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Nature of Operations (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
segment
Nature of Operations    
Number of major business lines   2nbr_NumberOfMajorBusinessLines
CJES    
Nature of Operations    
Proceeds from the merger of Completion & Production Services business with CJES $ 688us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses
/ us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis
= nbr_CJEnergyServicesIncMember
 
C&J Energy Services Ltd    
Nature of Operations    
Number of shares received in the combined company 62.5nbr_MergerBusinessNumberOfSharesReceived
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= nbr_CAndJEnergyServicesLtdMember
 
Percentage of ownership 53.00%us-gaap_SubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeCumulativePercentageOwnershipAfterAllTransactions
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= nbr_CAndJEnergyServicesLtdMember
 
Subtotal drilling and rig services    
Nature of Operations    
Number of operating segments   4us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nbr_DrillingAndRigServicesMember
Subtotal completion and production services    
Nature of Operations    
Number of operating segments   2us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nbr_CompletionAndProductionServicesMember