CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$ 1,578,645	$ 1,890,426
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	2,895	(68,669)
Investment income (loss)	79,421	20,252
Total revenues and other income	1,660,961	1,842,009
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	1,026,042	1,184,816
General and administrative expenses	132,545	136,346
Depreciation and amortization	273,365	247,621
Interest expense	60,008	62,654
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	59,807	(1,840)
Total costs and other deductions	1,551,767	1,629,597
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	109,194	212,412
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	18,829	26,006
Deferred	(7,557)	43,038
Total income tax expense (benefit)	11,272	69,044
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	750	750
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	97,172	142,618
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	2,046	(8,795)
Net income (loss)	99,218	133,823
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(97)	267
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ 99,121	$ 134,090
Earnings (losses) per share:
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33	$ 0.50
Basic from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ (0.04)
Total Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.34	$ 0.46
Diluted from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33	$ 0.49
Diluted from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ (0.03)
Total Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33	$ 0.46
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	291,687	288,538
Diluted (in shares)	294,170	291,709