Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$ 1,766,419	$ 1,608,504	$ 5,393,959	$ 4,325,714
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	(99,527)	33,723	(302,513)	59,305
Investment income (loss)	7,224	727	32,844	12,032
Total revenues and other income	1,674,116	1,642,954	5,124,290	4,397,051
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	1,136,198	1,019,412	3,444,270	2,687,970
General and administrative expenses	131,887	119,431	401,845	358,352
Depreciation and amortization	269,597	234,085	778,234	684,337
Interest expense	63,604	58,060	189,717	195,781
Losses (gains) on sales and retirements of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	10,263	(11,607)	21,837	(1,100)
Impairments and other charges		98,072	147,503	98,072
Total costs and other deductions	1,611,549	1,517,453	4,983,406	4,023,412
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	62,567	125,501	140,884	373,639
Income tax expense (benefit)	(4,001)	37,561	28,851	118,760
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	750	750	2,250	2,250
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	65,818	87,190	109,783	252,629
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	10,826	(12,226)	26,721	96,545
Net income (loss)	76,644	74,964	136,504	349,174
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(988)	(708)	453	355
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	75,656	74,256	136,957	349,529
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	77,976	77,212	143,448	358,778
Investment income (loss)				4
Total revenues and other income	77,976	77,212	143,448	358,782
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	1,900	2,809	5,449	8,803
Losses (gains) on sales and retirements of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	420	147	1,042	450
Total costs and other deductions	2,320	2,956	6,491	9,253
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	75,656	74,256	136,957	349,529
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	75,656	74,256	136,957	349,529
Net income (loss)	75,656	74,256	136,957	349,529
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(988)	(708)	453	355
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	75,656	74,256	136,957	349,529
Nabors Delaware (Issuer/Guarantor)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(152,036)	111,096	(132,659)	189,960
Investment income (loss)	2		18	68
Intercompany interest income	17,423	16,615	51,433	52,704
Total revenues and other income	(134,611)	127,711	(81,208)	242,732
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	159	154	349	244
Depreciation and amortization	902	872	2,707	2,614
Interest expense	67,391	64,655	203,826	211,063
Losses (gains) on sales and retirements of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	(250)	(574)	(1,229)	(1,382)
Total costs and other deductions	68,202	65,107	205,653	212,539
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(202,813)	62,604	(286,861)	30,193
Income tax expense (benefit)	(18,787)	(17,942)	(57,055)	(59,114)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(184,026)	80,546	(229,806)	89,307
Net income (loss)	(184,026)	80,546	(229,806)	89,307
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(184,026)	80,546	(229,806)	89,307
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	1,766,419	1,608,504	5,393,959	4,325,714
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	(99,527)	33,723	(302,513)	59,305
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(178,917)	87,037	(212,494)	109,212
Investment income (loss)	7,222	727	32,826	11,960
Total revenues and other income	1,495,197	1,729,991	4,911,778	4,506,191
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	1,136,198	1,019,412	3,444,270	2,687,970
General and administrative expenses	130,248	116,616	397,089	349,755
Depreciation and amortization	268,695	233,213	775,527	681,723
Interest expense	(3,787)	(6,595)	(14,109)	(15,282)
Intercompany interest expense	17,423	16,615	51,433	52,704
Losses (gains) on sales and retirements of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	9,673	(11,328)	20,982	(618)
Impairments and other charges		98,072	147,503	98,072
Total costs and other deductions	1,558,450	1,466,005	4,822,695	3,854,324
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(63,253)	263,986	89,083	651,867
Income tax expense (benefit)	14,786	55,503	85,906	177,874
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	750	750	2,250	2,250
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(78,789)	207,733	927	471,743
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	10,826	(12,226)	26,721	96,545
Net income (loss)	(67,963)	195,507	27,648	568,288
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(988)	(708)	453	355
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(68,951)	194,799	28,101	568,643
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	252,977	(275,345)	201,705	(657,950)
Intercompany interest income	(17,423)	(16,615)	(51,433)	(52,704)
Total revenues and other income	235,554	(291,960)	150,272	(710,654)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	(420)	(148)	(1,042)	(450)
Intercompany interest expense	(17,423)	(16,615)	(51,433)	(52,704)
Losses (gains) on sales and retirements of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	420	148	1,042	450
Total costs and other deductions	(17,423)	(16,615)	(51,433)	(52,704)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	252,977	(275,345)	201,705	(657,950)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	252,977	(275,345)	201,705	(657,950)
Net income (loss)	252,977	(275,345)	201,705	(657,950)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	988	708	(453)	(355)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ 252,977	$ (275,345)	$ 201,705	$ (657,950)