Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Interim Financial Information

Interim Financial Information

The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Nabors are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted. Therefore, these financial statements should be read along with our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (“2010 Annual Report”). In management’s opinion, the consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly our financial position as of September 30, 2011 and the results of our operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, and our cash flows and changes in equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, in accordance with GAAP. Interim results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 may not be indicative of results that will be realized for the full year ending December 31, 2011.

Our independent registered public accounting firm has reviewed and issued a report on these consolidated interim financial statements in accordance with standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. Pursuant to Rule 436(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this report should not be considered a part of any registration statement prepared or certified within the meanings of Sections 7 and 11 of such Act.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Nabors, as well as all majority owned and non-majority owned subsidiaries required to be consolidated under GAAP. Our consolidated financial statements exclude majority owned entities for which we do not have either (i) the ability to control the operating and financial decisions and policies of that entity or (ii) a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Investments in operating entities where we have the ability to exert significant influence, but where we do not control operating and financial policies, are accounted for using the equity method. Our share of the net income (loss) of these entities is recorded as earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates in our consolidated statements of income (loss), and our investment in these entities is included as a single amount in our consolidated balance sheets. Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using the equity method totaled $320.5 million and $265.8 million and investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using the cost method totaled $2.5 million and $1.9 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, assets held for sale included investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using the equity method totaling $13.6 million and $79.5 million, respectively. See Note 11 Discontinued Operations for additional information.

We have investments in offshore funds, which are classified as long-term investments and are accounted for using the equity method of accounting based on our ownership interest in each fund.

Goodwill

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the cost in excess of fair value of the net assets of companies acquired. We review goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) to clarify the application of some of the existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements. These changes are effective for interim and annual periods that begin after December 15, 2011. We are currently evaluating the impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued an ASU relating to the presentation of other comprehensive income (“OCI”). This ASU does not change the items that are reported in OCI, but does remove the option to present the components of OCI within the statement of changes in equity. In addition, this ASU will require OCI presentation on the face of the financial statements. These changes are effective for interim and annual periods that begin after December 15, 2011, and are applied retrospectively to all periods presented. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact that this ASU may have on our consolidated financial statements.

In September 2011, the FASB issued a revised ASU relating to goodwill impairment tests. An entity is allowed to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. An entity is not required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines, based on its qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that the fair value is less than its carrying amount. The amendment is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 and early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact that this ASU may have on our consolidated financial statements.