Commitments and Contingencies (Details 3) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2009 Court of Ouargla Customs Infringement	Sep. 30, 2012 Court of Ouargla Customs Infringement	Mar. 31, 2011 Court of Ouargla Foreign Currency Controls	Sep. 30, 2012 Court of Ouargla Foreign Currency Controls	Dec. 31, 2006 Court of Ouargla Foreign Currency Controls	Mar. 19, 2012 NGH2L	Sep. 30, 2012 NGH2L Maximum
Commitments and Contingencies, Disclosure
Amount of loss range, minimum		$ 140,000
Amount of loss range, maximum		19,700,000
Judgment against Nabors	19,700,000		39,100,000
Payment of contract amount in foreign currency					7,500,000
Payment of contract amount in domestic currency					3,200,000
Approximate multiplier of the amount at issue for fines and penalties				2
Potential judgment in excess of accrual				31,100,000
Allegedly excessive compensation				90,000,000			100,000,000
Escrow Deposit						$ 3,000,000