Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 395,923	$ 524,922	$ 471,562	$ 398,575
Short-term investments	96,015	253,282
Assets held for sale	396,201	383,857
Accounts receivable, net	1,362,434	1,382,623
Inventory	229,494	251,133
Deferred income taxes	239,171	110,480
Other current assets	237,217	226,560
Total current assets	2,956,455	3,132,857
Long-term investments	3,371	4,269
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,463,804	8,712,088
Goodwill	479,557	472,326
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	68,907	61,690
Other long-term assets	230,022	272,792
Total assets	12,202,116	12,656,022
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt	11,441	364
Trade accounts payable	521,133	499,010
Accrued liabilities	579,476	599,380
Income taxes payable	13,372	33,628
Total current liabilities	1,125,422	1,132,382
Long-term debt	4,036,027	4,379,336
Other long-term liabilities	441,372	518,664
Deferred income taxes	692,514	599,335
Total liabilities	6,295,335	6,629,717
Subsidiary preferred stock	69,188	69,188
Shareholders' equity	5,826,168	5,944,929
Noncontrolling interest	11,425	12,188
Total equity	5,837,593	5,957,117
Total liabilities and equity	12,202,116	12,656,022
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	1,794	1,639	698	203
Other current assets	50	50
Total current assets	1,844	1,689
Intercompany receivables	166,731	174,948
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	5,657,795	5,769,518
Total assets	5,826,370	5,946,155
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	87	116
Accrued liabilities	115	1,110
Total current liabilities	202	1,226
Total liabilities	202	1,226
Shareholders' equity	5,826,168	5,944,929
Total equity	5,826,168	5,944,929
Total liabilities and equity	5,826,370	5,946,155
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	7,018	106,778	7,061	21
Other current assets	22,338
Total current assets	29,356	106,778
Property, plant and equipment, net	34,686	37,300
Intercompany receivables	3,893	1,690,636
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	6,047,144	5,129,458
Other long-term assets	35,508	31,904
Total assets	6,150,587	6,996,076
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	27	23
Accrued liabilities	21,291	91,520
Total current liabilities	21,318	91,543
Long-term debt	4,035,974	4,379,263
Other long-term liabilities	31,049	30,983
Deferred income taxes	(172,709)	(24,906)
Intercompany payable	1,585,446	2,535,988
Total liabilities	5,501,078	7,012,871
Shareholders' equity	649,509	(16,795)
Total equity	649,509	(16,795)
Total liabilities and equity	6,150,587	6,996,076
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	387,111	416,505	463,803	398,351
Short-term investments	96,015	253,282
Assets held for sale	396,201	383,857
Accounts receivable, net	1,362,434	1,382,623
Inventory	229,494	251,133
Deferred income taxes	239,171	110,480
Other current assets	214,829	226,510
Total current assets	2,925,255	3,024,390
Long-term investments	3,371	4,269
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,429,118	8,674,788
Goodwill	479,557	472,326
Intercompany receivables	1,414,822	670,404
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	1,840,765	395,246
Other long-term assets	194,514	240,888
Total assets	15,287,402	13,482,311
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt	11,441	364
Trade accounts payable	521,019	498,871
Accrued liabilities	558,070	506,750
Income taxes payable	13,372	33,628
Total current liabilities	1,103,902	1,039,613
Long-term debt	53	73
Other long-term liabilities	410,323	487,681
Deferred income taxes	865,223	624,241
Total liabilities	2,379,501	2,151,608
Subsidiary preferred stock	69,188	69,188
Shareholders' equity	12,827,288	11,249,327
Noncontrolling interest	11,425	12,188
Total equity	12,838,713	11,261,515
Total liabilities and equity	15,287,402	13,482,311
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables	(1,585,446)	(2,535,988)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(13,476,797)	(11,232,532)
Total assets	(15,062,243)	(13,768,520)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payable	(1,585,446)	(2,535,988)
Total liabilities	(1,585,446)	(2,535,988)
Shareholders' equity	(13,476,797)	(11,232,532)
Total equity	(13,476,797)	(11,232,532)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (15,062,243)	$ (13,768,520)