Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	$ 70,200,000		$ 70,200,000		$ 371,000,000
Summarized income statement information
Nabors' earnings (losses) from our U.S. oil and gas joint venture	(99,527,000)	33,723,000	(302,513,000)	59,305,000
U.S. unconsolidated joint oil and gas venture
Summarized income statement information
Gross revenues	91,445,000	65,985,000	216,914,000	169,738,000
Gross margin	63,462,000	51,640,000	146,519,000	133,858,000
Net income (loss)	(240,414,000)	15,127,000	(649,926,000)	53,918,000
Nabors' earnings (losses) from our U.S. oil and gas joint venture	(98,805,000)	34,909,000	(301,800,000)	56,285,000
Impairment charges for unconsolidated oil and gas joint ventures included in continuing operations	96,300,000		310,000,000
Assets held for sale
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	$ 13,700,000		$ 13,700,000		$ 13,700,000