries (205,921) (76,394) (964) - 283,279 -  Loss from continuing operations before income taxes (205,921) (270,195) (125,510) (59,404) 283,279 (377,751)  Income taxes - (64,274) (118,347) (8,119) - (190,740)  Net loss from continuing operations (205,921) (205,921) (7,163) (51,285) 283,279 (187,011)  Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax - - - (18,910) - (18,910)  Net loss $ (205,921) $ (205,921) $ (7,163) $ (70,195) $ 283,279 $ (205,921)      SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Loss  Year Ended December 31, 2017  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Net loss $ (205,921) $ (205,921) $ (7,163) $ (70,195) $ 283,279 $ (205,921)  Change in cumulative translation adjustment, net of tax 12,821 12,821 - 12,821 (25,642) 12,821  Comprehensive loss $ (193,100) $ (193,100) $ (7,163) $ (57,374) $ 257,637 $ (193,100)                      SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations  Year Ended December 31, 2016  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Revenues $ - $ - $ 1,193,233 $ 281,310 $ (24,496) $ 1,450,047  Cost of services and rentals (exclusive of depreciation,  depletion, amortization and accretion) - 6,582 944,349 196,839 (24,496) 1,123,274  Depreciation, depletion, amortization and  accretion - 4,592 452,180 53,199 - 509,971  General and administrative expenses - 117,781 176,430 52,395 - 346,606  Reduction in value of assets - - 486,976 13,429 - 500,405  Loss from operations - (128,955) (866,702) (34,552) - (1,030,209)   Other income (expense):  Interest expense, net - (95,040) 3,425 (1,138) - (92,753)  Other income (expense) - (4,345) 196 26,770 - 22,621  Equity in losses of consolidated subsidiaries (886,899) (738,047) (643) - 1,625,589 -  Loss from continuing operations before income taxes (886,899) (966,387) (863,724) (8,920) 1,625,589 (1,100,341)  Income taxes - (79,488) (189,850) 2,337 - (267,001)  Net loss from continuing operations (886,899) (886,899) (673,874) (11,257) 1,625,589 (833,340)  Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax - - - (53,559) - (53,559)  Net loss $ (886,899) $ (886,899) $ (673,874) $ (64,816) $ 1,625,589 $ (886,899)      SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Loss  Year Ended December 31, 2016  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Net loss $ (886,899) $ (886,899) $ (673,874) $ (64,816) $ 1,625,589 $ (886,899)  Change in cumulative translation adjustment, net of tax (34,554) (34,554) - (34,554) 69,108 (34,554)  Comprehensive loss $ (921,453) $ (921,453) $ (673,874) $ (99,370) $ 1,694,697 $ (921,453)       SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows  Year Ended December 31, 2018  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Cash flows from operating activities:  Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 23,866 $ (2,013) $ 150,510 $ (4,023) $ (3,283) $ 165,057   Cash flows from investing activities:  Payments for capital expenditures - (2,055) (207,640) (11,675) - (221,370)  Proceeds from sales of assets - - 20,003 13,296 - 33,299  Net cash used in investing activities - (2,055) (187,637) 1,621 - (188,071)   Cash flows from financing activities:  Intercompany dividends - - - (3,283) 3,283 -  Changes in notes with affiliated companies, net (21,734) (19,787) 22,564 18,957 - -  Other (2,132) (454) - - - (2,586)  Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (23,866) (20,241) 22,564 15,674 3,283 (2,586)  Effect of exchange rate changes on cash - - - (3,135) - (3,135)  Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash - (24,309) (14,563) 10,137 - (28,735)   Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period - 126,533 20,923 45,027 - 192,483  Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ - $ 102,224 $ 6,360 $ 55,164 $ - $ 163,748         SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows  Year Ended December 31, 2017  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Consolidated  Cash flows from operating activities:  Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 26,221 $ 3,369 $ 89,739 $ (22,903) $ 96,426   Cash flows from investing activities:  Payments for capital expenditures - (1,041) (148,738) (15,154) (164,933)  Other - - 23,485 4,784 28,269  Net cash used in investing activities - (1,041) (125,253) (10,370) (136,664)   Cash flows from financing activities:  Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt - 500,000 - - 500,000  Principal payments on long-term debt - (500,000) - - (500,000)  Payment of debt issuance costs - (11,967) - - (11,967)  Changes in notes with affiliated companies, net (21,163) 8,727 4,648 7,788 -  Other (5,058) - - - (5,058)  Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (26,221) (3,240) 4,648 7,788 (17,025)  Effect of exchange rate changes on cash - - - 3,654 3,654  Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash - (912) (30,866) (21,831) (53,609)   Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period - 127,445 51,789 66,858 246,092  Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ - $ 126,533 $ 20,923 $ 45,027 $ 192,483        SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows  Year Ended December 31, 2016  (in thousands)   Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Cash flows from operating activities:  Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 29,149 $ (139,666) $ 248,627 $ (1,091) $ (75,767) $ 61,252   Cash flows from investing activities:  Payments for capital expenditures - (405) (64,478) (15,665) - (80,548)  Other - - 6,501 - - 6,501  Net cash used in investing activities - (405) (57,977) (15,665) - (74,047)   Cash flows from financing activities:  Proceeds from revolving credit facility - 325,123 - - - 325,123  Payments on revolving credit facility - (325,123) - - - (325,123)  Payments on long-term debt - (325,000) - (12,576) - (337,576)  Payment of debt issuance costs - (2,711) - - - (2,711)  Intercompany dividends - - (73,017) (2,750) 75,767 -  Changes in notes with affiliated companies, net (13,956) 185,950 (127,595) (44,399) - -  Dividends paid (12,111) - - - - (12,111)  Other (3,082) - - - - (3,082)  Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (29,149) (141,761) (200,612) (59,725) 75,767 (355,480)  Effect of exchange rate changes on cash - - - (7,959) - (7,959)  Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash - (281,832) (9,962) (84,440) - (376,234)   Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period - 409,277 61,751 151,298 - 622,326  Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ - $ 127,445 $ 51,789 $ 66,858 $ - $ 246,092  

Interim Financial Information

Interim Financial Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Interim Financial Information [Abstract]
Interim Financial Information	(13) Interim Financial Information (Unaudited)  The following is a summary of consolidated interim financial information (in thousands):    2018  First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter  Revenues $ 482,318 $ 535,548 $ 573,068 $ 539,331  Less:  Cost of services and rentals (exclusive of  depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion) 343,460 369,810 404,389 384,445  Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion 105,719 97,973 99,892 97,264  Gross profit 33,139 67,765 68,787 57,622  Reduction in value of assets - - - 739,725  Income (loss) from continuing operations (59,948) (25,437) (21,816) (750,185)  Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax 224 (953) - -  Net loss $ (59,724) $ (26,390) $ (21,816) $ (750,185)   Loss per share from continuing operations:  Basic and diluted $ (0.39) $ (0.16) $ (0.14) $ (4.85)  Loss per share from discontinued operations:  Basic and diluted $ - $ (0.01) $ - $ (4.85)    2017  First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter  Revenues $ 400,936 $ 470,068 $ 506,029 $ 497,043  Less:  Cost of services and rentals (exclusive of  depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion) 321,986 351,802 368,279 356,628  Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion 114,281 108,119 108,751 107,565  Gross profit (35,331) 10,147 28,999 32,850  Reduction in value of assets - - 9,953 4,202  Income (loss) from continuing operations (89,661) (62,039) (57,189) 21,878  Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (1,998) (1,767) (1,860) (13,285)  Net income (loss) $ (91,659) $ (63,806) $ (59,049) $ 8,593   Income (loss) per share from continuing operations:  Basic $ (0.59) $ (0.41) $ (0.37) $ 0.14  Diluted (0.59) (0.41) (0.37) 0.14  Loss per share from discontinued operations:  Basic $ (0.01) $ (0.01) $ (0.02) $ (0.08)  Diluted (0.01) (0.01) (0.02) (0.08)  

Valuation and Qualifying Accoun

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]
Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	 SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Years Ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 (in thousands)      Balance at the Charged to  beginning of costs and Balance at the  Description the year expenses Deductions end of the year   2018 Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 29,037 $ 3,569 $ 20,526 $ 12,080   2017 Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 29,740 $ 4,254 $ 4,957 $ 29,037   2016 Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 28,242 $ 7,825 $ 6,327 $ 29,740  

Summary Of Significant Accoun_2

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	  Basis of Presentation  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Superior Energy Services, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2018 presentation. 
Business	 Business  The Company provides a wide variety of services and products to the energy industry. The Company serves major, national and independent oil and natural gas companies around the world and offers products and services with respect to the various phases of a well’s economic life cycle. The Company reports its operating results in four business segments: Drilling Products and Services; Onshore Completion and Workover Services; Production Services; and Technical Solutions. Given the Company’s long-term strategy of expanding geographically, the Company also provides supplemental segment revenue information in three geographic areas: U.S. land; Gulf of Mexico; and International. 
Use of Estimates	 Use of Estimates  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. 
Major Customers and Concentration of Credit Risk	 Major Customers and Concentration of Credit Risk  The majority of the Company’s business is conducted with major and independent oil and gas companies. The Company evaluates the financial strength of its customers and provides allowances for probable credit losses when deemed necessary.  The market for the Company’s services and products is the oil and gas industry in the U.S. land and Gulf of Mexico areas and select international market areas. Oil and gas companies make capital expenditures on exploration, development and production operations. The level of these expenditures historically has been characterized by significant volatility.  The Company derives a large amount of revenue from a small number of major and independent oil and gas companies. There were no customers that exceeded 10% of the Company’s total revenues in 2018. Anadarko accounted for approximately 13% and 11% of the Company’s revenues in 2017 and 2016, respectively, primarily within the Onshore Completion and Workover Services segment.  The Company’s assets that are potentially exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and trade receivables. The financial institutions in which the Company transacts business are large, investment grade financial institutions which are “well capitalized” under applicable regulatory capital adequacy guidelines , thereby minimizing it s exposure to credit risks for deposits in excess of federally insured amounts. 
Cash Equivalents	Cash Equivalents  The Company considers all short-term investments with a maturity of 90 days or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. 
Accounts Receivable and Allowances	 Accounts Receivable and Allowances  Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount or the earned amount but not yet invoiced and do not bear interest. The Company maintains allowances for estimated uncollectible receivables, including bad debts and other items. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the Company’s best estimate of probable uncollectible amounts in existing accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience and specific identification.
Inventory	  Inventory  Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The Company applies net realizable value and obsolescence to the gross value of the inventory. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out or weighted-average cost methods for finished goods and work-in-process. Supplies and consumables consist principally of products used in the Company’s services provided to its customers. The components of inventory balances are as follows (in thousands):      December 31,  2018 2017  Finished goods $ 54,144 $ 61,764  Raw materials 16,795 13,727  Work-in-process 5,544 6,174  Supplies and consumables 30,822 24,923  Total $ 107,305 $ 106,588  
Property, Plant and Equipment	Property, Plant and Equipment  Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, except for assets for which reduction in value is recorded during the period and assets acquired using purchase accounting, which are recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition. Depreciation is computed using the straight line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets as follows:   Buildings and improvements 5 to 40 years  Marine vessels and equipment 5 to 25 years  Machinery and equipment 2 to 25 years  Automobiles, trucks, tractors and trailers 3 to 10 years  Furniture and fixtures 2 to 10 years 
Reduction In Value Of Long-Lived Assets	Reduction in Value of Long-Lived Assets  Long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment and purchased intangibles subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is assessed by a comparison of the carrying amount of such assets to their fair value calculated, in part, by the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the assets. Cash flow estimates are based upon, among other things, historical results adjusted to reflect the best estimate of future market rates, utilization levels, and operating performance. Estimates of cash flows may differ from actual cash flows due to, among other things, changes in economic conditions or changes in an asset’s operating performance. The Company’s assets are grouped by subsidiary or division for the impairment testing, which represent the lowest level of identifiable cash flows. If the asset grouping’s fair value is less than the carrying amount of those items, impairment losses are recorded in the amount by which the carrying amount of such assets exceeds the fair value. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less estimated costs to sell. The net carrying value of assets not fully recoverable is reduced to fair value. The estimate of fair value represents the Company’s best estimate based on industry trends and reference to market transactions and is subject to variability. The oil and gas industry is cyclical and estimates of the period over which future cash flows will be generated, as well as the predictability of these cash flows, can have a significant impact on the carrying values of these assets and, in periods of prolonged down cycles, may result in impairment charges. See note 10 for a discussion of the reduction in value of long-lived assets recorded during 2018, 2017 and 2016.
Goodwill	Goodwill  The following table summarizes the activity for the Company’s goodwill (in thousands):     Onshore  Drilling Completion  Products and Workover Production  and Services Services Services Total   Balance, December 31, 2016 $ 135,961 $ 583,550 $ 84,406 $ 803,917  Foreign currency translation adjustment 2,532 - 1,411 3,943  Balance, December 31, 2017 138,493 583,550 85,817 807,860  Foreign currency translation adjustment (1,705) - (529) (2,234)  Reduction in value of assets - (583,550) (85,288) (668,838)  Balance, December 31, 2018 $ 136,788 $ - $ - $ 136,788   During 2017, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) update (ASU) 2017-04, Intangibles- Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The amendments in the ASU eliminate Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. The annual or interim goodwill impairment test is performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value.  The Company performs the goodwill impairment test on an annual basis as of October 1 or more often if events or circumstances indicate there may be impairment. Goodwill impairment testing is performed at the reporting unit level, which is consistent with the reporting segments. The Company assesses whether any indicators of impairment exist, which requires a significant amount of judgment. Such indicators may include a sustained decrease in the Company’s stock price and market capitalization; a decline in the expected future cash flows; overall weakness in the industry; and slower growth rates.  Goodwill impairment exists when the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is below the carrying value. In estimating the fair value of the reporting units, the Company uses a combination of an income approach and a market-based approach.  · Income approach – The Company discounts the expected cash flows of each reporting unit. The discount rate used represents the estimated weighted average cost of capital, which reflects the overall level of inherent risk involved in the Company’s operations and cash flows and the rate of return an outside investor would expect to earn. · Market-based approach – The Company uses the guideline public company method, which focuses on comparing the Company’s risk profile and growth prospects to select reasonably similar publicly traded companies. The Company weighted the income approach 80% and the market-based approach 20% due to differences between the Company’s reporting units and the peer companies’ size, profitability and diversity of operations. In order to validate the reasonableness of the estimated fair values obtained for the reporting units, a reconciliation of fair value to market capitalization was performed for each unit on a standalone basis. A control premium, derived from market transaction data, was used in this reconciliation to ensure that fair values were reasonably stated in conjunction with the Company’s capitalization. The Company uses all available information to estimate fair value of the reporting units, including discounted cash flows. A significant amount of judgment was involved in performing these evaluations given that the results are based on estimated future events. During the fourth quarter of 2018, the industry climate deteriorated rapidly due to the dramatic decline in crude oil prices and the related large sell-off in the equity markets for issuers in the energy industry. As a result of the adverse changes in the business environment that occurred during the fourth quarter of 2018 and the strategic review of the Company’s expected near-term cash flows from operations, the Company reviewed the goodwill for impairment. It was concluded that at December 31, 2018, the Onshore Completion and Workover Services segment’s goodwill of $583.6 million and the Production Services segment’s goodwill of $85.3 million were fully impaired. The fair value of the Drilling Products and Services segment was substantially in excess of its carrying value. A significant amount of judgment was involved in performing these evaluations given that the results are based on estimated future events. See note 10 for a discussion of the reduction in value of goodwill recorded during 2018 and 2016. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company’s accumulated reduction in value of goodwill was $2,417.1 million and $1,748.2 million, respectively. 
Notes Receivable	 Notes Receivable  The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Wild Well, has decommissioning obligations related to its ownership of the oil and gas property and related assets. Notes receivable consist of a commitment from the seller of the property’s sole platform towards its eventual abandonment. Pursuant to an agreement with the seller, the Company will invoice the seller an agreed upon amount at the completion of certain decommissioning activities. The gross amount of this obligation totaled $ 115.0 million and is recorded at present value using an effective interest rate of 6.58 %. The related discount is amortized to interest income based on the expected timing of the platform’s removal. The Company recorded interest income related to notes receivable of $ 3.9 million during 2018 and $ 3.6 million in each of 2017 and 2016 .
Restricted Cash	Restricted Cash  Restricted cash represents cash held in escrow to secure the future decommissioning obligations related to the oil and gas property.
Intangible and Other Long-Term Assets	Intangible and Other Long-Term Assets  Intangible assets consist of the following (in thousands):    December 31,  2018 2017  Estimated Gross Accumulated Net Gross Accumulated Net  Useful Lives Amount Amortization Balance Amount Amortization Balance  Customer relationships 17 years $ 133,374 $ (59,711) $ 73,663 $ 165,036 $ (62,930) $ 102,106  Tradenames 10 years 20,717 (13,334) 7,383 30,732 (17,188) 13,544  Non-compete agreements 3 years 4,474 (3,313) 1,161 4,299 (3,241) 1,058  Total $ 158,565 $ (76,358) $ 82,207 $ 200,067 $ (83,359) $ 116,708  Amortization expense was $ 12.7 million, $12.7 million and $16.2 million during 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively. Based on the carrying values of intangible assets at December 31, 2018, amortization expense for the next five years (2019 through 2023) is estimated to be $ 10.0 million per year.  During 2018, the Company recorded $21.7 million of expense related to the reduction in carrying values of intangibles in the Onshore Completion and Workover Services and Production Services segments (see note 10). 
Decommissioning Liabilities	Decommissioning Liabilities  The Company’s decommissioning liabilities associated with the oil and gas property and its related assets consist of costs related to the plugging of wells, the removal of the related platform and equipment, and site restoration. The Company reviews the adequacy of its decommissioning liabilities whenever indicators suggest that the estimated cash flows and/or relating timing needed to satisfy the liability have changed materially.  The following table summarizes the activity for the Company’s decommissioning liabilities (in thousands):     December 31,  2018 2017  Balance at beginning of period $ 130,397 $ 123,677  Accretion 4,906 6,837  Liability acquisitions and dispositions - (117)  Liabilities settled (5,207) -  Balance at end of period $ 130,096 $ 130,397  
Income Taxes	Income Taxes  The Company accounts for income taxes and the related accounts under the asset and liability method. Deferred income taxes reflect the impact of temporary differences between amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and such amounts as measured by tax laws and rates that are in effect when the temporary differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on the deferred income taxes is recognized in income in the period in which the change occurs. A valuation allowance is recorded when management believes it is more likely than not that at least some portion of any deferred tax asset will not be realized. It is the Company’s policy to recognize interest and applicable penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. 
Earnings Per Share	 Earnings per Share  Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed in the same manner as basic earnings per share except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional shares of common stock that could have been outstanding assuming the exercise of stock options and conversion of restricted stock units.  During 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company incurred losses from continuing operations; as such, the impact of any incremental shares would be anti-dilutive.
Foreign Currency	 Foreign Currency  Results of operations for foreign subsidiaries with functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated using average exchange rates during the period. Assets and liabilities of these foreign subsidiaries are translated using the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet dates, and the resulting translation adjustments are reported as accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Company’s stockholders’ equity.  For international subsidiaries where the functional currency is the U.S. dollar, financial statements are remeasured into U.S. dollars using the historical exchange rate for most of the long-term assets and liabilities and the balance sheet date exchange rate for most of the current assets and liabilities. An average exchange rate is used for each period for revenues and expenses. These transaction gains and losses, as well as any other transactions in a currency other than the functional currency, are included in other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of operations in the period in which the currency exchange rates change. During 2018, 2017 and 2016 , the Company recorded foreign currency gains/(losses) of $(1.9) million, $(2.2) million and $23.5 million, respectively. 
Stock-Based Compensation	 Stock-Based Compensation  The Company records compensation costs relating to share-based payment transactions and includes such costs in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. The cost is measured at the grant date, based on the calculated fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity award).
Self-Insurance Reserves	Self-Insurance Reserves  The Company is self-insured, through deductibles and retentions, up to certain levels for losses under its insurance programs. The Company accrues for these liabilities based on estimates of the ultimate cost of claims incurred as of the balance sheet date. The Company regularly reviews the estimates of asserted and unasserted claims and provides for losses through reserves. The Company obtains actuarial reviews to evaluate the reasonableness of internal estimates for losses related to workers’ compensation, auto liability and group medical on an annual basis.
New Accounting Pronouncements	 New Accounting Pronouncements  Standards adopted  In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. The guidance in this ASU applies to all entities that change the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. The amendments provide clarity and reduce diversity in practice as well as cost and complexity when applying the guidance in Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation, to the modification of the terms and conditions of a share-based payment award. The amendments in ASU 2017-09 include guidance on determining which changes to the terms and conditions of share-based payment awards require an entity to apply modification accounting under Topic 718. The Company adopted the accounting guidance as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The amendments affect all companies and other reporting organizations that must determine whether they have acquired or sold a business. The amendments are intended to help companies and other organizations evaluate whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The amendments provide a more robust framework to use in determining when a set of assets and activities is a business. The Company adopted the accounting guidance as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statements of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. The guidance in this ASU requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. As a result, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted the accounting guidance as of January 1, 2018 and applied it retrospectively to the periods presented in the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows. For 2017, net cash used in investing activities was adjusted to exclude the change in restricted cash related to cash held in escrow for the future decommissioning obligations associated with an oil and gas property. The adjustment resulted in a $30.6 million decrease in net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017.  In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. The guidance in this ASU requires entities to recognize at the transaction date the income tax consequences of intercompany asset transfers other than inventory. The Company adopted the accounting guidance as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) , which replaced most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP. The guidance in this ASU requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue that it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The Company adopted this ASU as of January 1, 2018. The Company adopted this ASU using the modified retrospective adoption method. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and no cumulative effect adjustment was recognized.  In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) , which requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities arising from leases on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The new standard establishes a right-of-use model (ROU) that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months.  The Company adopted the new standard on January 1, 2019 and used the effective date as the date of initial application. Therefore, prior period financial information that will be presented in the Company’s future filings will not be adjusted and will continue to be reflected in accordance with the Company’s historical accounting policy.  The new standard provides a number of optional practical expedients in transition. The Company elected the “package of practical expedients,” which, among other things, allows the Company to carry forward its historical lease classification.  On January 1, 2019, the Company recognized additional operating liabilities of approximately $100.0 million, with corresponding ROU assets of the same amount based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments for existing operating leases.
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events  In accordance with authoritative guidance, the Company has evaluated and disclosed all material subsequent events that occurred after the balance sheet date, but before financial statements were issued

Summary Of Significant Accoun_3

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Schedule Of Inventory	   December 31,  2018 2017  Finished goods $ 54,144 $ 61,764  Raw materials 16,795 13,727  Work-in-process 5,544 6,174  Supplies and consumables 30,822 24,923  Total $ 107,305 $ 106,588  
Estimated Useful Lives Of The Related Assets	 Buildings and improvements 5 to 40 years  Marine vessels and equipment 5 to 25 years  Machinery and equipment 2 to 25 years  Automobiles, trucks, tractors and trailers 3 to 10 years  Furniture and fixtures 2 to 10 years 
Summary Of Activity Of Goodwill	   Onshore  Drilling Completion  Products and Workover Production  and Services Services Services Total   Balance, December 31, 2016 $ 135,961 $ 583,550 $ 84,406 $ 803,917  Foreign currency translation adjustment 2,532 - 1,411 3,943  Balance, December 31, 2017 138,493 583,550 85,817 807,860  Foreign currency translation adjustment (1,705) - (529) (2,234)  Reduction in value of assets - (583,550) (85,288) (668,838)  Balance, December 31, 2018 $ 136,788 $ - $ - $ 136,788  
Composition Of Intangible And Other Long-term Assets	   December 31,  2018 2017  Estimated Gross Accumulated Net Gross Accumulated Net  Useful Lives Amount Amortization Balance Amount Amortization Balance  Customer relationships 17 years $ 133,374 $ (59,711) $ 73,663 $ 165,036 $ (62,930) $ 102,106  Tradenames 10 years 20,717 (13,334) 7,383 30,732 (17,188) 13,544  Non-compete agreements 3 years 4,474 (3,313) 1,161 4,299 (3,241) 1,058  Total $ 158,565 $ (76,358) $ 82,207 $ 200,067 $ (83,359) $ 116,708  
Summary Of The Activity For Company's Decommissioning Liabilities	   December 31,  2018 2017  Balance at beginning of period $ 130,397 $ 123,677  Accretion 4,906 6,837  Liability acquisitions and dispositions - (117)  Liabilities settled (5,207) -  Balance at end of period $ 130,096 $ 130,397  

Revenue (Tables)

Revenue (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenue [Abstract]
Disaggregation Of Revenues	      2018 2017 2016  U.S. land  Drilling Products and Services $ 176,448 $ 117,856 $ 64,251  Onshore Completion and Workover Services 1,057,656 935,183 523,966  Production Services 195,363 151,632 87,434  Technical Solutions 31,137 34,283 42,097  Total U.S. land $ 1,460,604 $ 1,238,954 $ 717,748   Gulf of Mexico  Drilling Products and Services $ 100,855 $ 91,507 $ 120,323  Onshore Completion and Workover Services - - -  Production Services 66,512 74,033 84,839  Technical Solutions 160,507 161,766 157,603  Total Gulf of Mexico $ 327,874 $ 327,306 $ 362,765   International  Drilling Products and Services $ 106,416 $ 84,327 $ 108,968  Onshore Completion and Workover Services - - -  Production Services 156,650 147,116 176,090  Technical Solutions 78,721 76,373 84,476  Total International $ 341,787 $ 307,816 $ 369,534  Total Revenues $ 2,130,265 $ 1,874,076 $ 1,450,047     The following table presents the Company’s revenues by segment disaggregated by type (in thousands):        2018 2017 2016  Services  Drilling Products and Services $ 101,969 $ 81,788 $ 77,628  Onshore Completion and Workover Services 1,015,908 903,048 503,777  Production Services 381,957 354,445 308,226  Technical Solutions 250,135 254,859 272,613  Total services $ 1,749,969 $ 1,594,140 $ 1,162,244   Rentals  Drilling Products and Services $ 281,750 $ 211,902 $ 215,915  Onshore Completion and Workover Services 41,748 32,135 20,188  Production Services 36,568 18,336 40,137  Technical Solutions 20,230 17,563 11,563  Total rentals $ 380,296 $ 279,936 $ 287,803  Total Revenues $ 2,130,265 $ 1,874,076 $ 1,450,047  

Property, Plant And Equipment (

Property, Plant And Equipment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Property, Plant And Equipment [Abstract]
Summary Of Property, Plant And Equipment	   December 31,  2018 2017  Machinery and equipment $ 3,229,793 $ 3,505,171  Buildings, improvements and leasehold improvements 278,339 293,133  Automobiles, trucks, tractors and trailers 26,522 32,185  Furniture and fixtures 52,045 62,632  Construction-in-progress 38,119 37,236  Land 58,047 58,363  Oil and gas producing assets 66,605 64,844  Total 3,749,470 4,053,564  Accumulated depreciation and depletion (2,640,344) (2,736,620)  Property, plant and equipment, net $ 1,109,126 $ 1,316,944 

Debt (Tables)

Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt [Abstract]
Summary Of Long-Term Debt	   December 31,  2018 2017  Long-term Long-term  Senior unsecured notes due September 2024 $ 500,000 $ 500,000  Senior unsecured notes due December 2021 800,000 800,000  Total debt, gross 1,300,000 1,300,000  Unamortized debt issuance costs (17,079) (20,229)  Total debt, net $ 1,282,921 $ 1,279,771 
Schedule Of Maturities Of Long-Term Debt	   2019 $ -  2020 -  2021 800,000  2022 -  2023 -  Thereafter 500,000  Total $ 1,300,000 

Stock-Based And Long-Term Inc_2

Stock-Based And Long-Term Incentive Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Stock-Based And Long-Term Incentive Compensation [Abstract]
Summary Of Compensation Expense And Tax Benefits	   Years ended December 31,  2018 2017 2016  Stock options $ 4,247 $ 4,289 $ 4,870  Restricted stock - - 382  Restricted stock units 19,828 21,899 24,762  Performance share units 6,912 9,740 10,167  Total compensation expense 30,987 35,928 40,181   Related income taxes 7,189 8,335 14,867  Total compensation expense, net of income taxes $ 23,798 $ 27,593 $ 25,314  
Summary Of The Valuation Assumptions Used To Calculate The Fair Value Of Stock Option Grants	   Years ended December 31,  2018 2017 2016  Weighted average fair value of stock options granted $ 5.61 $ 8.36 $ 3.61   Black-Scholes-Merton Assumptions:  Risk free interest rate 2.43 % 1.96 % 1.46 %  Expected life (years) 6 6 5  Volatility 51.21 % 48.22 % 55.72 %  Dividend yield - - 3.28 
Summary Of Stock Option Activity	   Number of Options Weighted Average Option Price Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years) Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)  Outstanding at beginning of period 6,138,653 $ 18.75 5.4 $ -  Granted 567,967 $ 11.04  Exercised - $ -  Expired (271,167) $ 14.1  Outstanding at end of period 6,435,453 $ 18.27 5.0 $ -  Exercisable at end of period 5,022,592 $ 20.13 4.2 $ -  Options expected to vest at end of period 1,412,861 $ 11.65 8.0 $ -  
Summary Of Non-Vested Stock Option Activity	   Number of Options Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value  Non-vested at beginning of period 1,748,933 $ 12.18  Granted 567,967 $ 11.04  Vested (904,039) $ 12.3  Non-vested at end of period 1,412,861 $ 8.00  
Summary Of Restricted Stock Unit Activity	   Number of RSUs Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value  Non-vested at beginning of period 3,192,000 $ 14.87  Granted 2,030,896 $ 11.31  Vested (1,534,153) $ 14.26  Forfeited (266,307) $ 12.51  Non-vested at end of period 3,422,436 $ 13.22 
Schedule Of ESPP Activity	   Years ended December 31,  2018 2017 2016  Cash received for shares issued $ 2,625 $ 3,074 $ 3,681  Compensation expense $ 463 $ 542 $ 1,492  Shares issued 550,950 360,465 290,987 
Schedule Of Deferred Compensation Balances	   December 31,  Balance sheet location 2018 2017  Deferred compensation assets Intangible and other long-term assets, net $ 13,306 $ 14,187  Deferred compensation liabilities, short-term Accounts payable $ 1,138 $ 1,253  Deferred compensation liabilities, long-term Other long-term liabilities $ 19,766 $ 21,085 

Income Taxes (Tables)

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Schedule Of Components Of Income And Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	   Years ended December 31,  2018 2017 2016  Domestic $ (880,988) $ (336,095) $ (1,097,109)  Foreign (21,831) (41,656) (3,232)  $ (902,819) $ (377,751) $ (1,100,341) 
Schedule Of Components Of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	   Years ended December 31,  2018 2017 2016  Current:  Federal $ - $ - $ (101,578)  State 2,118 (750) (159)  Foreign 14,856 9,137 19,156  16,974 8,387 (82,581)  Deferred:  Federal (68,469) (201,768) (179,721)  State (4,161) 6,109 (9,348)  Foreign 10,223 (3,468) 4,649  (62,407) (199,127) (184,420)  $ (45,433) $ (190,740) $ (267,001) 
Schedule Of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation	   Years ended December 31,  2018 2017 2016  Computed expected tax benefit $ (189,592) $ (132,213) $ (385,119)  Increase (decrease) resulting from  State and foreign income taxes 10,437 16,437 (8,038)  Reduction in value of assets 115,253 - 115,725  U.S. Tax Reform - (76,529) -  Other 18,469 1,565 10,431  Income tax benefit $ (45,433) $ (190,740) $ (267,001) 
Schedule Of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	   December 31,  2018 2017  Deferred tax assets:  Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 856 $ 5,717  Operating loss and tax credit carryforwards 146,926 118,687  Compensation and employee benefits 38,006 38,261  Decommissioning liabilities 27,979 26,875  Other 25,331 28,807  239,098 218,347  Valuation allowance (25,571) (8,722)  Net deferred tax assets 213,527 209,625   Deferred tax liabilities:  Property, plant and equipment 146,971 177,231  Notes receivable 12,977 12,977  Goodwill and other intangible assets 38,955 64,746  Other 14,624 15,729  Deferred tax liabilities 213,527 270,683  Net deferred tax liability $ - $ 61,058 
Summary Of Activity In Unrecognized Tax Benefits	   Years ended December 31,  2018 2017 2016  Unrecognized tax benefits at beginning of period $ 30,656 $ 29,956 $ 29,715  Additions based on tax positions related to prior years 1,899 5,576 6,874  Reductions based on tax positions related to prior years (1,864) (4,671) (3,582)  Reductions as a result of a lapse of the applicable statute of limitations (133) (205) (3,051)  Unrecognized tax benefits at end of period $ 30,558 $ 30,656 $ 29,956 

Segment Information (Tables)

Segment Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Information [Abstract]
Schedule Of Segment Reporting Information	     2018   Onshore  Drilling Completion  Products and and Workover Production Technical Corporate and Consolidated  Services Services Services Solutions Other Total  Revenues $ 383,719 $ 1,057,656 $ 418,525 $ 270,365 $ - $ 2,130,265  Cost of services and rentals (exclusive of  depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion) 148,019 846,907 342,420 164,758 - 1,502,104  Depreciation, depletion, amortization  and accretion 112,111 190,592 66,993 25,653 5,499 400,848  General and administrative expenses 53,688 37,170 41,499 57,600 99,295 289,252  Reduction in value of assets - 644,813 92,252 - 2,660 739,725  Income (loss) from operations 69,901 (661,826) (124,639) 22,354 (107,454) (801,664)  Interest income (expense), net - - - 3,915 (103,392) (99,477)  Other expense - - - - (1,678) (1,678)  Income (loss) from continuing operations  before income taxes $ 69,901 $ (661,826) $ (124,639) $ 26,269 $ (212,524) $ (902,819)      2017   Onshore  Drilling Completion  Products and and Workover Production Technical Corporate and Consolidated  Services Services Services Solutions Other Total  Revenues $ 293,690 $ 935,183 $ 372,781 $ 272,422 $ - $ 1,874,076  Cost of services and rentals (exclusive of  depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion) 128,381 791,581 303,256 175,477 - 1,398,695  Depreciation, depletion, amortization  and accretion 131,394 193,098 78,999 29,506 5,719 438,716  General and administrative expenses 51,265 44,766 48,655 51,679 99,142 295,507  Reduction in value of assets 1,356 4,684 - 8,115 - 14,155  Income (loss) from operations (18,706) (98,946) (58,129) 7,645 (104,861) (272,997)  Interest income (expense), net - - - 3,567 (105,022) (101,455)  Other expense - - - - (3,299) (3,299)  Income (loss) from continuing operations  before income taxes $ (18,706) $ (98,946) $ (58,129) $ 11,212 $ (213,182) $ (377,751)      2016   Onshore  Drilling Completion  Products and and Workover Production Technical Corporate and Consolidated  Services Services Services Solutions Other Total  Revenues $ 293,543 $ 523,965 $ 348,363 $ 284,176 $ - $ 1,450,047  Cost of services and rentals (exclusive of  depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion) 136,719 515,784 276,223 194,548 - 1,123,274  Depreciation, depletion, amortization  and accretion 159,937 207,038 93,878 42,393 6,725 509,971  General and administrative expenses 64,182 48,837 49,687 65,299 118,601 346,606  Reduction in value of assets 48,903 190,835 235,067 25,600 - 500,405  Income (loss) from operations (116,198) (438,529) (306,492) (43,664) (125,326) (1,030,209)  Interest income (expense), net - - (1,343) 3,553 (94,963) (92,753)  Other expense - - - - 22,621 22,621  Income (loss) from continuing operations  before income taxes $ (116,198) $ (438,529) $ (307,835) $ (40,111) $ (197,668) $ (1,100,341)  
Schedule Of Identifiable Assets	   Identifiable Assets  Onshore  Drilling Completion  Products and and Workover Production Technical Corporate and Consolidated  Services Services Services Solutions Other Total  December 31, 2018 $ 587,264 $ 808,037 $ 434,430 $ 340,161 $ 46,070 $ 2,215,962  December 31, 2017 $ 662,968 $ 1,501,214 $ 512,256 $ 377,549 $ 56,238 $ 3,110,225  December 31, 2016 $ 824,287 $ 1,534,008 $ 598,167 $ 439,521 $ 74,272 $ 3,470,255 
Schedule Of Capital Expenditures, By Segment	   Capital Expenditures  Onshore  Drilling Completion  Products and and Workover Production Technical Corporate and Consolidated  Services Services Services Solutions Other Total  December 31, 2018 $ 46,649 $ 147,793 $ 8,651 $ 16,221 $ 2,056 $ 221,370  December 31, 2017 $ 27,219 $ 115,415 $ 7,860 $ 13,296 $ 1,143 $ 164,933  December 31, 2016 $ 35,413 $ 20,094 $ 20,848 $ 3,829 $ 364 $ 80,548 
Schedule Of Revenues By Geographic Segment	   Revenues  Years ended December 31,  2018 2017 2016  United States $ 1,788,478 $ 1,566,260 $ 1,080,513  Other countries 341,787 307,816 369,534  Total $ 2,130,265 $ 1,874,076 $ 1,450,047   Long-Lived Assets   December 31,  2018 2017  United States $ 903,520 $ 1,064,823  Other countries 205,606 252,121  Total $ 1,109,126 $ 1,316,944 

Fair Value Measurements (Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]
Summary Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Measured At Fair Value On Recurring Basis	    Fair Value at December 31, 2018  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total  Intangible and other long-term assets, net:  Non-qualified deferred compensation assets $ 376 $ 12,930 $ - $ 13,306  Accounts payable:  Non-qualified deferred compensation liabilities $ - $ 1,138 $ - $ 1,138  Other long-term liabilities:  Non-qualified deferred compensation liabilities $ - $ 19,766 $ - $ 19,766  Total debt $ 1,084,711 $ - $ - $ 1,084,711   Fair Value at December 31, 2017  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total  Intangible and other long-term assets, net:  Non-qualified deferred compensation assets $ 370 $ 13,817 $ - $ 14,187  Accounts payable:  Non-qualified deferred compensation liabilities $ - $ 1,253 $ - $ 1,253  Other long-term liabilities:  Non-qualified deferred compensation liabilities $ - $ 21,085 $ - $ 21,085  Total debt $ 1,346,985 $ - $ - $ 1,346,985 
Fair Value Measurements Used in Testing	   Years Ended December 31, 2018  Impairment Fair Value  Property, plant and equipment, net $ 49,198 $ 65,441  Goodwill $ 668,838 $ -  Intangible assets $ 21,689 $ -  

Reduction in Value of Assets (T

Reduction in Value of Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Reduction In Value Of Assets [Abstract]
Reduction In Value Of Assets	  Years ended December 31,  2018 2017 2016  Reduction in value of goodwill $ 668,838 $ - $ 330,500  Reduction in value of long-lived assets 70,887 14,155 143,803  Retirements of long-lived assets - - 26,102  Total reduction in value of assets $ 739,725 $ 14,155 $ 500,405  

Discontinued Operations (Tables

Discontinued Operations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Assets And Liabilities Of Disposal Groups	   December 31, 2017  Current assets $ 3,144  Property, plant and equipment, net 10,500  Total assets $ 13,644  Current liabilities $ 6,463 

Supplemental Guarantor Inform_2

Supplemental Guarantor Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Supplemental Guarantor Information [Abstract]
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets	       SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets  December 31, 2018  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Assets  Current assets:  Cash and cash equivalents $ - $ 102,224 $ 707 $ 55,119 $ - $ 158,050  Accounts receivable, net - 160 367,497 79,696 - 447,353  Intercompany accounts receivable - 12,279 74,906 3,489 (90,674) -  Other current assets - 12,805 111,560 43,137 - 167,502  Total current assets - 127,468 554,670 181,441 (90,674) 772,905   Property, plant and equipment, net - 10,129 920,978 178,019 - 1,109,126  Goodwill - - 80,544 56,244 - 136,788  Notes receivable - - 63,993 - - 63,993  Long-term intercompany accounts receivable 2,243,431 - 1,991,912 182,284 (4,417,627) -  Equity investments of consolidated subsidiaries (1,952,647) 3,754,887 5,992 - (1,808,232) -  Restricted cash - - 5,653 45 - 5,698  Intangible and other long-term assets, net - 19,255 100,847 7,350 - 127,452  Total assets $ 290,784 $ 3,911,739 $ 3,724,589 $ 605,383 $ (6,316,533) $ 2,215,962   Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity  Current liabilities:  Accounts payable $ - $ 8,807 $ 109,903 $ 20,615 $ - $ 139,325  Accrued expenses 45 102,845 86,926 29,364 - 219,180  Income taxes payable - 1,237 - (503) - 734  Intercompany accounts payable - 724 6,869 83,081 (90,674) -  Current portion of decommissioning liabilities - - - 3,538 - 3,538  Total current liabilities 45 113,613 203,698 136,095 (90,674) 362,777   Decommissioning liabilities - - 126,558 - - 126,558  Long-term debt, net - 1,282,921 - - - 1,282,921  Long-term intercompany accounts payable - 4,417,627 - - (4,417,627) -  Other long-term liabilities - 50,225 76,543 26,199 - 152,967  Total stockholders' equity (deficit) 290,739 (1,952,647) 3,317,790 443,089 (1,808,232) 290,739  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 290,784 $ 3,911,739 $ 3,724,589 $ 605,383 $ (6,316,533) $ 2,215,962          SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets  December 31, 2017  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Assets  Current assets:  Cash and cash equivalents $ - $ 126,533 $ 440 $ 45,027 $ - $ 172,000  Accounts receivable, net - - 332,402 70,889 (5,235) 398,056  Income taxes receivable - - (221) 1,180 - 959  Intercompany accounts receivable - 6,460 58,375 5,865 (70,700) -  Other current assets - 11,895 129,970 34,295 - 176,160  Assets held for sale - - - 13,644 - 13,644  Total current assets - 144,888 520,966 170,900 (75,935) 760,819   Property, plant and equipment, net - 12,055 1,093,446 211,443 - 1,316,944  Goodwill - - 657,099 150,761 - 807,860  Notes receivable - - 60,149 - - 60,149  Long-term intercompany accounts receivable 2,221,697 - 2,032,056 177,842 (4,431,595) -  Equity investments of consolidated subsidiaries (1,088,736) 4,481,702 6,590 - (3,399,556) -  Restricted cash - - 20,483 - - 20,483  Intangible and other long-term assets, net - 22,118 113,632 8,220 - 143,970  Total assets $ 1,132,961 $ 4,660,763 $ 4,504,421 $ 719,166 $ (7,907,086) $ 3,110,225   Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity  Current liabilities:  Accounts payable $ - $ 14,339 $ 89,714 $ 20,898 $ (5,235) $ 119,716  Accrued expenses 532 116,767 80,825 23,633 - 221,757  Intercompany accounts payable - 724 7,918 62,058 (70,700) -  Current portion of decommissioning liabilities - - 25,670 1,591 - 27,261  Liabilities held for sale - - - 6,463 - 6,463  Total current liabilities 532 131,830 204,127 114,643 (75,935) 375,197   Deferred income taxes - (147,116) 205,386 2,788 - 61,058  Decommissioning liabilities - - 101,293 1,843 - 103,136  Long-term debt, net - 1,279,771 - - - 1,279,771  Long-term intercompany accounts payable - 4,431,595 - - (4,431,595) -  Other long-term liabilities - 53,419 79,061 26,154 - 158,634  Total stockholders' equity (deficit) 1,132,429 (1,088,736) 3,914,554 573,738 (3,399,556) 1,132,429  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 1,132,961 $ 4,660,763 $ 4,504,421 $ 719,166 $ (7,907,086) $ 3,110,225  
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations And Comprehensive Income	     SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations  Year Ended December 31, 2018  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Revenues $ - $ - $ 1,889,751 271,769 (31,255) $ 2,130,265  Cost of services and rentals (exclusive of depreciation,  depletion, amortization and accretion) - (13,265) 1,355,524 191,100 (31,255) 1,502,104  Depreciation, depletion, amortization and  accretion - 3,945 351,974 44,929 - 400,848  General and administrative expenses - 95,725 142,451 51,076 - 289,252  Reduction in value of assets - - 647,441 92,284 - 739,725  Income (loss) from operations - (86,405) (607,639) (107,620) - (801,664)   Other income (expense):  Interest expense, net - (103,594) 3,950 167 - (99,477)  Other income (expense) - 71 1,014 (2,763) - (1,678)  Equity in earnings (losses) of consolidated subsidiaries (858,115) (707,348) (597) - 1,566,060 -  Income (loss) from operations before income taxes (858,115) (897,276) (603,272) (110,216) 1,566,060 (902,819)  Income taxes - (39,161) (6,554) 282 - (45,433)  Net loss from continuing operations (858,115) (858,115) (596,718) (110,498) 1,566,060 (857,386)  Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax - - - (729) - (729)  Net income (loss) $ (858,115) $ (858,115) $ (596,718) $ (111,227) $ 1,566,060 $ (858,115)      SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Loss  Year Ended December 31, 2018  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Net income (loss) $ (858,115) $ (858,115) $ (596,718) $ (111,227) $ 1,566,060 $ (858,115)  Change in cumulative translation adjustment, net of tax (5,750) (5,750) - (5,750) 11,500 (5,750)  Comprehensive income (loss) $ (863,865) $ (863,865) $ (596,718) $ (116,977) $ 1,577,560 $ (863,865)         SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations  Year Ended December 31, 2017  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Revenues $ - $ - $ 1,655,114 $ 234,663 $ (15,701) $ 1,874,076  Cost of services and rentals (exclusive of depreciation,  depletion, amortization and accretion) - (4,123) 1,242,486 176,033 (15,701) 1,398,695  Depreciation, depletion, amortization and  accretion - 4,149 383,713 50,854 - 438,716  General and administrative expenses - 86,840 152,076 56,591 - 295,507  Reduction in value of assets - - 6,038 8,117 - 14,155  Loss from operations - (86,866) (129,199) (56,932) - (272,997)   Other income (expense):  Interest expense, net - (105,585) 4,451 (321) - (101,455)  Other income (expense) - (1,350) 202 (2,151) - (3,299)  Equity in losses of consolidated subsidiaries (205,921) (76,394) (964) - 283,279 -  Loss from continuing operations before income taxes (205,921) (270,195) (125,510) (59,404) 283,279 (377,751)  Income taxes - (64,274) (118,347) (8,119) - (190,740)  Net loss from continuing operations (205,921) (205,921) (7,163) (51,285) 283,279 (187,011)  Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax - - - (18,910) - (18,910)  Net loss $ (205,921) $ (205,921) $ (7,163) $ (70,195) $ 283,279 $ (205,921)      SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Loss  Year Ended December 31, 2017  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Net loss $ (205,921) $ (205,921) $ (7,163) $ (70,195) $ 283,279 $ (205,921)  Change in cumulative translation adjustment, net of tax 12,821 12,821 - 12,821 (25,642) 12,821  Comprehensive loss $ (193,100) $ (193,100) $ (7,163) $ (57,374) $ 257,637 $ (193,100)                      SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations  Year Ended December 31, 2016  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Revenues $ - $ - $ 1,193,233 $ 281,310 $ (24,496) $ 1,450,047  Cost of services and rentals (exclusive of depreciation,  depletion, amortization and accretion) - 6,582 944,349 196,839 (24,496) 1,123,274  Depreciation, depletion, amortization and  accretion - 4,592 452,180 53,199 - 509,971  General and administrative expenses - 117,781 176,430 52,395 - 346,606  Reduction in value of assets - - 486,976 13,429 - 500,405  Loss from operations - (128,955) (866,702) (34,552) - (1,030,209)   Other income (expense):  Interest expense, net - (95,040) 3,425 (1,138) - (92,753)  Other income (expense) - (4,345) 196 26,770 - 22,621  Equity in losses of consolidated subsidiaries (886,899) (738,047) (643) - 1,625,589 -  Loss from continuing operations before income taxes (886,899) (966,387) (863,724) (8,920) 1,625,589 (1,100,341)  Income taxes - (79,488) (189,850) 2,337 - (267,001)  Net loss from continuing operations (886,899) (886,899) (673,874) (11,257) 1,625,589 (833,340)  Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax - - - (53,559) - (53,559)  Net loss $ (886,899) $ (886,899) $ (673,874) $ (64,816) $ 1,625,589 $ (886,899)      SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Loss  Year Ended December 31, 2016  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Net loss $ (886,899) $ (886,899) $ (673,874) $ (64,816) $ 1,625,589 $ (886,899)  Change in cumulative translation adjustment, net of tax (34,554) (34,554) - (34,554) 69,108 (34,554)  Comprehensive loss $ (921,453) $ (921,453) $ (673,874) $ (99,370) $ 1,694,697 $ (921,453)  
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows	     SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows  Year Ended December 31, 2018  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Cash flows from operating activities:  Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 23,866 $ (2,013) $ 150,510 $ (4,023) $ (3,283) $ 165,057   Cash flows from investing activities:  Payments for capital expenditures - (2,055) (207,640) (11,675) - (221,370)  Proceeds from sales of assets - - 20,003 13,296 - 33,299  Net cash used in investing activities - (2,055) (187,637) 1,621 - (188,071)   Cash flows from financing activities:  Intercompany dividends - - - (3,283) 3,283 -  Changes in notes with affiliated companies, net (21,734) (19,787) 22,564 18,957 - -  Other (2,132) (454) - - - (2,586)  Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (23,866) (20,241) 22,564 15,674 3,283 (2,586)  Effect of exchange rate changes on cash - - - (3,135) - (3,135)  Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash - (24,309) (14,563) 10,137 - (28,735)   Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period - 126,533 20,923 45,027 - 192,483  Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ - $ 102,224 $ 6,360 $ 55,164 $ - $ 163,748         SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows  Year Ended December 31, 2017  (in thousands)  Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Consolidated  Cash flows from operating activities:  Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 26,221 $ 3,369 $ 89,739 $ (22,903) $ 96,426   Cash flows from investing activities:  Payments for capital expenditures - (1,041) (148,738) (15,154) (164,933)  Other - - 23,485 4,784 28,269  Net cash used in investing activities - (1,041) (125,253) (10,370) (136,664)   Cash flows from financing activities:  Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt - 500,000 - - 500,000  Principal payments on long-term debt - (500,000) - - (500,000)  Payment of debt issuance costs - (11,967) - - (11,967)  Changes in notes with affiliated companies, net (21,163) 8,727 4,648 7,788 -  Other (5,058) - - - (5,058)  Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (26,221) (3,240) 4,648 7,788 (17,025)  Effect of exchange rate changes on cash - - - 3,654 3,654  Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash - (912) (30,866) (21,831) (53,609)   Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period - 127,445 51,789 66,858 246,092  Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ - $ 126,533 $ 20,923 $ 45,027 $ 192,483        SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows  Year Ended December 31, 2016  (in thousands)   Parent Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated  Cash flows from operating activities:  Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 29,149 $ (139,666) $ 248,627 $ (1,091) $ (75,767) $ 61,252   Cash flows from investing activities:  Payments for capital expenditures - (405) (64,478) (15,665) - (80,548)  Other - - 6,501 - - 6,501  Net cash used in investing activities - (405) (57,977) (15,665) - (74,047)   Cash flows from financing activities:  Proceeds from revolving credit facility - 325,123 - - - 325,123  Payments on revolving credit facility - (325,123) - - - (325,123)  Payments on long-term debt - (325,000) - (12,576) - (337,576)  Payment of debt issuance costs - (2,711) - - - (2,711)  Intercompany dividends - - (73,017) (2,750) 75,767 -  Changes in notes with affiliated companies, net (13,956) 185,950 (127,595) (44,399) - -  Dividends paid (12,111) - - - - (12,111)  Other (3,082) - - - - (3,082)  Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (29,149) (141,761) (200,612) (59,725) 75,767 (355,480)  Effect of exchange rate changes on cash - - - (7,959) - (7,959)  Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash - (281,832) (9,962) (84,440) - (376,234)   Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period - 409,277 61,751 151,298 - 622,326  Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ - $ 127,445 $ 51,789 $ 66,858 $ - $ 246,092  

Interim Financial Information (

Interim Financial Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Interim Financial Information [Abstract]
Schedule Of Interim Financial Information	  2018  First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter  Revenues $ 482,318 $ 535,548 $ 573,068 $ 539,331  Less:  Cost of services and rentals (exclusive of  depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion) 343,460 369,810 404,389 384,445  Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion 105,719 97,973 99,892 97,264  Gross profit 33,139 67,765 68,787 57,622  Reduction in value of assets - - - 739,725  Income (loss) from continuing operations (59,948) (25,437) (21,816) (750,185)  Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax 224 (953) - -  Net loss $ (59,724) $ (26,390) $ (21,816) $ (750,185)   Loss per share from continuing operations:  Basic and diluted $ (0.39) $ (0.16) $ (0.14) $ (4.85)  Loss per share from discontinued operations:  Basic and diluted $ - $ (0.01) $ - $ (4.85)    2017  First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter  Revenues $ 400,936 $ 470,068 $ 506,029 $ 497,043  Less:  Cost of services and rentals (exclusive of  depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion) 321,986 351,802 368,279 356,628  Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion 114,281 108,119 108,751 107,565  Gross profit (35,331) 10,147 28,999 32,850  Reduction in value of assets - - 9,953 4,202  Income (loss) from continuing operations (89,661) (62,039) (57,189) 21,878  Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (1,998) (1,767) (1,860) (13,285)  Net income (loss) $ (91,659) $ (63,806) $ (59,049) $ 8,593   Income (loss) per share from continuing operations:  Basic $ (0.59) $ (0.41) $ (0.37) $ 0.14  Diluted (0.59) (0.41) (0.37) 0.14  Loss per share from discontinued operations:  Basic $ (0.01) $ (0.01) $ (0.02) $ (0.08)  Diluted (0.01) (0.01) (0.02) (0.08) 

Summary Of Significant Accoun_4

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Business) (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018segmentregion
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Number of segments | segment	4
Number of geographic regions of operations | region	3

Summary Of Significant Accoun_5

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Major Customers And Concentration Of Credit Risk) (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Sales Revenue, Net [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration percent	13.00%	11.00%

Summary Of Significant Accoun_6

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Cash Equivalents) (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Maximum maturity of short-term investments purchased to be cash equivalents	90 days

Summary Of Significant Accoun_7

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Schedule Of Inventory) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Finished goods	$ 54,144	$ 61,764
Raw materials	16,795	13,727
Work-in-process	5,544	6,174
Supplies and consumables	30,822	24,923
Total	$ 107,305	$ 106,588

Summary Of Significant Accoun_8

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Estimated Useful Lives Of The Related Assets) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Buildings And Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	5 years
Buildings And Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	40 years
Marine Vessels And Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	5 years
Marine Vessels And Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	25 years
Machinery And Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	2 years
Machinery And Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	25 years
Automobiles, Trucks, Tractors And Trailers [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	3 years
Automobiles, Trucks, Tractors And Trailers [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	10 years
Furniture And Fixtures [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	2 years
Furniture And Fixtures [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	10 years

Summary Of Significant Accoun_9

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Goodwill) (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill [Line Items]
Reduction in value of goodwill	$ 668,838	$ 330,500
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	$ 2,417,100		$ 1,748,200
Valuation, Income Approach [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill Impairment, Percentage of method used in determining impairment	80.00%
Valuation, Market Approach [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill Impairment, Percentage of method used in determining impairment	20.00%
Onshore Completion And Workover Services [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Reduction in value of goodwill	$ 583,550	140,000
Production Services [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Reduction in value of goodwill	$ 85,288	$ 190,500

Summary Of Significant Accou_10

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Summary Of Activity Of Goodwill) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 807,860	$ 803,917
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(2,234)	3,943
Reduction in value of assets	(668,838)		$ (330,500)
Ending Balance	136,788	807,860	803,917
Drilling Products And Services [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	138,493	135,961
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,705)	2,532
Ending Balance	136,788	138,493	135,961
Onshore Completion And Workover Services [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	583,550	583,550
Reduction in value of assets	(583,550)		(140,000)
Ending Balance		583,550	583,550
Production Services [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	85,817	84,406
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(529)	1,411
Reduction in value of assets	$ (85,288)		(190,500)
Ending Balance		$ 85,817	$ 84,406

Summary Of Significant Accou_11

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Notes Receivable) (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Notes Receivable [Abstract]
Amount of notes receivable net	$ 115
Interest rate percentage to record present value of notes receivable	6.58%
Company recorded interest income	$ 3.9	$ 3.6	$ 3.6

Summary Of Significant Accou_12

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Intangible And Other Long-Term Assets) (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization expense exclusive of debt acquisition costs	$ 12,700	$ 12,700	$ 16,200
Amortization of intangible assets exclusive of debt acquisitions costs for 2019	10,000
Amortization of intangible assets exclusive of debt acquisitions costs for 2020	10,000
Amortization of intangible assets exclusive of debt acquisitions costs for 2021	10,000
Amortization of intangible assets exclusive of debt acquisitions costs for 2022	10,000
Amortization of intangible assets exclusive of debt acquisitions costs for 2023	10,000
Reduction in carrying value of intangibles	21,689
Onshore Completion and Workover Services and Production Services [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Reduction in carrying value of intangibles	$ 21,700

Summary Of Significant Accou_13

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Summary Of The Activity For Company's Decommissioning Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 130,397	$ 123,677
Accretion	4,906	6,837
Liability acquisitions and dispositions		(117)
Liabilities settled	(5,207)
Balance at end of period	$ 130,096	$ 130,397

Summary Of Significant Accou_14

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Composition Of Intangible And Other Long-term Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Amount	$ 158,565	$ 200,067
Accumulated Amortization	(76,358)	(83,359)
Net Balance	$ 82,207	116,708
Customer Relationships [Member]
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	17 years
Gross Amount	$ 133,374	165,036
Accumulated Amortization	(59,711)	(62,930)
Net Balance	$ 73,663	102,106
Tradenames [Member]
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	10 years
Gross Amount	$ 20,717	30,732
Accumulated Amortization	(13,334)	(17,188)
Net Balance	$ 7,383	13,544
Non-compete [Member]
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	3 years
Gross Amount	$ 4,474	4,299
Accumulated Amortization	(3,313)	(3,241)
Net Balance	$ 1,161	$ 1,058

Summary Of Significant Accou_15

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Foreign Currency) (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Foreign currency gains (losses)	$ (1.9)	$ (2.2)	$ 23.5

Summary of Significant Accou_16

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jan. 01, 2019	Dec. 31, 2017
Accounting Standards Update 2016-18 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Effect of change in accounting principle		$ 30.6
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Effect of change in accounting principle	$ 100

Revenue (Disaggregation Of Reve

Revenue (Disaggregation Of Revenues, By Geography) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 539,331	$ 573,068	$ 535,548	$ 482,318	$ 497,043	$ 506,029	$ 470,068	$ 400,936	$ 2,130,265	$ 1,874,076	$ 1,450,047
Drilling Products And Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									383,719	293,690	293,543
Production Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									418,525	372,781	348,363
Technical Solutions [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									270,365	272,422	284,176
U.S. Land [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									1,460,604	1,238,954	717,748
U.S. Land [Member] | Drilling Products And Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									176,448	117,856	64,251
U.S. Land [Member] | Onshore Completion and Workover Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									1,057,656	935,183	523,966
U.S. Land [Member] | Production Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									195,363	151,632	87,434
U.S. Land [Member] | Technical Solutions [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									31,137	34,283	42,097
Gulf Of Mexico [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									327,874	327,306	362,765
Gulf Of Mexico [Member] | Drilling Products And Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									100,855	91,507	120,323
Gulf Of Mexico [Member] | Production Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									66,512	74,033	84,839
Gulf Of Mexico [Member] | Technical Solutions [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									160,507	161,766	157,603
International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									341,787	307,816	369,534
International [Member] | Drilling Products And Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									106,416	84,327	108,968
International [Member] | Production Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									156,650	147,116	176,090
International [Member] | Technical Solutions [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									$ 78,721	$ 76,373	$ 84,476

Revenue (Disaggregation Of Re_2

Revenue (Disaggregation Of Revenues, By Type) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 539,331	$ 573,068	$ 535,548	$ 482,318	$ 497,043	$ 506,029	$ 470,068	$ 400,936	$ 2,130,265	$ 1,874,076	$ 1,450,047
Drilling Products And Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									383,719	293,690	293,543
Production Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									418,525	372,781	348,363
Technical Solutions [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									270,365	272,422	284,176
Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									1,749,969	1,594,140	1,162,244
Services [Member] | Drilling Products And Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									101,969	81,788	77,628
Services [Member] | Onshore Completion and Workover Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									1,015,908	903,048	503,777
Services [Member] | Production Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									381,957	354,445	308,226
Services [Member] | Technical Solutions [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									250,135	254,859	272,613
Rentals [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									380,296	279,936	287,803
Rentals [Member] | Drilling Products And Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									281,750	211,902	215,915
Rentals [Member] | Onshore Completion and Workover Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									41,748	32,135	20,188
Rentals [Member] | Production Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									36,568	18,336	40,137
Rentals [Member] | Technical Solutions [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									$ 20,230	$ 17,563	$ 11,563

Property, Plant and Equipment_2

Property, Plant and Equipment (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Property, Plant And Equipment [Abstract]
Impairment of long lived assets	$ 49,198
Leasehold Improvements, Gross	74,900	$ 73,600
Depreciation	$ 374,500	$ 419,200	$ 486,900

Property, Plant and Equipment_3

Property, Plant and Equipment (Summary Of Property, Plant And Equipment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 3,749,470	$ 4,053,564
Accumulated depreciation and depletion	(2,640,344)	(2,736,620)
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,109,126	1,316,944
Machinery And Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	3,229,793	3,505,171
Buildings, Improvements And Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	278,339	293,133
Automobiles, trucks, tractors and trailers [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	26,522	32,185
Furniture And Fixtures [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	52,045	62,632
Construction in Progress [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	38,119	37,236
Land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	58,047	58,363
Oil and Gas Producing Assets [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 66,605	$ 64,844

Debt (Narrative) (Details)

Debt (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility, borrowing base	$ 249.6
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	52.3
Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2024 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	$ 500
Stated interest rate on unsecured senior notes	7.75%
Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	$ 800
Stated interest rate on unsecured senior notes	7.125%

Debt (Summary Of Long-Term Debt

Debt (Summary Of Long-Term Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,300,000	$ 1,300,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(17,079)	(20,229)
Total debt, net	1,282,921	1,279,771
Senior Unsecured Notes Due September 2024 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	500,000	500,000
Senior Unsecured Notes Due December 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 800,000	$ 800,000

Debt (Schedule Of Maturities Of

Debt (Schedule Of Maturities Of Long-Term Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt [Abstract]
2,019
2,020
2,021	800,000
2,023
Thereafter	500,000
Total	$ 1,300,000	$ 1,300,000

Stock-Based And Long-Term Inc_3

Stock-Based And Long-Term Incentive Compensation (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Stock Based and Long-Term Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Shares available for future grants	5,877,000
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Stock Based and Long-Term Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Share-based payment vesting period, years	3 years
Share-based payment expiration period, years	10 years
Intrinsic value of options exercised	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0.3
Cash received from exercising options	0	0.1	0.5
Tax benefit from exercising stock options	0	$ 0	0.1
Unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested options oustanding	3.3
Compensation expense expected to be recognizes in next year	2.2
Compensation expense expected to be recognized in 2 years	$ 1.1
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Stock Based and Long-Term Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Share-based payment vesting period, years	3 years
Unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested options oustanding	$ 21
Compensation expense expected to be recognizes in next year	13.7
Compensation expense expected to be recognized in 2 years	7
Compensation expense expected to be recognized in 3 years	$ 0.3
Resticted stock granted	2,030,896
Shares outstanding	3,422,436	3,192,000
Performance Share Units [Member]
Stock Based and Long-Term Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Shares outstanding	320,284
Performance period of PSU grant, years	3 years
Portion of equivalent value in common stock of company after meeting service requirements, at discretion of compensation committee	50.00%
Performance Share Units Outstanding, in next year	115,397
Performance Share Units Outstanding, in 2 years	97,044
Performance Share Units Outstanding, in 3 years	107,843
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan [Member]
Stock Based and Long-Term Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Employers Contribution to be received by plan participants, Minimum	5.00%
Employers Contribution to be received by plan participants, Maximum	35.00%
Employers contribution	$ 1.2	$ 0.9	2.2
Distribution to select participants	$ 0	0	1.4
Other Pension Plan [Member]
Stock Based and Long-Term Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Maximum employee contribution to be matched by employer	4.00%
Maximum empoyee contribution	75.00%
Company contribution, percent	100.00%
Company discretionary contributions	$ 10	$ 8.4	$ 8.7
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans [Member]
Stock Based and Long-Term Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Maximum portion of base salary to defer under non-qualified deferred compensation plan	75.00%
Maximum portion of bonus to defer under non-qualified deferred compensation plan	100.00%
Non-employee cash deferred to non-qualified compensation plan	100.00%
Maximum of cash portion of PSU compensation to defer under non-qualified deferred compensation plan	100.00%

Stock-Based And Long-Term Inc_4

Stock-Based And Long-Term Incentive Compensation (Summary Of Compensation Expense and Tax Benefits) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Compensation expense	$ 30,987	$ 35,928	$ 40,181
Related income taxes	7,189	8,335	14,867
Total compensation expense, net of income taxes	23,798	27,593	25,314
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Compensation expense	4,247	4,289	4,870
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Compensation expense			382
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Compensation expense	19,828	21,899	24,762
Performance Share Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Compensation expense	$ 6,912	$ 9,740	$ 10,167

Stock-Based And Long-Term Inc_5

Stock-Based And Long-Term Incentive Compensation (Summary Of The Valuation Assumptions Used To Calculate The Fair Value Of Stock Option Grants) (Details) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Weighted average fair value of stock options granted	$ 5.61	$ 8.36	$ 3.61
Black-Scholes-Merton Assumptions:
Risk free interest rate	2.43%	1.96%	1.46%
Expected life (years)	6 years	6 years	5 years
Volatility	51.21%	48.22%	55.72%
Dividend yield			3.28%

Stock-Based And Long-Term Inc_6

Stock-Based And Long-Term Incentive Compensation (Summary Of Stock Option Activity) (Details) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Summarization of stock option activity
Number of options outstanding, beginning	6,138,653
Number of options granted	567,967
Number of options expired	(271,167)
Number of options outstanding, ending	6,435,453	6,138,653
Number of options exercisable	5,022,592
Number of options expected to vest	1,412,861
Weighted average option price outstanding, beginning	$ 18.75
Weighted average option price granted	11.04
Weighted average option price expired	14.10
Weighted average option price outstanding, ending	18.27	$ 18.75
Weighted average option price exercisable	20.13
Weighted average option price expected to vest	$ 11.65
Weighted average remaining contractual term, outstanding	5 years	5 years 4 months 24 days
Weighted average remaining contractual term, exercisable	4 years 2 months 12 days
Weighted average remaining contractual term, expected to vest	8 years

Stock-Based And Long-Term Inc_7

Stock-Based And Long-Term Incentive Compensation (Summary Of Non-Vested Stock Option Activity) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018$ / sharesshares
Number of Options
Beginning balance | shares	1,748,933
Granted | shares	567,967
Vested | shares	(904,039)
Ending balance | shares	1,412,861
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Beginning balance | $ / shares	$ 12.18
Granted | $ / shares	11.04
Vested | $ / shares	12.30
Ending balance | $ / shares	$ 8

Stock-Based And Long-Term Inc_8

Stock-Based And Long-Term Incentive Compensation (Summary Of Activity Of Restricted Stock Units) (Details) - Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018$ / sharesshares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Beginning balance | shares	3,192,000
Granted | shares	2,030,896
Shares, vested | shares	(1,534,153)
Shares, fofeited | shares	(266,307)
Ending balance | shares	3,422,436
Weighted average grant date fair value, beginning balance | $ / shares	$ 14.87
Weighted average grant date fair value, granted | $ / shares	11.31
Weighted average grant date fair value, vested | $ / shares	14.26
Weighted average grant date fair value, forfeited | $ / shares	12.51
Weighted average grant date fair value, ending balance | $ / shares	$ 13.22

Stock-Based And Long-Term Inc_9

Stock-Based And Long-Term Incentive Compensation (Schedule Of ESPP Activity) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Cash received for shares issued	$ 2,625	$ 3,074	$ 3,681
Compensation expense	$ 30,987	$ 35,928	$ 40,181
Shares issued	550,950	360,465	290,987
2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan Member
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Compensation expense	$ 463	$ 542	$ 1,492

Stock-Based And Long-Term In_10

Stock-Based And Long-Term Incentive Compensation (Schedule Of Deferred Compensation Balances) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Stock-Based And Long-Term Incentive Compensation [Abstract]
Deferred compensation assets	$ 13,306	$ 14,187
Deferred compensation liabilities, short-term	1,138	1,253
Deferred compensation liabilities, long-term	$ 19,766	$ 21,085

Income Taxes (Narrative) (Detai

Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Reduction in value of goodwill	$ 668,838		$ 330,500
Effect on permanent book-tax basis difference	548,800
Effect on book-tax temporary basis difference	102,000
Goodwill impairment, amortization expense	$ 18,000
U.S. Federal income tax rate	21.00%	35.00%
U.S. Tax Reform		$ 76,529
Income tax rate on repatriated earnings, cash items	15.50%
Income tax rate on repatriated earnings, other assets	8.00%
Net operating loss carryforwards	$ 222,800
Limitation on operating loss carryforward usage as percent of taxable income	80.00%
Deferred tax assets, various state	$ 24,600
Foreign tax credit carryforward	54,500
Unrecorded tax benefits	30,558	30,656	29,956	$ 29,715
Interest and penalties recorded	0	2,200	2,500
Interest and penalties accrued	9,700	$ 9,700	$ 7,400
Increase in valuation allowance	$ 16,800

Income Taxes (Schedule Of Compo

Income Taxes (Schedule Of Components Of Income And Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Domestic	$ (880,988)	$ (336,095)	$ (1,097,109)
Foreign	(21,831)	(41,656)	(3,232)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	$ (902,819)	$ (377,751)	$ (1,100,341)

Income Taxes (Schedule Of Com_2

Income Taxes (Schedule Of Components Of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations [Abstract]
Current, federal			$ (101,578)
Current, state	$ 2,118	$ (750)	(159)
Current, foreign	14,856	9,137	19,156
Current, total	16,974	8,387	(82,581)
Deferred, federal	(68,469)	(201,768)	(179,721)
Deferred, state	(4,161)	6,109	(9,348)
Deferred, foreign	10,223	(3,468)	4,649
Deferred income taxes	(62,407)	(199,127)	(184,420)
Income tax benefit	$ (45,433)	$ (190,740)	$ (267,001)

Income Taxes (Schedule Of Effec

Income Taxes (Schedule Of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Income Tax Reconciliation [Abstract]
Computed expected tax benefit	$ (189,592)	$ (132,213)	$ (385,119)
State and foreign income taxes	10,437	16,437	(8,038)
Reduction in value of assets	115,253		115,725
U.S. Tax Reform		(76,529)
Other	18,469	1,565	10,431
Income tax benefit	$ (45,433)	$ (190,740)	$ (267,001)

Income Taxes (Schedule Of Defer

Income Taxes (Schedule Of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Deferred tax assets:
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 856	$ 5,717
Operating loss and tax credit carryforwards	146,926	118,687
Compensation and employee benefits	38,006	38,261
Decommissioning liabilities	27,979	26,875
Other	25,331	28,807
Deferred tax assets, gross	239,098	218,347
Valuation allowance	(25,571)	(8,722)
Net deferred tax assets	213,527	209,625
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment	146,971	177,231
Notes receivable	12,977	12,977
Goodwill and other intangible assets	38,955	64,746
Other	14,624	15,729
Deferred tax liabilities	$ 213,527	270,683
Net deferred tax liability		$ 61,058

Income Taxes (Summary Of Activi

Income Taxes (Summary Of Activity In Unrecognized Tax Benefits) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Unrecognized tax benefits at beginning of period	$ 30,656	$ 29,956	$ 29,715
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years	1,899	5,576	6,874
Reductions based on tax positions related to prior years	(1,864)	(4,671)	(3,582)
Reductions as a result of a lapse of the applicable statute of limitations	(133)	(205)	(3,051)
Unrecognized tax benefits at end of period	$ 30,558	$ 30,656	$ 29,956

Segment Information (Schedule O

Segment Information (Schedule Of Segment Reporting Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 539,331	$ 573,068	$ 535,548	$ 482,318	$ 497,043	$ 506,029	$ 470,068	$ 400,936	$ 2,130,265	$ 1,874,076	$ 1,450,047
Costs (exclusive of depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion)	384,445	404,389	369,810	343,460	356,628	368,279	351,802	321,986	1,502,104	1,398,695	1,123,274
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	97,264	$ 99,892	$ 97,973	$ 105,719	107,565	108,751	$ 108,119	$ 114,281	400,848	438,716	509,971
General and administrative expenses									289,252	295,507	346,606
Reduction in value of assets	$ 739,725				$ 4,202	$ 9,953			739,725	14,155	500,405
Income (loss) from operations									(801,664)	(272,997)	(1,030,209)
Interest expense, net									(99,477)	(101,455)	(92,753)
Other expense									(1,678)	(3,299)	22,621
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(902,819)	(377,751)	(1,100,341)
Drilling Products And Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									383,719	293,690	293,543
Costs (exclusive of depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion)									148,019	128,381	136,719
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion									112,111	131,394	159,937
General and administrative expenses									53,688	51,265	64,182
Reduction in value of assets										1,356	48,903
Income (loss) from operations									69,901	(18,706)	(116,198)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									69,901	(18,706)	(116,198)
Onshore Completion And Workover Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									1,057,656	935,183	523,965
Costs (exclusive of depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion)									846,907	791,581	515,784
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion									190,592	193,098	207,038
General and administrative expenses									37,170	44,766	48,837
Reduction in value of assets									644,813	4,684	190,835
Income (loss) from operations									(661,826)	(98,946)	(438,529)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(661,826)	(98,946)	(438,529)
Production Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									418,525	372,781	348,363
Costs (exclusive of depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion)									342,420	303,256	276,223
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion									66,993	78,999	93,878
General and administrative expenses									41,499	48,655	49,687
Reduction in value of assets									92,252		235,067
Income (loss) from operations									(124,639)	(58,129)	(306,492)
Interest expense, net											(1,343)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(124,639)	(58,129)	(307,835)
Technical Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									270,365	272,422	284,176
Costs (exclusive of depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion)									164,758	175,477	194,548
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion									25,653	29,506	42,393
General and administrative expenses									57,600	51,679	65,299
Reduction in value of assets										8,115	25,600
Income (loss) from operations									22,354	7,645	(43,664)
Interest expense, net									3,915	3,567	3,553
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									26,269	11,212	(40,111)
Corporate And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion									5,499	5,719	6,725
General and administrative expenses									99,295	99,142	118,601
Reduction in value of assets									2,660
Income (loss) from operations									(107,454)	(104,861)	(125,326)
Interest expense, net									(103,392)	(105,022)	(94,963)
Other expense									(1,678)	(3,299)	22,621
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									$ (212,524)	$ (213,182)	$ (197,668)

Segment Information (Schedule_2

Segment Information (Schedule Of Identifiable Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	$ 2,215,962	$ 3,110,225	$ 3,470,255
Drilling Products And Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	587,264	662,968	824,287
Onshore Completion And Workover Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	808,037	1,501,214	1,534,008
Production Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	434,430	512,256	598,167
Technical Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	340,161	377,549	439,521
Corporate And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	$ 46,070	$ 56,238	$ 74,272

Segment Information (Schedule_3

Segment Information (Schedule Of Capital Expenditures, By Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures	$ 221,370	$ 164,933	$ 80,548
Drilling Products And Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures	46,649	27,219	35,413
Onshore Completion And Workover Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures	147,793	115,415	20,094
Production Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures	8,651	7,860	20,848
Technical Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures	16,221	13,296	3,829
Corporate And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures	$ 2,056	$ 1,143	$ 364

Segment Information (Schedule_4

Segment Information (Schedule Of Revenues By Geographic Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 539,331	$ 573,068	$ 535,548	$ 482,318	$ 497,043	$ 506,029	$ 470,068	$ 400,936	$ 2,130,265	$ 1,874,076	$ 1,450,047
Long-lived assets	1,109,126				1,316,944				1,109,126	1,316,944
United States [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues									1,788,478	1,566,260	1,080,513
Long-lived assets	903,520				1,064,823				903,520	1,064,823
International [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues									341,787	307,816	$ 369,534
Long-lived assets	$ 205,606				$ 252,121				$ 205,606	$ 252,121

Fair Value Measurements (Summar

Fair Value Measurements (Summary Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Measured At Fair Value On Recurring Basis) (Details) - Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 1,084,711	$ 1,346,985
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Assets [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Intangible and other long-term assets	13,306	14,187
Non Qualified Deferred Compensation Liabilities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Accounts payable	1,138	1,253
Other long-term liabilities	19,766	21,085
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total debt	1,084,711	1,346,985
Level 1 [Member] | Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Assets [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Intangible and other long-term assets	376	370
Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total debt
Level 2 [Member] | Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Assets [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Intangible and other long-term assets	12,930	13,817
Level 2 [Member] | Non Qualified Deferred Compensation Liabilities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Accounts payable	1,138	1,253
Other long-term liabilities	19,766	21,085
Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total debt
Level 3 [Member] | Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Assets [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Intangible and other long-term assets
Level 3 [Member] | Non Qualified Deferred Compensation Liabilities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Accounts payable
Other long-term liabilities

Fair Value Measurements (Fair V

Fair Value Measurements (Fair Value Measurements Used in Testing) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2016
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]
Fair Value, Property, plant and equipment, net	$ 65,441
Impairment, Property, plant and equipment, net	49,198
Impairment, Goodwill	668,838	$ 330,500
Impairment, Intangible assets	$ 21,689

Commitments And Contingencies (

Commitments And Contingencies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]
Rent expense	$ 53.9	$ 15.3	$ 24.1
2,018	30.8
2,019	24.3
2,020	16.6
2,021	9.8
2,022	$ 6.9

Reduction in Value of Assets (N

Reduction in Value of Assets (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Asset Impairment Charges [Line Items]
Retirments of long-lived assets						$ 26,102
Reduction in value of long-lived assets				$ 70,887	$ 14,155	143,803
Reduction in value of goodwill				668,838		330,500
Reduction in value of assets	$ 739,725	$ 4,202	$ 9,953	739,725	14,155	500,405
Reduction in value of assets related to sale of a business				2,600
Drilling Products And Services [Member]
Asset Impairment Charges [Line Items]
Retirments of long-lived assets						26,100
Reduction in value of assets					1,356	48,903
Impairment of Property, Plant and Equipment						25,000
Technical Solutions [Member]
Asset Impairment Charges [Line Items]
Reduction in value of long-lived assets					8,100
Reduction in value of assets					8,115	25,600
Impairment of Property, Plant and Equipment					25,600
Production Services [Member]
Asset Impairment Charges [Line Items]
Reduction in value of goodwill				85,288		190,500
Reduction in value of assets				92,252		235,067
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)				1,900		21,000
Impairment of Property, Plant and Equipment				5,100		21,400
Onshore Completion And Workover Services [Member]
Asset Impairment Charges [Line Items]
Reduction in value of long-lived assets					6,100
Reduction in value of goodwill				583,550		140,000
Reduction in value of assets				644,813	$ 4,684	190,835
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)				19,800		45,900
Impairment of Property, Plant and Equipment				$ 41,400		$ 4,900

Reduction in Value of Assets (C

Reduction in Value of Assets (Components of the Expense) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Reduction In Value Of Assets [Abstract]
Reduction in value of goodwill				$ 668,838		$ 330,500
Reduction in value of long-lived assets				70,887	$ 14,155	143,803
Retirments of long-lived assets						26,102
Total reduction in value of assets	$ 739,725	$ 4,202	$ 9,953	$ 739,725	$ 14,155	$ 500,405

Discontinued Operations (Narrat

Discontinued Operations (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Loss from discontinued operations	$ 0.7	$ 18.9	$ 53.6
Subsea Construction Marine Vessels [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Loss from discontinued operations	$ 0.8

Discontinued Operations (Assets

Discontinued Operations (Assets And Liabilities of Disposal Groups) (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Classified Balance Sheet Disclosures [Abstract]
Current assets	$ 3,144
Property, plant and equipment, net	10,500
Total assets	13,644
Current liabilities	$ 6,463

Supplemental Guarantor Inform_3

Supplemental Guarantor Information (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Subsidiary ownership	100.00%
Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2024 [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Unsecured senior notes	$ 500,000,000
Stated interest rate on unsecured senior notes	7.75%

Supplemental Guarantor Inform_4

Supplemental Guarantor Information (Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 158,050	$ 172,000
Accounts receivable, net	447,353	398,056
Income taxes receivable		959
Other current assets	167,502	176,160
Assets held for sale		13,644
Total current assets	772,905	760,819
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,109,126	1,316,944
Goodwill	136,788	807,860	$ 803,917
Notes receivable	63,993	60,149
Restricted cash	5,698	20,483
Intangible and other long-term assets, net	127,452	143,970
Total assets	2,215,962	3,110,225	3,470,255
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	139,325	119,716
Accrued expenses	219,180	221,757
Income taxes payable	734
Current portion of decommissioning liabilities	3,538	27,261
Liabilities held for sale		6,463
Total current liabilities	362,777	375,197
Deferred income taxes		61,058
Decommissioning liabilities	126,558	103,136
Long-term debt, net	1,282,921	1,279,771
Other long-term liabilities	152,967	158,634
Total stockholders' equity	290,739	1,132,429	$ 1,303,920	$ 2,210,812
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,215,962	3,110,225
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Accounts receivable, net		(5,235)
Intercompany accounts receivable	(90,674)	(70,700)
Total current assets	(90,674)	(75,935)
Long term intercompany accounts receivable	(4,417,627)	(4,431,595)
Equity investments of consolidated subsidiaries	(1,808,232)	(3,399,556)
Total assets	(6,316,533)	(7,907,086)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		(5,235)
Intercompany accounts payable	(90,674)	(70,700)
Total current liabilities	(90,674)	(75,935)
Long-term intercompany accounts payable	(4,417,627)	(4,431,595)
Total stockholders' equity	(1,808,232)	(3,399,556)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	(6,316,533)	(7,907,086)
Parent [Member]
Current assets:
Long term intercompany accounts receivable	2,243,431	2,221,697
Equity investments of consolidated subsidiaries	(1,952,647)	(1,088,736)
Total assets	290,784	1,132,961
Current liabilities:
Accrued expenses	45	532
Total current liabilities	45	532
Total stockholders' equity	290,739	1,132,429
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	290,784	1,132,961
Issuer [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	102,224	126,533
Accounts receivable, net	160
Intercompany accounts receivable	12,279	6,460
Other current assets	12,805	11,895
Total current assets	127,468	144,888
Property, plant and equipment, net	10,129	12,055
Equity investments of consolidated subsidiaries	3,754,887	4,481,702
Intangible and other long-term assets, net	19,255	22,118
Total assets	3,911,739	4,660,763
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	8,807	14,339
Accrued expenses	102,845	116,767
Income taxes payable	1,237
Intercompany accounts payable	724	724
Total current liabilities	113,613	131,830
Deferred income taxes		(147,116)
Long-term debt, net	1,282,921	1,279,771
Long-term intercompany accounts payable	4,417,627	4,431,595
Other long-term liabilities	50,225	53,419
Total stockholders' equity	(1,952,647)	(1,088,736)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,911,739	4,660,763
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	707	440
Accounts receivable, net	367,497	332,402
Income taxes receivable		(221)
Intercompany accounts receivable	74,906	58,375
Other current assets	111,560	129,970
Total current assets	554,670	520,966
Property, plant and equipment, net	920,978	1,093,446
Goodwill	80,544	657,099
Notes receivable	63,993	60,149
Long term intercompany accounts receivable	1,991,912	2,032,056
Equity investments of consolidated subsidiaries	5,992	6,590
Restricted cash	5,653	20,483
Intangible and other long-term assets, net	100,847	113,632
Total assets	3,724,589	4,504,421
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	109,903	89,714
Accrued expenses	86,926	80,825
Intercompany accounts payable	6,869	7,918
Current portion of decommissioning liabilities		25,670
Total current liabilities	203,698	204,127
Deferred income taxes		205,386
Decommissioning liabilities	126,558	101,293
Other long-term liabilities	76,543	79,061
Total stockholders' equity	3,317,790	3,914,554
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,724,589	4,504,421
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	55,119	45,027
Accounts receivable, net	79,696	70,889
Income taxes receivable		1,180
Intercompany accounts receivable	3,489	5,865
Other current assets	43,137	34,295
Assets held for sale		13,644
Total current assets	181,441	170,900
Property, plant and equipment, net	178,019	211,443
Goodwill	56,244	150,761
Long term intercompany accounts receivable	182,284	177,842
Restricted cash	45
Intangible and other long-term assets, net	7,350	8,220
Total assets	605,383	719,166
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	20,615	20,898
Accrued expenses	29,364	23,633
Income taxes payable	(503)
Intercompany accounts payable	83,081	62,058
Current portion of decommissioning liabilities	3,538	1,591
Liabilities held for sale		6,463
Total current liabilities	136,095	114,643
Deferred income taxes		2,788
Decommissioning liabilities		1,843
Other long-term liabilities	26,199	26,154
Total stockholders' equity	443,089	573,738
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 605,383	$ 719,166

Supplemental Guarantor Inform_5

Supplemental Guarantor Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 539,331	$ 573,068	$ 535,548	$ 482,318	$ 497,043	$ 506,029	$ 470,068	$ 400,936	$ 2,130,265	$ 1,874,076	$ 1,450,047
Costs (exclusive of depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion)	384,445	404,389	369,810	343,460	356,628	368,279	351,802	321,986	1,502,104	1,398,695	1,123,274
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	97,264	99,892	97,973	105,719	107,565	108,751	108,119	114,281	400,848	438,716	509,971
General and administrative expenses									289,252	295,507	346,606
Reduction in value of assets	739,725				4,202	9,953			739,725	14,155	500,405
Loss from operations									(801,664)	(272,997)	(1,030,209)
Other expense:
Interest expense, net									(99,477)	(101,455)	(92,753)
Other income (expense)									(1,678)	(3,299)	22,621
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(902,819)	(377,751)	(1,100,341)
Income taxes									(45,433)	(190,740)	(267,001)
Net loss from continuing operations	(750,185)	(21,816)	(25,437)	(59,948)	21,878	(57,189)	(62,039)	(89,661)	(857,386)	(187,011)	(833,340)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax			(953)	224	(13,285)	(1,860)	(1,767)	(1,998)	(729)	(18,910)	(53,559)
Net loss	$ (750,185)	$ (21,816)	$ (26,390)	$ (59,724)	$ 8,593	$ (59,049)	$ (63,806)	$ (91,659)	(858,115)	(205,921)	(886,899)
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues									(31,255)	(15,701)	(24,496)
Costs (exclusive of depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion)									(31,255)	(15,701)	(24,496)
Other expense:
Equity in losses of consolidated subsidiaries									1,566,060	283,279	1,625,589
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									1,566,060	283,279	1,625,589
Net loss from continuing operations									1,566,060	283,279	1,625,589
Net loss									1,566,060	283,279	1,625,589
Parent [Member]
Other expense:
Equity in losses of consolidated subsidiaries									(858,115)	(205,921)	(886,899)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(858,115)	(205,921)	(886,899)
Net loss from continuing operations									(858,115)	(205,921)	(886,899)
Net loss									(858,115)	(205,921)	(886,899)
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Costs (exclusive of depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion)									(13,265)	(4,123)	6,582
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion									3,945	4,149	4,592
General and administrative expenses									95,725	86,840	117,781
Loss from operations									(86,405)	(86,866)	(128,955)
Other expense:
Interest expense, net									(103,594)	(105,585)	(95,040)
Other income (expense)									71	(1,350)	(4,345)
Equity in losses of consolidated subsidiaries									(707,348)	(76,394)	(738,047)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(897,276)	(270,195)	(966,387)
Income taxes									(39,161)	(64,274)	(79,488)
Net loss from continuing operations									(858,115)	(205,921)	(886,899)
Net loss									(858,115)	(205,921)	(886,899)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues									1,889,751	1,655,114	1,193,233
Costs (exclusive of depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion)									1,355,524	1,242,486	944,349
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion									351,974	383,713	452,180
General and administrative expenses									142,451	152,076	176,430
Reduction in value of assets									647,441	6,038	486,976
Loss from operations									(607,639)	(129,199)	(866,702)
Other expense:
Interest expense, net									3,950	4,451	3,425
Other income (expense)									1,014	202	196
Equity in losses of consolidated subsidiaries									(597)	(964)	(643)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(603,272)	(125,510)	(863,724)
Income taxes									(6,554)	(118,347)	(189,850)
Net loss from continuing operations									(596,718)	(7,163)	(673,874)
Net loss									(596,718)	(7,163)	(673,874)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues									271,769	234,663	281,310
Costs (exclusive of depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion)									191,100	176,033	196,839
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion									44,929	50,854	53,199
General and administrative expenses									51,076	56,591	52,395
Reduction in value of assets									92,284	8,117	13,429
Loss from operations									(107,620)	(56,932)	(34,552)
Other expense:
Interest expense, net									167	(321)	(1,138)
Other income (expense)									(2,763)	(2,151)	26,770
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(110,216)	(59,404)	(8,920)
Income taxes									282	(8,119)	2,337
Net loss from continuing operations									(110,498)	(51,285)	(11,257)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax									(729)	(18,910)	(53,559)
Net loss									$ (111,227)	$ (70,195)	$ (64,816)

Supplemental Guarantor Inform_6

Supplemental Guarantor Information (Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net loss	$ (750,185)	$ (21,816)	$ (26,390)	$ (59,724)	$ 8,593	$ (59,049)	$ (63,806)	$ (91,659)	$ (858,115)	$ (205,921)	$ (886,899)
Change in cumulative translation adjustment, net of tax									(5,750)	12,821	(34,554)
Comprehensive loss									(863,865)	(193,100)	(921,453)
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net loss									1,566,060	283,279	1,625,589
Change in cumulative translation adjustment, net of tax									11,500	(25,642)	69,108
Comprehensive loss									1,577,560	257,637	1,694,697
Parent [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net loss									(858,115)	(205,921)	(886,899)
Change in cumulative translation adjustment, net of tax									(5,750)	12,821	(34,554)
Comprehensive loss									(863,865)	(193,100)	(921,453)
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net loss									(858,115)	(205,921)	(886,899)
Change in cumulative translation adjustment, net of tax									(5,750)	12,821	(34,554)
Comprehensive loss									(863,865)	(193,100)	(921,453)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net loss									(596,718)	(7,163)	(673,874)
Comprehensive loss									(596,718)	(7,163)	(673,874)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net loss									(111,227)	(70,195)	(64,816)
Change in cumulative translation adjustment, net of tax									(5,750)	12,821	(34,554)
Comprehensive loss									$ (116,977)	$ (57,374)	$ (99,370)

Supplemental Guarantor Inform_7

Supplemental Guarantor Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 165,057	$ 96,426	$ 61,252
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for capital expenditures	(221,370)	(164,933)	(80,548)
Proceeds from sales of assets	33,299	28,269	7,515
Other		28,269	6,501
Net cash used in investing activities	(188,071)	(136,664)	(74,047)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from revolving line of credit			325,123
Payments on revolving credit facility			(325,123)
Proceeds from long-term debt		500,000
Principal payments on long-term debt		(500,000)	(337,576)
Payment of debt issuance costs		(11,967)	(2,711)
Dividends paid		(11,967)	(12,111)
Other	(2,586)	(5,058)	(3,082)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(2,586)	(17,025)	(355,480)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(3,135)	3,654	(7,959)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(28,735)	(53,609)	(376,234)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period	192,483	246,092	622,326
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	163,748	192,483	246,092
Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(3,283)		(75,767)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid	3,283		75,767
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	3,283		75,767
Parent [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	23,866	26,221	29,149
Cash flows from financing activities:
Changes in notes with affiliated companies, net	(21,734)	(21,163)	(13,956)
Dividends paid			(12,111)
Other	(2,132)	(5,058)	(3,082)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(23,866)	(26,221)	(29,149)
Issuer [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(2,013)	3,369	(139,666)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for capital expenditures	(2,055)	(1,041)	(405)
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,055)	(1,041)	(405)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from revolving line of credit			325,123
Payments on revolving credit facility			(325,123)
Proceeds from long-term debt		500,000
Principal payments on long-term debt		(500,000)	(325,000)
Payment of debt issuance costs			(2,711)
Changes in notes with affiliated companies, net	(19,787)	8,727	185,950
Dividends paid		(11,967)
Other	(454)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(20,241)	(3,240)	(141,761)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(24,309)	(912)	(281,832)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period	126,533	127,445	409,277
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	102,224	126,533	127,445
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	150,510	89,739	248,627
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for capital expenditures	(207,640)	(148,738)	(64,478)
Proceeds from sales of assets	20,003
Other		23,485	6,501
Net cash used in investing activities	(187,637)	(125,253)	(57,977)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Changes in notes with affiliated companies, net	22,564	4,648	(127,595)
Dividends paid			(73,017)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	22,564	4,648	(200,612)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(14,563)	(30,866)	(9,962)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period	20,923	51,789	61,751
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	6,360	20,923	51,789
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(4,023)	(22,903)	(1,091)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for capital expenditures	(11,675)	(15,154)	(15,665)
Proceeds from sales of assets	13,296
Other		4,784
Net cash used in investing activities	1,621	(10,370)	(15,665)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on long-term debt			(12,576)
Changes in notes with affiliated companies, net	18,957	7,788	(44,399)
Dividends paid	(3,283)		(2,750)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	15,674	7,788	(59,725)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(3,135)	3,654	(7,959)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	10,137	(21,831)	(84,440)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period	45,027	66,858	151,298
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	$ 55,164	$ 45,027	$ 66,858

Interim Financial Information_2

Interim Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 539,331	$ 573,068	$ 535,548	$ 482,318	$ 497,043	$ 506,029	$ 470,068	$ 400,936	$ 2,130,265	$ 1,874,076	$ 1,450,047
Costs (exclusive of depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion)	384,445	404,389	369,810	343,460	356,628	368,279	351,802	321,986	1,502,104	1,398,695	1,123,274
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion	97,264	99,892	97,973	105,719	107,565	108,751	108,119	114,281	400,848	438,716	509,971
Gross Profit	57,622	68,787	67,765	33,139	32,850	28,999	10,147	(35,331)
Reduction in value of assets	739,725				4,202	9,953			739,725	14,155	500,405
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(750,185)	(21,816)	(25,437)	(59,948)	21,878	(57,189)	(62,039)	(89,661)	(857,386)	(187,011)	(833,340)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax			(953)	224	(13,285)	(1,860)	(1,767)	(1,998)	(729)	(18,910)	(53,559)
Net loss	$ (750,185)	$ (21,816)	$ (26,390)	$ (59,724)	$ 8,593	$ (59,049)	$ (63,806)	$ (91,659)	$ (858,115)	$ (205,921)	$ (886,899)
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Continuing operations, basic					$ 0.14	$ (0.37)	$ (0.41)	$ (0.59)
Continuing operations, diluted					0.14	(0.37)	(0.41)	(0.59)
Discontinued operations, basic					(0.08)	(0.02)	(0.01)	(0.01)
Discontinued operations, diluted					$ (0.08)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)

Valuation and Qualifying Acco_2

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance, Beginning Balance	$ 29,037	$ 29,740	$ 28,242
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged to Costs and Expenses	3,569	4,254	7,825
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions	20,526	4,957	6,327
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance, Ending Balance	$ 12,080	$ 29,037	$ 29,740