CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (10,621)	$ 136,957
Adjustments to net income (loss):
Depreciation and amortization	820,898	778,393
Depletion and other oil and gas expenses	22,235	223
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(31,535)	(81,116)
Losses (gains) on long-lived assets, net	12,254	7,016
Impairments and other charges	71,322	162,450
Loss on debt extinguishment	211,981
Losses (gains) on investments, net	(90,635)	(27,773)
Share-based compensation	45,898	13,541
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains), net	7,021	5,054
Gain on sale of oil and gas operations		(48,486)
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends	(1,263)	302,512
Other	4,966	6,207
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	(21,568)	46,973
Inventory	20,220	10,900
Other current assets	5,572	(47,086)
Other long-term assets	34,435	(26,743)
Trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities	11,271	(221,252)
Income taxes payable	(53,846)	10,576
Other long-term liabilities	(83,890)	65,699
Net cash provided by operating activities	974,715	1,094,045
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments		(949)
Sales and maturities of investments	163,944	30,111
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	(37,516)
Capital expenditures	(780,711)	(1,221,769)
Proceeds from sale of affiliate	10,000
Investment in unconsolidated affiliate	(5,967)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	139,254	128,432
Other	(7)
Net cash used for investing activities	(511,003)	(1,064,175)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	(7,497)	(1,748)
Dividends to shareholders	(35,357)
Debt issuance costs	(3,505)
Proceeds from debt	710,086
Proceeds from revolving credit facility		710,000
Proceeds from (payments for) commercial paper, net	332,250
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares	4,375	(4,007)
Reduction in long-term debt	(994,181)	(276,232)
Reduction in revolving credit facility	(590,000)	(380,000)
Purchase of restricted stock	(3,096)	(2,071)
Tax (expense) benefit related to share-based awards		(54)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(586,925)	45,888
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(5,786)	(2,771)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(128,999)	72,987
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	524,922	398,575
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 395,923	$ 471,562