CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ 136,957	$ 349,529
Adjustments to net income (loss):
Depreciation and amortization	778,393	686,820
Depletion and other exploratory expenses	223	31,949
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(81,116)	61,566
Deferred financing costs amortization	3,256	4,000
Pension liability amortization and adjustments	779	450
Discount amortization on long-term debt	1,467	26,546
Amortization of loss on hedges	602	695
Impairments and other charges	162,450	98,072
Losses (gains) on long-lived assets, net	7,016	(40,636)
Losses (gains) on investments, net	(27,773)	(8,567)
Losses (gains) on debt retirement, net		58
Losses (gains) on derivative instruments	103	267
Gain on acquisition		(12,178)
Share-based compensation	13,541	17,249
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains), net	5,054	743
Gain on sale of oil and gas operations	(48,486)
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends	302,512	(135,844)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	46,973	(283,082)
Inventory	10,900	(76,913)
Other current assets	(47,086)	(2,623)
Other long-term assets	(26,743)	79,770
Trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(221,252)	331,633
Income taxes payable	10,576	(466)
Other long-term liabilities	65,699	(20,904)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,094,045	1,108,134
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(949)	(9,567)
Sales and maturities of investments	30,111	24,580
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net		(55,459)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates		(54,762)
Distribution of proceeds from asset sales from unconsolidated affiliates		142,984
Capital expenditures	(1,221,769)	(1,532,597)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	128,432	110,535
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,064,175)	(1,374,286)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	(1,748)	5,074
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		697,578
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities	710,000	1,300,000
Proceeds from issuance of common shares	(4,007)	12,175
Debt issuance costs		(6,065)
Reduction in long-term debt	(276,232)	(1,404,271)
Paydown of revolving credit facilities	(380,000)	(700,000)
Repurchase of equity component of convertible debt		(12)
Purchase of restricted stock	(2,071)	(2,579)
Tax benefit related to share-based awards	(54)	185
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	45,888	(97,915)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(2,771)	(2,174)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	72,987	(366,241)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	398,575	641,702
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 471,562	$ 275,461