CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$ 1,414,707	$ 1,589,618
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	6,502	(2,445)
Investment income (loss)	969	980
Total revenues and other income	1,422,178	1,588,153
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	919,610	1,061,739
General and administrative expenses	127,133	134,266
Depreciation and amortization	281,019	282,127
Interest expense	46,601	44,810
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	(55,842)	1,476
Total costs and other deductions	1,318,521	1,524,418
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	103,657	63,735
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	47,349	13,658
Deferred	(68,054)	350
Total income tax expense (benefit)	(20,705)	14,008
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend		750
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	124,362	48,977
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(817)	1,515
Net income (loss)	123,545	50,492
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	89	(573)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ 123,634	$ 49,919
Earnings (losses) per share:
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43	$ 0.16
Basic from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01
Total Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43	$ 0.17
Diluted from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43	$ 0.16
Diluted from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.01)
Total Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.42	$ 0.16
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	285,361	296,210
Diluted (in shares)	286,173	299,050