Fair Value Measurements (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Carrying Value	$ 4,357,098us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount	$ 3,983,490us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
Fair Value	4,414,090us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue	4,251,473us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
Subsidiary preferred stock, carrying value		69,188
Subsidiary preferred stock, fair value		69,000nbr_TemporaryEquityFairValue
Subsidiary preferred stock, effective interest rate (as a percent)	0.00%	4.00%
Short term investments:	35,020us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities	117,218us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Senior Notes Due September 2016
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Carrying Value	349,887	349,820
Fair Value	346,980	354,694
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	2.35%		2.35%
Effective Interest Rate (as a percent)	2.56%	2.56%
Senior Notes Due February 2018
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Carrying Value	930,693	969,928
Fair Value	991,920	1,097,480
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	6.15%
Effective Interest Rate (as a percent)	6.42%	6.42%
Senior Notes Due January 2019
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Carrying Value	339,607	339,607
Fair Value	403,531	428,733
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	9.25%	9.25%	9.25%
Effective Interest Rate (as a percent)	9.33%	9.33%
Senior Notes Due September 2020
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Carrying Value	698,253	697,947
Fair Value	687,953	731,955
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	5.00%
Effective Interest Rate (as a percent)	5.20%	5.20%
Senior Notes Due September 2021
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Carrying Value	698,388	698,148
Fair Value	661,619	709,793
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	4.625%
Effective Interest Rate (as a percent)	4.75%	4.75%
Senior Notes Due September 2023
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Carrying Value	348,893	348,765
Fair Value	332,759	349,731
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	5.10%		5.10%
Effective Interest Rate (as a percent)	5.26%	5.26%
Revolving Credit Facility
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Carrying Value	450,000	170,000
Fair Value	450,000	170,000
Effective Interest Rate (as a percent)	3.47%	2.28%
Commercial Paper
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Carrying Value	533,119	329,844
Fair Value	533,119	329,844
Effective Interest Rate (as a percent)	0.59%	0.45%
Other
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Carrying Value	6,209	10,243
Fair Value	$ 6,209	$ 10,243
Effective Interest Rate (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%

Represents the information pertaining to fair value of the temporary equity.

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Represents the effective interest rate for the temporary equity.

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Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

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Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable.

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Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

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Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Carrying amount, attributable to noncontrolling interests, of an entity's issued and outstanding stock which is not included within permanent equity. Temporary equity is a security with redemption features that are outside the control of the issuer, is not classified as an asset or liability in conformity with GAAP, and is not mandatorily redeemable. Includes any type of security that is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price or on a fixed or determinable date or dates, is redeemable at the option of the holder, or has conditions for redemption which are not solely within the control of the issuer. Includes stock with a put option held by an ESOP and stock redeemable by a holder only in the event of a change in control of the issuer.

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