Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 869,902	$ 469,909
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(7,945)	(27,988)
Sales and maturities of investments	20,622	27,997
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(29,762)	(10,936)
Distribution of proceeds from asset sales from unconsolidated affiliates	119,207
Capital expenditures	(1,003,245)	(369,455)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	102,067	17,567
Net cash used for investing activities	(799,056)	(362,815)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	11,203	(6,130)
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net	11,622	4,733
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities	1,200,000
Debt issuance costs	(2,188)
Reduction in long-term debt	(1,404,247)	(273,605)
Repurchase of equity component of convertible debt	(14)	(4,712)
Settlement of call options and warrants, net		1,133
Purchase of restricted stock	(2,527)	(1,887)
Tax benefit related to share-based awards	42	(45)
Net cash used for financing activities	(186,109)	(280,513)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	2,383	(6,803)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(112,880)	(180,222)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	641,702	927,815
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	528,822	747,593
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor) [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,044	88,082
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	(19,300)	(88,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(19,300)	(88,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net	11,623	4,733
Purchase of restricted stock	(2,527)	(1,887)
Net cash used for financing activities	9,096	2,846
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(9,160)	2,928
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	10,847	11,702
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,687	14,630
Nabors Delaware (Issuer/Guarantor) [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	256,452	279,825
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities	1,150,000
Debt issuance costs	(2,188)
Reduction in long-term debt	(1,404,247)	(273,605)
Repurchase of equity component of convertible debt	(14)	(4,712)
Settlement of call options and warrants, net		1,133
Tax benefit related to share-based awards	(1)
Net cash used for financing activities	(256,450)	(277,184)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	2	2,641
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	20	135
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	22	2,776
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	612,406	102,002
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(7,945)	(27,988)
Sales and maturities of investments	20,622	27,997
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(29,762)	(10,936)
Distribution of proceeds from asset sales from unconsolidated affiliates	119,207
Capital expenditures	(1,003,245)	(369,455)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	102,067	17,567
Net cash used for investing activities	(799,056)	(362,815)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	11,203	(6,130)
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net	(1)
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities	50,000
Tax benefit related to share-based awards	43	(45)
Proceeds from parent contributions	19,300	88,000
Net cash used for financing activities	80,545	81,825
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	2,383	(6,803)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(103,722)	(185,791)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	630,835	915,978
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	527,113	730,187
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	19,300	88,000
Net cash used for investing activities	19,300	88,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from parent contributions	(19,300)	(88,000)
Net cash used for financing activities	(19,300)	(88,000)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 0	$ 0