Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues									$ 6,989,573	$ 6,060,351	$ 4,134,483
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	1,200	(99,500)	(134,300)	(68,700)	(2,700)	33,700	9,300	16,300	(301,320)	56,647	33,267
Investment income (loss)									63,137	19,940	7,263
Total revenues and other income									6,751,390	6,136,938	4,175,013
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs									4,483,320	3,775,964	2,400,519
General and administrative expenses									532,568	489,892	338,720
Depreciation and amortization									1,055,517	924,094	760,962
Interest expense									251,552	256,633	272,712
Losses (gains) on sales of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net									(136,510)	4,514	47,238
Impairments and other charges									290,260	198,072	61,292
Total costs and other deductions									6,476,707	5,649,169	3,881,443
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									274,683	487,769	293,570
Income tax expense (benefit)									32,628	142,605	36,950
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend									3,000	3,000	750
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	129,272	65,818	(98,653)	142,618	89,535	87,190	70,887	94,552	239,055	342,164	255,870
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(101,121)	10,826	24,690	(8,795)	(193,985)	(12,226)	121,167	(12,396)	(74,400)	(97,440)	(161,090)
Net income (loss)									164,655	244,724	94,780
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,074)	(988)	1,174	267	(1,400)	(708)	394	669	(621)	(1,045)	(85)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	27,077	75,656	(72,789)	134,090	(105,850)	74,256	192,448	82,825	164,034	243,679	94,695
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									172,406	256,245	68,749
Investment income (loss)										4	15
Total revenues and other income									172,406	256,249	68,764
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									7,141	11,970	9,165
Losses (gains) on sales of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net									1,231	600	(35,096)
Total costs and other deductions									8,372	12,570	(25,931)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									164,034	243,679	94,695
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									164,034	243,679	94,695
Net income (loss)									164,034	243,679	94,695
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest									(621)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									164,034	243,679	94,695
Nabors Delaware (Issuer/Guarantor)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									(107,240)	214,308	(183,242)
Investment income (loss)									43	68
Intercompany interest income									69,145	69,437	72,435
Total revenues and other income									(38,052)	283,813	(110,807)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									458	348	445
Depreciation and amortization									3,610	3,532	3,303
Interest expense									268,904	278,657	283,396
Losses (gains) on sales of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net									(2,451)	(1,904)	42,504
Total costs and other deductions									270,521	280,633	329,648
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(308,573)	3,180	(440,455)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(74,493)	(78,118)	(95,168)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									(234,080)	81,298	(345,287)
Net income (loss)									(234,080)	81,298	(345,287)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(234,080)	81,298	(345,287)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues									6,989,573	6,060,351	4,134,483
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates									(301,320)	56,647	33,267
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									(214,605)	107,536	(316,657)
Investment income (loss)									63,094	19,868	7,248
Total revenues and other income									6,536,742	6,244,402	3,858,341
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs									4,483,320	3,775,964	2,400,519
General and administrative expenses									526,577	478,174	330,067
Depreciation and amortization									1,051,907	920,562	757,659
Interest expense									(17,352)	(22,024)	(10,684)
Intercompany interest expense									69,145	69,437	72,435
Losses (gains) on sales of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net									(136,898)	5,218	38,873
Impairments and other charges									290,260	198,072	61,292
Total costs and other deductions									6,266,959	5,425,403	3,650,161
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									269,783	818,999	208,180
Income tax expense (benefit)									107,121	220,723	132,118
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend									3,000	3,000	750
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									159,662	595,276	75,312
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									(74,400)	(97,440)	(161,090)
Net income (loss)									85,262	497,836	(85,778)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest									(621)	(1,045)	(85)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									84,641	496,791	(85,863)
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									149,439	(578,089)	431,150
Intercompany interest income									(69,145)	(69,437)	(72,435)
Total revenues and other income									80,294	(647,526)	358,715
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									(1,608)	(600)	(957)
Intercompany interest expense									(69,145)	(69,437)	(72,435)
Losses (gains) on sales of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net									1,608	600	957
Total costs and other deductions									(69,145)	(69,437)	(72,435)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									149,439	(578,089)	431,150
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									149,439	(578,089)	431,150
Net income (loss)									149,439	(578,089)	431,150
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest									621	1,045
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									$ 149,439	$ (578,089)	$ 431,150