Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$ 1,354,905	$ 896,029	$ 2,736,184	$ 1,787,375
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	9,307	8,845	25,581	16,487
Investment income (loss)	(969)	2,314	11,318	(243)
Total revenues and other income	1,363,243	907,188	2,773,083	1,803,619
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	835,112	517,531	1,693,483	1,022,728
General and administrative expenses	125,648	80,337	244,106	155,763
Depreciation and amortization	225,912	175,397	452,014	346,933
Depletion	2,698	4,841	6,271	9,868
Interest expense	63,739	65,293	137,663	132,062
Losses (gains) on sales and retirements of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	5,572	11,024	11,601	31,391
Total costs and other deductions	1,258,681	854,423	2,545,138	1,698,745
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	104,562	52,765	227,945	104,874
Income tax expense (benefit)	35,664	8,794	73,971	17,384
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	750		1,500
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	68,148	43,971	152,474	87,490
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	123,906	(909)	121,736	(5,330)
Net income (loss)	192,054	43,062	274,210	82,160
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	394	559	1,063	1,661
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	192,448	43,621	275,273	83,821
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor) [Member]
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	195,770	40,070	281,564	74,016
Investment income (loss)	1	3	4	7
Total revenues and other income	195,771	40,073	281,568	74,023
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	3,120	1,573	5,993	3,783
Losses (gains) on sales and retirements of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	203	(5,121)	302	(13,581)
Total costs and other deductions	3,323	(3,548)	6,295	(9,798)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	192,448	43,621	275,273	83,821
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	192,448	43,621	275,273	83,821
Net income (loss)	192,448	43,621	275,273	83,821
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	192,448	43,621	275,273	83,821
Nabors Delaware (Issuer/Guarantor) [Member]
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	18,971	54,499	78,864	72,275
Investment income (loss)	68		68
Intercompany interest income	17,405	17,828	36,089	35,943
Total revenues and other income	36,444	72,327	115,021	108,218
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	49	108	90	179
Depreciation and amortization	871	700	1,742	1,561
Interest expense	69,059	67,516	146,408	137,715
Losses (gains) on sales and retirements of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	(344)	9,781	(808)	21,292
Total costs and other deductions	69,635	78,105	147,432	160,747
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(33,191)	(5,778)	(32,411)	(52,529)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(19,300)	(22,302)	(41,172)	(46,177)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(13,891)	16,524	8,761	(6,352)
Net income (loss)	(13,891)	16,524	8,761	(6,352)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(13,891)	16,524	8,761	(6,352)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) [Member]
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	1,354,905	896,029	2,736,184	1,787,375
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	9,307	8,845	25,581	16,487
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(7,481)	23,802	22,177	8,010
Investment income (loss)	(1,038)	2,311	11,246	(250)
Total revenues and other income	1,355,693	930,987	2,795,188	1,811,622
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	835,112	517,531	1,693,483	1,022,728
General and administrative expenses	122,683	78,838	238,325	152,073
Depreciation and amortization	225,041	174,697	450,272	345,372
Depletion	2,698	4,841	6,271	9,868
Interest expense	(5,320)	(2,223)	(8,745)	(5,653)
Intercompany interest expense	17,405	17,828	36,089	35,943
Losses (gains) on sales and retirements of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	5,509	6,182	11,805	23,408
Total costs and other deductions	1,203,128	797,694	2,427,500	1,583,739
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	152,565	133,293	367,688	227,883
Income tax expense (benefit)	54,964	31,096	115,143	63,561
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	750		1,500
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	96,851	102,197	251,045	164,322
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	123,906	(909)	121,736	(5,330)
Net income (loss)	220,757	101,288	372,781	158,992
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	394	559	1,063	1,661
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	221,151	101,847	373,844	160,653
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(207,260)	(118,371)	(382,605)	(154,301)
Intercompany interest income	(17,405)	(17,828)	(36,089)	(35,943)
Total revenues and other income	(224,665)	(136,199)	(418,694)	(190,244)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	(204)	(182)	(302)	(272)
Intercompany interest expense	(17,405)	(17,828)	(36,089)	(35,943)
Losses (gains) on sales and retirements of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	204	182	302	272
Total costs and other deductions	(17,405)	(17,828)	(36,089)	(35,943)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(207,260)	(118,371)	(382,605)	(154,301)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(207,260)	(118,371)	(382,605)	(154,301)
Net income (loss)	(207,260)	(118,371)	(382,605)	(154,301)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (207,260)	$ (118,371)	$ (382,605)	$ (154,301)