Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Nabors, as well as all majority owned and non-majority owned subsidiaries required to be consolidated under U.S. GAAP. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

We consolidate variable interest entities (“VIE’s”) when we are determined to be the primary beneficiary of a VIE. Determination of the primary beneficiary of a VIE is based on whether an entity has (1) the power to direct activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and (2) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Our determination of the primary beneficiary of a VIE considers all relationships between us and the VIE. Our joint venture, SANAD, which is equally owned by Saudi Aramco and Nabors, has been consolidated. As we have the power to direct activities that most significantly impact SANAD’s economic performance, including operations, maintenance and certain sourcing and procurement, we have determined Nabors to be the primary beneficiary. See Note 13—Joint Ventures. Also, as of December 31, 2023, we are the co-sponsor of a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) and have determined it is a VIE. Nabors is the primary beneficiary of the SPAC as we have the power to direct activities, the right to receive benefits and the obligation to absorb losses. Therefore, the SPAC has been consolidated. See Note 21—Special Purpose Acquisition Companies.

Reclassification of Prior Year Presentation

Reclassification of Prior Year Presentation

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current period presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on the reported results of operations.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include demand deposits and various other short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Short-term Investments

Short-term Investments

Short-term investments consist primarily of held-to maturity debt securities which we have the intent and ability to hold to maturity regardless of changes in market conditions, liquidity needs or changes in general economic conditions. These debt securities are held at cost which approximates the maturity value.  Also, Equity securities are included and are stated at fair value with any changes in fair value recognized in investment income (loss) in our consolidated statements of income (loss).

Inventory

Inventory

Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out or weighted-average costs methods and includes the cost of materials, labor and manufacturing overhead. Inventory, which is presented net of reserves of $23.9 million and $23.0 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, included the following:

	December 31,
	2023		2022
	(In thousands)
Raw materials	$	144,886	$	118,351
Work-in-progress		2,912		6,121
Finished goods		—		3,475
	$	147,798	$	127,947

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment, including renewals and betterments, are stated at cost, while maintenance and repairs are expensed currently. Interest costs applicable to the construction of qualifying assets are capitalized as a component of the cost of such assets. We provide for the depreciation of our drilling rigs using the units-of-production method. For each day a rig is operating, we depreciate it over an approximate 4,927-day period, with the exception of our jackup rigs which are depreciated over an 8,030-day period, after provision for salvage value. For each day a rig asset is not operating, it is depreciated over an assumed depreciable life of 20 years, with the exception of our jackup rigs, where a 30-year depreciable life is used, in each case after provision for salvage value.

Depreciation on our buildings, oilfield hauling and mobile equipment, and other machinery and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset after provision for salvage value (buildings—10 to 30 years; oilfield hauling and mobile equipment and other machinery and equipment—3 to 10 years). Amortization of capitalized leases is included in depreciation and amortization expense. Upon retirement or other disposal of fixed assets, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective property, plant and equipment accounts and any gains or losses are included in our consolidated statements of income (loss).

We review our assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. If the estimated undiscounted future cash flows are not sufficient to support the asset’s recorded value, an impairment charge is recognized to the extent the carrying amount of the long-lived asset exceeds its estimated fair value. Management considers a number of factors such as estimated future cash flows from the assets, appraisals and current market value analysis in determining fair value. The determination of future cash flows requires the estimation of utilization, dayrates, operating margins, sustaining capital and remaining economic life. Such estimates can change based on market conditions, technological advances in the industry or changes in regulations governing the industry. Significant and unanticipated changes to the assumptions could result in future impairments. A significantly prolonged period of lower oil and natural gas prices could adversely affect the demand for and prices of our services, which could result in future impairment charges. As the determination of whether impairment charges should be recorded on our long-lived assets is subject to significant management judgment, and an impairment of these assets could result in a

material charge on our consolidated statements of income (loss), management believes that accounting estimates related to impairment of long-lived assets are critical.

For an asset classified as held for sale, we consider the asset impaired when its carrying amount exceeds fair value less its cost to sell. Fair value is determined in the same manner as a long-lived asset that is held and used.

Litigation and Insurance Reserves

Litigation and Insurance Reserves

We estimate our reserves related to litigation and insurance based on the facts and circumstances specific to the litigation and insurance claims and our past experience with similar claims. We maintain actuarially determined accruals in our consolidated balance sheets to cover self-insurance retentions. See Note 15—Commitments and Contingencies regarding self-insurance accruals. We estimate the range of our liability related to pending litigation when we believe the amount and range of loss can reasonably be estimated. We record our best estimate of a loss when the loss is considered probable. When a liability is probable and there is a range of estimated loss with no best estimate in the range, we record the minimum estimated liability related to the lawsuits or claims. As additional information becomes available, we assess the potential liability related to our pending litigation and claims and revise our estimates. Due to uncertainties related to the resolution of lawsuits and claims, the ultimate outcome may differ from our estimates. For matters where an unfavorable outcome is reasonably possible and significant, we disclose the nature of the matter and a range of potential exposure, unless an estimate cannot be made at the time of disclosure.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenues and costs on daywork contracts daily as the work progresses over the contract term. For certain contracts, we receive lump sum payments for the mobilization of rigs and other drilling equipment. We defer revenue related to mobilization periods and recognize the revenue over the term of the related drilling contract.

Costs incurred related to a mobilization period for which a contract is secured are deferred and recognized over the term of the related drilling contract. Costs incurred to relocate rigs and other drilling equipment to areas in which a contract has not been secured are expensed as incurred. We defer recognition of revenue on amounts received from customers for prepayment of services until those services are provided.

We recognize revenue for top drives and other capital equipment we manufacture upon transfer of control, which generally occurs when the product has been shipped to the customer.

We recognize, as operating revenue, proceeds from business interruption insurance claims in the period that the claim is realizable. Proceeds from casualty insurance settlements in excess of the carrying value of damaged assets are recognized in other, net in our consolidated statement of income (loss) in the period that the applicable proof of loss documentation is received. Proceeds from casualty insurance settlements that are expected to be less than the carrying value of damaged assets are recognized at the time the loss is incurred and recorded in other, net in our consolidated statement of income (loss).

We recognize reimbursements received for out of pocket expenses incurred as revenues and account for out of pocket expenses as direct costs.

Research and Engineering

Research and Engineering

Research and engineering expenses are expensed as incurred and include costs associated with the research and development of new products and services and costs associated with sustaining engineering of existing products and services.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

We are a Bermuda exempted company and are not subject to income taxes in Bermuda. On December 18, 2023, Bermuda enacted a 15% corporate income tax regime (the “Bermuda CIT”) that applies to Bermuda businesses that are part of multinational enterprise groups with annual revenue of €750 million or more and is effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025. We have provided for income taxes based on the tax laws and rates in effect in the countries where we operate and earn income. The income taxes in these jurisdictions vary substantially. Our worldwide effective tax rate for

financial statement purposes will continue to fluctuate from year to year due to changes in the geographic mix of pre-tax earnings.

We recognize increases to our tax reserves for uncertain tax positions along with interest and penalties as an increase to other long-term liabilities.

For U.S. and other jurisdictional income tax purposes, we have net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes that we are required to assess quarterly for potential valuation allowances. We consider the sufficiency of existing temporary differences and expected future earnings levels in determining the amount, if any, of valuation allowance required against such carryforwards and against deferred tax assets.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date and the amounts of revenues and expenses recognized during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from such estimates. Areas where critical accounting estimates are made by management include:

● depreciation of property, plant and equipment;

● impairment of long-lived assets;

● impairment of goodwill and intangible assets;

● income taxes;

● litigation and self-insurance reserves; and

● fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Recently Accounting Pronouncements Adopted

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Adopted

In August 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2020-06, Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40).  This ASU (a) simplifies an issuer’s accounting for convertible instruments by eliminating two of the three models in ASC 470-20 that require separate accounting for embedded conversion features, (b) amends diluted EPS calculations for convertible instruments by requiring the use of the if-converted method and (c) simplifies the settlement assessment entities are required to perform on contracts that can potentially settle in an entity’s own equity by removing certain requirements. ASU 2020-06 was required to be adopted on January 1, 2022.  The adoption of this ASU was determined not to be material to our condensed consolidated financial statements.  Using the modified retrospective method, the adoption of this ASU resulted in a pre-tax adjustment of $27.5 million to eliminate the remaining unamortized debt discount within long-term debt on our condensed consolidated balance sheet.  Also, we recognized the cumulative effect of this change as a $60.7 million adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings (accumulated deficit) and an $81.9 million adjustment to capital in excess of par in our condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity for the year ended December 31, 2022.  

Not Yet Adopted

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280), which enhances prior reportable segment disclosure requirements in part by requiring entities to disclose significant expenses related to their reportable segments that are regularly provided to the chief operation decision maker (“CODM”) and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss, an amount and description of its composition for other segment items to reconcile to segment profit or loss. The guidance also requires disclosure of the CODM’s  position for each segment and detail of how the CODM uses financial reporting to access their segment’s performance.  The new guidance is effective

for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023.  We are currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard update on our financial statements and related disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvement to Income Tax Disclosures, to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures.  This provides qualitative and quantitative updates to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid disclosures, including consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and disaggregation by jurisdiction of income taxes paid.  The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024.  We are currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard update on our financial statements and related disclosures.

We consider the applicability and impact of all ASUs. We assessed ASUs not listed above and determined that they either were not applicable or do not have a material impact on our financial statements.