Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 471,562	$ 398,575	$ 275,461	$ 641,702
Short-term investments	148,001	140,914
Assets held for sale	404,234	401,500
Accounts receivable, net	1,529,232	1,576,555
Inventory	257,158	272,852
Deferred income taxes	111,673	127,874
Other current assets	211,789	170,044
Total current assets	3,133,649	3,088,314
Long-term investments and other receivables	5,301	11,124
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,894,084	8,629,946
Goodwill	472,462	501,258
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	70,172	371,021
Other long-term assets	348,893	310,477
Total assets	12,924,561	12,912,140
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	389	275,326
Trade accounts payable	560,641	782,753
Accrued liabilities	573,636	744,483
Total current liabilities	1,134,666	1,802,562
Long-term debt	4,678,896	4,348,490
Other long-term liabilities	448,418	292,758
Deferred income taxes	737,269	797,925
Total liabilities	6,999,249	7,241,735
Subsidiary preferred stock	69,188	69,188
Shareholders' equity	5,843,880	5,587,815
Noncontrolling interest	12,244	13,402
Total equity	5,856,124	5,601,217	5,643,539	5,342,863
Total liabilities and equity	12,924,561	12,912,140
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	698	203	1,156	10,847
Other current assets	50	50
Total current assets	748	253
Intercompany receivables	173,984	164,760
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	5,671,621	5,429,029
Total assets	5,846,353	5,594,042
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	62	42
Accrued liabilities	2,411	6,185
Total current liabilities	2,473	6,227
Total liabilities	2,473	6,227
Shareholders' equity	5,843,880	5,587,815
Total equity	5,843,880	5,587,815
Total liabilities and equity	5,846,353	5,594,042
Nabors Delaware (Issuer/Guarantor)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	7,061	21	22	20
Other current assets	1,028	671
Total current assets	8,089	692
Property, plant and equipment, net	38,171	40,792
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	5,104,716	6,084,868
Other long-term assets	28,900	32,037
Total assets	5,179,876	6,158,389
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt		274,604
Trade accounts payable	23	23
Accrued liabilities	33,826	100,101
Total current liabilities	33,849	374,728
Long-term debt	4,678,822	4,297,500
Other long-term liabilities	31,885	32,303
Deferred income taxes	(7,468)	11,221
Intercompany payable	444,034	379,400
Total liabilities	5,181,122	5,095,152
Shareholders' equity	(1,246)	1,063,237
Total equity	(1,246)	1,063,237
Total liabilities and equity	5,179,876	6,158,389
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	463,803	398,351	274,283	630,835
Short-term investments	148,001	140,914
Assets held for sale	404,234	401,500
Accounts receivable, net	1,529,232	1,576,555
Inventory	257,158	272,852
Deferred income taxes	111,673	127,874
Other current assets	210,711	169,323
Total current assets	3,124,812	3,087,369
Long-term investments and other receivables	5,301	11,124
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,855,913	8,589,154
Goodwill	472,462	501,258
Intercompany receivables	537,881	537,881
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	416,904	1,843,654
Other long-term assets	319,993	278,440
Total assets	13,733,266	14,848,880
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	389	722
Trade accounts payable	560,556	782,688
Accrued liabilities	537,399	638,197
Total current liabilities	1,098,344	1,421,607
Long-term debt	74	50,990
Other long-term liabilities	416,533	260,455
Deferred income taxes	744,737	786,704
Intercompany payable	267,831	323,241
Total liabilities	2,527,519	2,842,997
Subsidiary preferred stock	69,188	69,188
Shareholders' equity	11,124,315	11,923,293
Noncontrolling interest	12,244	13,402
Total equity	11,136,559	11,936,695
Total liabilities and equity	13,733,266	14,848,880
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables	(711,865)	(702,641)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(11,123,069)	(12,986,530)
Total assets	(11,834,934)	(13,689,171)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payable	(711,865)	(702,641)
Total liabilities	(711,865)	(702,641)
Shareholders' equity	(11,123,069)	(12,986,530)
Total equity	(11,123,069)	(12,986,530)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (11,834,934)	$ (13,689,171)