Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 1,108,134	$ 682,134
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(9,567)	(27,695)
Sales and maturities of investments	24,580	32,103
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	(55,459)	(680,230)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(54,762)	(40,936)
Distribution of proceeds from asset sales from unconsolidated affiliates	142,984
Capital expenditures	(1,532,597)	(640,953)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	110,535	26,084
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,374,286)	(1,331,627)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	5,074	(4,649)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	697,578	691,281
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net	12,175	5,391
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities	1,300,000	600,000
Debt issuance costs	(6,065)	(7,144)
Reduction in long-term debt	(1,404,271)	(314,353)
Reduction in revolving credit facilities	(700,000)	(600,000)
Repurchase of equity component of convertible debt	(12)	(4,712)
Settlement of call options and warrants, net		1,134
Purchase of restricted stock	(2,579)	(1,904)
Tax benefit related to share-based awards	185	(38)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(97,915)	365,006
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(2,174)	(3,645)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(366,241)	(288,132)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	641,702	927,815
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	275,461	639,683
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor) [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	6,163	87,995
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	(25,450)	(99,300)
Net cash used for investing activities	(25,450)	(99,300)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net	12,175	5,391
Purchase of restricted stock	(2,579)	(1,904)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	9,596	3,487
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(9,691)	(7,818)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	10,847	11,702
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,156	3,884
Nabors Delaware (Issuer/Guarantor) [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	227,747	325,427
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	(65,000)	(732,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(65,000)	(732,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	697,578	691,281
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities	1,250,000	600,000
Debt issuance costs	(6,065)	(7,144)
Reduction in long-term debt	(1,404,245)	(274,095)
Reduction in revolving credit facilities	(700,000)	(600,000)
Repurchase of equity component of convertible debt	(12)	(4,712)
Settlement of call options and warrants, net		1,134
Tax benefit related to share-based awards	(1)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(162,745)	406,464
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	2	(109)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	20	135
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	22	26
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	874,224	268,712
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(9,567)	(27,695)
Sales and maturities of investments	24,580	32,103
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	(55,459)	(680,230)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(54,672)	(40,936)
Distribution of proceeds from asset sales from unconsolidated affiliates	142,984
Capital expenditures	(1,532,597)	(640,953)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	110,535	26,084
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,374,286)	(1,331,627)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	5,074	(4,649)
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities	50,000
Reduction in long-term debt		(40,258)
Tax benefit related to share-based awards	186	(38)
Proceeds from parent contributions	90,450	831,300
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	145,684	786,355
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(2,174)	(3,645)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(356,552)	(280,205)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	630,835	915,978
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	274,283	635,773
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	90,450	831,300
Net cash used for investing activities	90,450	831,300
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from parent contributions	(90,450)	(831,300)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(90,450)	(831,300)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 0	$ 0