Note 8 - Segment Information - Segment Data (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenue from external customers	$ 501,082,000		$ 610,521,000		$ 1,011,851,000	$ 1,163,521,000
Inter-segment revenues	0		0		0	0
Depreciation and amortization	58,093,000		54,387,000		117,849,000	100,730,000
Operating income (loss)	(110,480,000)		30,894,000		(133,251,000)	51,236,000
Net income (loss)	(110,306,000)	$ (23,573,000)	28,496,000	$ 20,594,000	(133,879,000)	49,090,000
Adjusted EBITDA	51,980,000		91,914,000		101,537,000	170,472,000
Capital expenditures	42,932,000		92,762,000		91,273,000	155,790,000
Total assets	1,330,087,000				1,330,087,000		$ 1,424,454,000
Corporate and Eliminations [Member]
Revenue from external customers	0		0		0	0
Inter-segment revenues	(103,000)		(265,000)		(206,000)	(432,000)
Depreciation and amortization	1,868,000		1,303,000		3,654,000	2,462,000
Operating income (loss)	(27,734,000)		(29,515,000)		(53,109,000)	(63,834,000)
Net income (loss)	(27,373,000)		(30,764,000)		(53,707,000)	(65,078,000)
Adjusted EBITDA	(16,056,000)		(23,581,000)		(34,342,000)	(48,714,000)
Capital expenditures	6,977,000		877,000		10,088,000	932,000
Total assets	204,362,000				204,362,000		227,354,000
Completion Services [Member]
Revenue from external customers	322,423,000		412,895,000		649,522,000	787,040,000
Completion Services [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member]
Revenue from external customers	322,423,000		412,895,000		649,522,000	787,040,000
Inter-segment revenues	73,000		221,000		133,000	283,000
Depreciation and amortization	36,907,000		29,466,000		76,744,000	52,339,000
Operating income (loss)	5,450,000		55,208,000		16,237,000	113,283,000
Net income (loss)	5,138,000		53,953,000		15,741,000	112,096,000
Adjusted EBITDA	47,706,000		84,118,000		102,137,000	165,895,000
Capital expenditures	25,853,000		79,663,000		57,172,000	136,788,000
Total assets	734,455,000				734,455,000		713,738,000
Well Construction & Intervention [Member]
Revenue from external customers	72,709,000		99,086,000		151,802,000	186,503,000
Well Construction & Intervention [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member]
Revenue from external customers	72,709,000		99,086,000		151,802,000	186,503,000
Inter-segment revenues	0		0		0	0
Depreciation and amortization	8,950,000		10,018,000		16,835,000	20,054,000
Operating income (loss)	(83,988,000)		8,311,000		(87,362,000)	13,663,000
Net income (loss)	(84,019,000)		8,538,000		(87,393,000)	13,885,000
Adjusted EBITDA	6,947,000		19,940,000		13,371,000	36,242,000
Capital expenditures	1,920,000		11,234,000		10,675,000	14,876,000
Total assets	160,543,000				160,543,000		249,712,000
Well Support Services [Member]
Revenue from external customers	105,950,000		98,540,000		210,527,000	189,978,000
Well Support Services [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member]
Revenue from external customers	105,950,000		98,540,000		210,527,000	189,978,000
Inter-segment revenues	30,000		44,000		73,000	149,000
Depreciation and amortization	10,368,000		13,600,000		20,616,000	25,875,000
Operating income (loss)	(4,208,000)		(3,110,000)		(9,017,000)	(11,876,000)
Net income (loss)	(4,052,000)		(3,231,000)		(8,520,000)	(11,813,000)
Adjusted EBITDA	13,383,000		11,437,000		20,371,000	17,049,000
Capital expenditures	8,182,000		$ 988,000		13,338,000	$ 3,194,000
Total assets	$ 230,727,000				$ 230,727,000		$ 233,650,000

C&J Energy Services, Inc. 10-Q