Debt (Details Textuals) (USD $)	6 Months Ended								6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011 0.94% Senior Exchangeable Notes Due May 2011 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 6.15% Senior Notes Due February 2018 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 9.25% Senior Notes Due January 2019 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 5.375% Senior Notes Due August 2012 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 5.00% senior notes due September 2020 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 New Facility [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Nabors Delaware (Issuer/Guarantor) [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Consolidated Subsidiary [Member]
Debt (Textuals) [Abstract]
Interest rate on senior note due		0.94%	6.15%	9.25%	5.375%	5.00%
Remaining aggregate principal amount		$ 1,400,000,000
Borrowings under revolving credit facilities		1,200,000,000
Weighted average interest rate on revolving credit facilities							1.80%
Increase in aggregate principal amount of commitments									200,000,000
Unsecured revolving credit facility							1,400,000,000
Unsecured revolving credit facility borrowing capacity							200,000,000
Revolving Credit facility Interest Rate Description									Borrowings under the senior unsecured revolving credit facilities bear interest, at Nabor’s option, for either (x) the “Base Rate” (as defined below) plus the applicable interest margin, calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 365 days and payable quarterly in arrears or (y) interest periods of one, two, three or six months at an annual rate equal to the LIBOR for the corresponding deposits of U.S. dollars, plus the applicable interest margin.
Revolving Credit facility Base Rate Description									The “Base Rate” is defined, for any day, as a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Rate, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, plus 1/2 of 1%, (ii) the prime commercial lending rate of the administrative agent, as established from time to time and (iii) LIBOR for an interest period of one month beginning on such day plus 1%
Additional unsecured revolving credit facility	$ 1,150,000,000						$ 2,103,000	$ 2,676,000		$ 1,350,000,000	$ 50,000,000
Maturity period of revolving credit facility	September, 2014