CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Shares	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Retained Earnings	Treasury Shares	Non-controlling Interest
Beginning Balances at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 4,918,424	$ 312	$ 2,129,415	$ 53,520	$ 3,698,732	$ (977,873)	$ 14,318
Beginning Balances, shares at Dec. 31, 2008		312,343
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(85,546)				(85,546)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	150,290			150,290
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities, net of income taxes of $86, $7,435 and $839 for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively	36,727			36,727
Unrealized gains/(losses) on adjusted basis for marketable debt security, net of income taxes of $1,199	1,956			1,956
Less: Reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses included in net income (loss), net of income taxes of $0, $693 and $4,921 for 2011,2010 and 2009, respectively	49,386			49,386
Pension liability amortization, net of income taxes of $319, $259 and $325 for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively	519			519
Pension liability adjustment, net of income tax benefit of $2421, $405 and $89 for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively	130			130
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges, net of income taxes of $239, $2,119 and $18 for 2011,2010 and 2009, respectively	178			178
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	153,640
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(342)						(342)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	2,024						2,024
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,682
Total comprehensive income (loss)	155,322
Issuance of common shares for stock options exercised, net of surrender of unexercised stock options	11,249	2	11,247
Issuance of common shares for stock options exercised, net of surrender of unexercised stock options, shares	1,500	1,476
Share-based compensation	106,725		106,725
Other	(9,741)		(8,064)				(1,677)
Other, net, shares		(9)
Ending Balances at Dec. 31, 2009	5,181,979	314	2,239,323	292,706	3,613,186	(977,873)	14,323
Ending Balances, shares at Dec. 31, 2009		313,915
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	94,695				94,695
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	60,897			60,897
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities, net of income taxes of $86, $7,435 and $839 for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively	(7,157)			(7,157)
Less: Reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses included in net income (loss), net of income taxes of $0, $693 and $4,921 for 2011,2010 and 2009, respectively	(1,001)			(1,001)
Pension liability amortization, net of income taxes of $319, $259 and $325 for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively	405			405
Pension liability adjustment, net of income tax benefit of $2421, $405 and $89 for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively	(635)			(635)
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges, net of income taxes of $239, $2,119 and $18 for 2011,2010 and 2009, respectively	(3,163)			(3,163)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	144,041
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	85						85
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	723						723
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	808
Total comprehensive income (loss)	144,849
Issuance of common shares for stock options exercised, net of surrender of unexercised stock options	8,201	1	8,200
Issuance of common shares for stock options exercised, net of surrender of unexercised stock options, shares	700	714
Settlement of call options and warrants, net	1,134
Share-based compensation	13,746		13,746
Other	(5,912)		(5,482)				(430)
Other, net, shares		405
Ending Balances at Dec. 31, 2010	5,342,863	315	2,255,787	342,052	3,707,881	(977,873)	14,701
Ending Balances, shares at Dec. 31, 2010		315,034
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	243,679				243,679
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	20,257			20,257
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities, net of income taxes of $86, $7,435 and $839 for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively	5,270			5,270
Less: Reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses included in net income (loss), net of income taxes of $0, $693 and $4,921 for 2011,2010 and 2009, respectively	(3,036)			(3,036)
Pension liability amortization, net of income taxes of $319, $259 and $325 for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively	499			499
Pension liability adjustment, net of income tax benefit of $2421, $405 and $89 for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively	(3,788)			(3,788)
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges, net of income taxes of $239, $2,119 and $18 for 2011,2010 and 2009, respectively	524			524
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	222,891
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,045						(1,045)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	(185)						(185)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	860
Total comprehensive income (loss)	223,751
Issuance of common shares for stock options exercised, net of surrender of unexercised stock options	11,605	1	11,604
Issuance of common shares for stock options exercised, net of surrender of unexercised stock options, shares	(1,116)	1,116
Settlement of call options and warrants, net	0
Share-based compensation	21,244		21,244
Other	1,754	1	(892)		4,804		(2,159)
Other, net, shares		892
Ending Balances at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 5,601,217	$ 317	$ 2,287,743	$ 321,264	$ 3,956,364	$ (977,873)	$ 13,402
Ending Balances, shares at Dec. 31, 2011		317,042