CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ 243,679	$ 94,695	$ (85,546)
Adjustments to net income (loss):
Depreciation and amortization	927,460	766,519	668,415
Depletion and other exploratory expenses	44,551	27,002	11,078
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(34,739)	55,964	(218,760)
Deferred financing costs amortization	5,107	5,431	6,133
Pension liability amortization and adjustments	818	664	844
Discount amortization on long-term debt	27,042	70,719	86,802
Amortization of loss on hedges	927	786	580
Impairments and other charges	460,971	260,931	339,129
Losses (gains) on long-lived assets, net	(51,945)	(1,050)	12,339
Losses (gains) on investments, net	(12,486)	191	(9,954)
Losses (gains) on debt retirement, net	58	7,042	(11,197)
Losses (gains) on derivative instruments	234	2,471	338
Gain on acquisition	(13,114)	0
Share-based compensation	21,244	13,746	106,725
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains), net	5,725	17,880	8,372
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends	(132,388)	(13,630)	229,813
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	(459,455)	(249,725)	450,530
Inventory	(114,896)	(15,201)	52,995
Other current assets	(24,820)	6,589	205,108
Other long-term assets	71,867	7,509	(22,233)
Trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities	517,615	70,463	(146,470)
Income taxes payable	999	(19,208)	(62,535)
Other long-term liabilities	(27,967)	(2,804)	(5,534)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,456,487	1,106,984	1,616,972
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(11,746)	(34,147)	(32,674)
Sales and maturities of investments	39,063	34,613	57,033
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	(55,459)	(733,630)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(112,262)	(40,936)	(125,076)
Distribution of proceeds from asset sales of unconsolidated affiliates	142,984
Capital expenditures	(2,042,617)	(930,277)	(1,093,435)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	180,558	31,072	31,375
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,859,479)	(1,673,305)	(1,162,777)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	6,375	(6,298)	(18,157)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	697,578	696,948	1,124,978
Debt issuance costs	(7,141)	(8,934)	(8,832)
Payments for (proceeds from) hedge transactions		(5,667)
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities	1,560,000	600,000
Proceeds from issuance of common shares	11,605	8,201	11,249
Reduction in long-term debt	(1,404,281)	(398,514)	(1,081,801)
Reduction in revolving credit facilities	(700,000)	(600,000)
Repurchase of equity component of convertible debt	(12)	(4,712)	(6,586)
Settlement of call options and warrants, net	0	1,134
Purchase of restricted stock	(2,626)	(1,935)	(1,515)
Tax benefit related to share-based awards	1,747	31	37
Net cash provided by financing activities	163,245	280,254	19,373
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(3,380)	(46)	12,160
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(243,127)	(286,113)	485,728
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	641,702	927,815	442,087
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 398,575	$ 641,702	$ 927,815