CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, 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 and disposals 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):
Current									142,994	109,702	(77,209)
Deferred									(110,366)	32,903	114,159
Total 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
Earnings (losses) per share:
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44	$ 0.22	$ (0.34)	$ 0.50	$ 0.31	$ 0.30	$ 0.25	$ 0.33	$ 0.82	$ 1.19	$ 0.90
Basic from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.35)	$ 0.04	$ 0.09	$ (0.04)	$ (0.68)	$ (0.04)	$ 0.42	$ (0.04)	$ (0.25)	$ (0.34)	$ (0.57)
Total Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.09	$ 0.26	$ (0.25)	$ 0.46	$ (0.37)	$ 0.26	$ 0.67	$ 0.29	$ 0.57	$ 0.85	$ 0.33
Diluted from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44	$ 0.22	$ (0.34)	$ 0.49	$ 0.30	$ 0.30	$ 0.24	$ 0.33	$ 0.82	$ 1.17	$ 0.88
Diluted from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.35)	$ 0.04	$ 0.09	$ (0.03)	$ (0.66)	$ (0.05)	$ 0.41	$ (0.05)	$ (0.26)	$ (0.34)	$ (0.55)
Total Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.09	$ 0.26	$ (0.25)	$ 0.46	$ (0.36)	$ 0.25	$ 0.65	$ 0.28	$ 0.56	$ 0.83	$ 0.33
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)									289,965	287,118	285,145
Diluted (in shares)									292,323	292,484	289,996