Unaudited Quarterly Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Unaudited Quarterly Financial Information
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	$ 1,783,407	$ 1,810,911	$ 1,616,405	$ 1,587,173	$ 1,605,390	$ 1,548,965	$ 1,459,326	$ 1,538,373	$ 6,797,896	$ 6,152,054	$ 6,554,333
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(886,401)	102,430	65,729	48,977	128,516	(90,510)	28,128	92,207	(669,265)	158,341	232,974
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(4,467)	4,005	(1,032)	1,515	23,113	(14,430)	(26,873)	7,011	21	(11,179)	(67,526)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(202)	(387)	(253)	(573)	(1,026)	(441)	(5,616)	(97)	(1,415)	(7,180)	(621)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(891,070)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	106,048us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	64,444us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	49,919us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	150,603us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	(105,381)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	(4,361)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	99,121us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	(670,659)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	139,982us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	164,827us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Earnings (losses) per share:
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (3.06)	$ 0.34	$ 0.21	$ 0.16	$ 0.43	$ (0.30)	$ 0.08	$ 0.31	$ (2.28)	$ 0.51	$ 0.80
Basic from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.02		$ 0.01	$ 0.07	$ (0.05)	$ (0.09)	$ 0.03		$ (0.04)	$ (0.23)
Total Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (3.08)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.36us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.21us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.17us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.50us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ (0.35)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ (0.01)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.34us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ (2.28)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.47us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.57us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Diluted from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (3.06)	$ 0.34	$ 0.21	$ 0.16	$ 0.42	$ (0.30)	$ 0.08	$ 0.31	$ (2.28)	$ 0.51	$ 0.79
Diluted from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.01			$ 0.08	$ (0.05)	$ (0.09)	$ 0.02		$ (0.04)	$ (0.23)
Total Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (3.08)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.35us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.21us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.16us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.50us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ (0.35)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ (0.01)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.33us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ (2.28)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.47us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.56us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Additional disclosure
U.S. oil and gas joint venture earnings (losses)	$ (400)	$ (2,900)	$ (600)	$ (2,400)	$ (1,600)	$ (2,600)	$ 1,400	$ 2,900	$ (6,301)	$ 39	$ (288,718)

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