CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ 94,760	$ 61,301
Adjustments to net income (loss):
Depreciation and amortization	543,637	508,748
Depletion and other oil and gas expenses	14,182	151
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(20,720)	(15,404)
Impairments and other charges	34,983	159,950
Losses (gains) on investments, net	(91,140)	(21,400)
Share-based compensation	38,824	8,784
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains), net	7,311	2,285
Gain on sale of oil and gas operations		(48,486)
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends	(3,891)	202,985
Other	15,422	12,586
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	22,556	(33,981)
Inventory	13,893	6,636
Other current assets	(3,402)	(26,906)
Other long-term assets	25,820	6,693
Trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities	38,216	(94,423)
Income taxes payable	(28,834)	(33,147)
Other long-term liabilities	(36,209)	15,565
Net cash provided by operating activities	665,408	711,937
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments		(795)
Sales and maturities of investments	163,161	25,517
Proceeds from sales of unconsolidated affiliates	10,000
Investment in unconsolidated affiliate	(3,927)
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	(37,516)
Capital expenditures	(500,368)	(967,861)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	29,731	116,923
Other	(3,142)
Net cash used for investing activities	(342,061)	(826,216)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	(8,686)	(2,060)
Dividends to shareholders	(23,552)
Proceeds from debt	11,569
Debt issuance costs	(87)
Proceeds from revolving credit facility		200,000
Proceeds from (payments for) commercial paper, net	295,000
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares	3,200	(5,066)
Reduction in long-term debt	(17,853)	(1,235)
Reduction in revolving credit facility	(590,000)	(150,000)
Purchase of restricted stock	(3,023)	(2,071)
Tax (expense) benefit related to share-based awards		(36)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(333,432)	39,532
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(6,709)	(3,430)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(16,794)	(78,177)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	524,922	398,575
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 508,128	$ 320,398