Nabors Industries (NBR) 10-Q 9 May 14 2014 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	5-May-14
Document and Entity Information	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001163739	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Document Period End Date	31-Mar-14	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	297,444,279
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q1	'

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$326,881	$389,915
Short-term investments	97,886	117,218
Assets held for sale	231,880	243,264
Accounts receivable, net	1,454,368	1,399,543
Inventory	194,371	209,793
Deferred income taxes	133,667	121,316
Other current assets	252,215	272,781
Total current assets	2,691,268	2,753,830
Long-term investments and other receivables	2,915	3,236
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,690,759	8,597,813
Goodwill	512,391	512,964
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	63,069	64,260
Other long-term assets	226,671	227,708
Total assets	12,187,073	12,159,811
Current liabilities:	'	'
Current portion of debt	5,296	10,185
Trade accounts payable	631,015	545,512
Accrued liabilities	584,748	697,093
Income taxes payable	17,083	58,634
Total current liabilities	1,238,142	1,311,424
Long-term debt	3,812,476	3,904,117
Other long-term liabilities	569,993	377,744
Deferred income taxes	526,005	516,161
Total liabilities	6,146,616	6,109,446
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)	'	'
Subsidiary preferred stock	69,188	69,188
Shareholders' equity:	'	'
Common shares, par value $0.001 per share: Authorized common shares 800,000; issued 325,772 and 323,711, respectively	326	324
Capital in excess of par value	2,401,614	2,392,585
Accumulated other comprehensive income	160,466	216,140
Retained earnings	4,342,690	4,304,664
Less: treasury shares, at cost, 28,414 common shares	-944,627	-944,627
Total shareholders' equity	5,960,469	5,969,086
Noncontrolling interest	10,800	12,091
Total equity	5,971,269	5,981,177
Total liabilities and equity	$12,187,073	$12,159,811

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS	'	'
Common shares, par value (in dollars per share)	$0.00	$0.00
Common shares, shares authorized	800,000	800,000
Common shares, shares issued	325,772	323,711
Treasury shares, at cost	28,414	28,414

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_INC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Revenues and other income:	'	'
Operating revenues	$1,589,618	$1,535,478
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	-2,445	2,895
Investment income (loss)	980	79,421
Total revenues and other income	1,588,153	1,617,794
Costs and other deductions:	'	'
Direct costs	1,061,739	994,992
General and administrative expenses	134,266	130,878
Depreciation and amortization	282,127	269,365
Interest expense	44,810	60,011
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	1,476	59,737
Total costs and other deductions	1,524,418	1,514,983
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	63,735	102,811
Income tax expense (benefit):	'	'
Current	13,658	18,829
Deferred	350	-8,975
Total income tax expense (benefit)	14,008	9,854
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	750	750
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	48,977	92,207
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,515	7,011
Net income (loss)	50,492	99,218
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	-573	-97
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$49,919	$99,121
Earnings (losses) per share:	'	'
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$0.16	$0.31
Basic from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$0.01	$0.03
Total Basic (in dollars per share)	$0.17	$0.34
Diluted from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$0.16	$0.31
Diluted from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	'	$0.02
Total Diluted (in dollars per share)	$0.16	$0.33
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:	'	'
Basic (in shares)	296,210	291,687
Diluted (in shares)	299,050	294,170

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_OTH

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	'	'
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$49,919	$99,121
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:	'	'
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	-36,594	-23,265
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:	'	'
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	-19,208	10,139
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	'	-75,974
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	-19,208	-65,835
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	123	281
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	-55,526	-88,666
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	148	-214
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-55,674	-88,452
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	-5,755	10,669
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	-573	-97
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	-481	-1,414
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	92	-1,317
Comprehensive income (loss)	($5,663)	$9,352

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Net income (loss)	$50,492	$99,218
Adjustments to net income (loss):	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	282,349	273,423
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	451	-5,371
Losses (gains) on long-lived assets, net	3,517	'
Losses (gains) on investments, net	-7	-78,655
Share-based compensation	10,685	32,853
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains), net	-3,293	4,316
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends	2,445	-2,896
Other	910	12,827
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:	'	'
Accounts receivable	-57,004	-61,399
Inventory	14,480	5,500
Other current assets	4,742	-33,829
Other long-term assets	1,275	16,233
Trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities	-28,471	-63,130
Income taxes payable	-26,036	11,327
Other long-term liabilities	188,028	-31,123
Net cash provided by operating activities	444,563	179,295
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Purchases of investments	-286	'
Sales and maturities of investments	733	142,336
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	-10,200	-37,516
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	-1,255	-12
Capital expenditures	-396,465	-235,539
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	21,605	6,605
Net cash used for investing activities	-385,868	-124,126
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	-1,822	-1,975
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares	4,931	1,027
Dividends to shareholders	-11,893	'
Proceeds from (payment for) commercial paper, net	-39,594	-12,891
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities	15,000	'
Reduction in revolving credit facilities	-67,500	'
Other	-11,585	1,395
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	-112,463	-12,444
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-9,266	-2,759
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-63,034	39,966
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	389,915	524,922
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$326,881	$564,888

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CHA

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Common Shares	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Retained Earnings	Treasury Shares	Non-controlling Interest
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012 (As previously reported)	$5,957,117	$319	$2,337,244	$431,595	$4,120,398	($944,627)	$12,188
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	5,957,117	319	2,337,244	340,143	4,211,850	-944,627	12,188
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012 (As previously reported)	'	318,813	'	'	'	'	'
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	'	318,813	'	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Equity	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revision	'	'	'	-91,452	91,452	'	'
Net income (loss)	99,218	'	'	'	99,121	'	97
Dividends to shareholders ($.04/share)	-12,891	'	'	'	-12,891	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-89,866	'	'	-88,452	'	'	-1,414
Issuance of common shares for stock options exercised	1,027	'	1,027	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common shares for stock options exercised (in shares)	100	108	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based compensation	32,853	'	32,853	'	'	'	'
Other	-2,773	4	-2,777	'	'	'	'
Other (in shares)	'	4,098	'	'	'	'	'
Balance at Mar. 31, 2013	5,984,685	323	2,368,347	251,691	4,298,080	-944,627	10,871
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2013	'	323,019	'	'	'	'	'
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013 (As previously reported)	5,981,177	324	2,392,585	307,592	4,213,212	-944,627	12,091
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	5,981,177	324	2,392,585	216,140	4,304,664	-944,627	12,091
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013 (As previously reported)	'	323,711	'	'	'	'	'
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	'	323,711	'	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Equity	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revision	'	'	'	-91,452	91,452	'	'
Net income (loss)	50,492	'	'	'	49,919	'	573
Dividends to shareholders ($.04/share)	-11,893	'	'	'	-11,893	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-56,155	'	'	-55,674	'	'	-481
Issuance of common shares for stock options exercised	4,931	1	4,930	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common shares for stock options exercised (in shares)	500	517	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based compensation	10,685	'	10,685	'	'	'	'
Other	-7,968	1	-6,586	'	'	'	-1,383
Other (in shares)	'	1,544	'	'	'	'	'
Balance at Mar. 31, 2014	$5,971,269	$326	$2,401,614	$160,466	$4,342,690	($944,627)	$10,800
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2014	'	325,772	'	'	'	'	'

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CHA1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY	'	'
Dividends to shareholders (in dollars per share)	$0.04	$0.04

Nature_of_Operations

Nature of Operations	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Nature of Operations	'
Nature of Operations	'
	Note 1 Nature of Operations
	Nabors has grown from a land drilling business centered in the United States and Canada to a global business aimed at optimizing the entire well life cycle, with operations on land and offshore in most of the major oil and gas markets in the world. The majority of our business is conducted through two business lines:
	Drilling & Rig Services
	This business line is comprised of our global drilling rig operations and drilling-related services, consisting of equipment manufacturing, instrumentation optimization software and directional drilling services.
	Completion & Production Services
	This business line is comprised of our operations involved in the completion, life-of-well maintenance and eventual plugging and abandonment of a well.  These services include stimulation, coiled-tubing, cementing, wireline, workover, well-servicing and fluids management.
	As a global provider of services for land-based and offshore oil and natural gas wells, Nabors’ fleet of rigs and equipment includes:
	·                  493 actively marketed land drilling rigs for oil and gas land drilling operations in the United States, Canada and over 20 other countries throughout the world.
	·                  445 actively marketed rigs for land well-servicing and workover services in the United States and approximately 98 rigs for land well-servicing and workover services in Canada.
	·                  39 platform, 7 jackup and 4 barge rigs actively marketed in the United States and multiple international markets.
	·                  Approximately 800,000 hydraulic horsepower for hydraulic fracturing, cementing, nitrogen and acid pressure pumping services in key basins throughout the United States and Canada.
	In addition:
	·                  We offer a wide range of ancillary well-site services, including engineering, transportation and disposal, construction, maintenance, well logging, directional drilling, rig instrumentation, data collection and other support services in select U.S. and international markets.
	·                  We manufacture and lease or sell top drives for a broad range of drilling applications, directional drilling systems, rig instrumentation and data collection equipment, pipeline handling equipment and rig reporting software.
	·                  We have a 51% ownership interest in a joint venture in Saudi Arabia, which owns and actively markets 5 rigs in addition to the rigs we lease to the joint venture.
	Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this report to “we,” “us,” “our,” “the Company,” or “Nabors” mean Nabors Industries Ltd., together with our subsidiaries where the context requires, including Nabors Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Nabors Delaware”), our wholly owned subsidiary.

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	'
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	'
	Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Interim Financial Information
	The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Nabors are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted.  Therefore, these financial statements should be read along with our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 (“2013 Annual Report”).  In management’s opinion, the consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly our financial position as of March 31, 2014, as well as the results of our operations, other comprehensive income, our cash flows and changes in equity for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, in accordance with GAAP.  Interim results for the three months ended March 31, 2014 may not be indicative of results that will be realized for the full year ending December 31, 2014.
	Our independent registered public accounting firm has reviewed and issued a report on these consolidated interim financial statements in accordance with standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.  Pursuant to Rule 436(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this report should not be considered a part of any registration statement prepared or certified within the meanings of Sections 7 and 11 of such Act.
	Prior Period Revision
	During the first quarter of 2014, we determined that we had incorrectly applied certain aspects of ASC 830 - Foreign Currency Matters with respect to the recording of foreign currency gains or losses on certain intercompany transactions.  GAAP requires the recognition of foreign currency gains or losses on U.S. dollar denominated intercompany balances of our subsidiaries that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar.  The primary years impacted were 2002 and 2009, which is the period over which a series of intercompany loans were outstanding between our Canadian subsidiary, whose functional currency is the Canadian dollar, and other subsidiaries whose functional currencies are the U.S. dollar.
	The net effect understated net income for periods before 2009 by approximately $91.5 million, due to foreign currency gains that should have been recorded through net income, rather than through Cumulative Translation Adjustments (a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income).  The correction of this error resulted in a revision to increase the beginning Retained Earnings at January 1, 2010 by approximately $91.5 million with the offset being a decrease to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, both of which are components of Shareholders’ Equity.  There was no other material impact to our assets, liabilities, cash flows or profit and loss for any periods presented. We do not consider this revision material to any period.
	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 GAAP.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.
	Investments in operating entities where we have the ability to exert significant influence, but where we do not control operating and financial policies, are accounted for using the equity method.  Our share of the net income (loss) of these entities is recorded as earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates in our consolidated statements of income (loss).  The investments in these entities are included in investment in unconsolidated affiliates in our consolidated balance sheets.
	Inventory
	Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out or weighted-average cost methods and includes the cost of materials, labor and manufacturing overhead.  Inventory included the following:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Raw materials	$	121,780	$	128,606
	Work-in-progress	27,009		26,762
	Finished goods	45,582		54,425
		$	194,371	$	209,793
	Goodwill
	We review goodwill for impairment annually during the second quarter of each fiscal year or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such goodwill and intangible assets exceed their fair value.  We initially assess goodwill for impairment based on qualitative factors to determine whether to perform the two-step annual goodwill impairment test, a Level 3 fair value measurement.  After our qualitative assessment, step one of the impairment test compares the estimated fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying amount.  If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, a second step is required to measure the goodwill impairment loss.  The second step compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill to its carrying amount.  If the carrying amount exceeds the implied fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess.
	Our estimated fair values of our reporting units incorporate judgment and the use of estimates by management.  Potential factors requiring assessment include a further or sustained decline in our stock price, declines in oil and natural gas prices, a variance in results of operations from forecasts, a change in operating strategy for particular assets and additional transactions in the oil and gas industry.  Another factor in determining whether impairment has occurred is the relationship between our market capitalization and our book value. As part of our annual review, we compare the sum of our reporting units’ estimated fair value, which includes the estimated fair value of non-operating assets and liabilities, less debt, to our market capitalization and assess the reasonableness of our estimated fair value. Any of the above-mentioned factors may cause us to re-evaluate goodwill during any quarter throughout the year.

Cash_and_Cash_Equivalents_and_

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments	'
	Note 3 Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments
	Certain information related to our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments follows:
		March 31, 2014							December 31, 2013
		Fair Value		Gross		Gross			Fair Value		Gross		Gross
				Unrealized		Unrealized					Unrealized		Unrealized
				Holding		Holding					Holding		Holding
				Gains		Losses					Gains		Losses
		(In thousands)
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	326,881	$	—	$	—		$	389,915	$	—	$	—
	Short-term investments:
	Available-for-sale equity securities	77,591		49,045		—			96,942		68,395		—
	Available-for-sale debt securities:
	Corporate debt securities	19,525		4,252		—			19,388		4,122		—
	Mortgage-backed debt securities	209		11		—			210		11		—
	Mortgage-CMO debt securities	20		—		(1		)	20		—		(2		)
	Asset-backed debt securities	541		1		(37		)	658		2		(54		)
	Total available-for-sale debt securities	20,295		4,264		(38		)	20,276		4,135		(56		)
	Total available-for-sale securities	97,886		53,309		(38		)	117,218		72,530		(56		)
	Total short-term investments	97,886		53,309		(38		)	117,218		72,530		(56		)
	Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	424,767	$	53,309	$	(38	)	$	507,133	$	72,530	$	(56	)
	Certain information related to the gross unrealized losses of our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments follows:
		As of March 31, 2014
		Less Than 12 Months				More Than 12 Months
		Fair Value		Gross		Fair Value			Gross
				Unrealized					Unrealized
				Losses					Losses
		(In thousands)
	Available-for-sale debt securities: (1)
	Mortgage-CMO debt securities	$	20	$	1	$	—		$	—
	Asset-backed debt securities	—		—		361			37
	Total available-for-sale debt securities	20		1		361			37
	Total	$	20	$	1	$	361		$	37
	(1)         Our unrealized losses on available-for-sale debt securities held for more than one year are comprised of various types of securities.  Each of these securities has a rating ranging from “A” to “AAA” from Standard & Poor’s and ranging from “A2” to “Aaa” from Moody’s Investors Service and is considered to be of high credit quality.  In each case, we do not intend to sell these investments, and it is less likely than not that we will be required to sell them to satisfy our own cash flow and working capital requirements.  We believe that we will be able to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of each investment and, therefore, do not consider the decline in value of these investments to be other-than-temporary at March 31, 2014.
	The estimated fair values of our corporate, mortgage-backed, mortgage-CMO and asset-backed debt securities at March 31, 2014, classified by time to contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because the issuers of the securities may have the right to repay obligations without prepayment penalties and we may elect to sell the securities prior to the contractual maturity date.
		Estimated
		Fair Value
		March 31, 2014
		(In thousands)
	Debt securities:
	Due in one year or less	$	—
	Due after one year through five years	15,525
	Due in more than five years	4,770
	Total debt securities	$	20,295
	Certain information regarding our debt and equity securities is presented below:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Available-for-sale
	Proceeds from sales and maturities	$	135	$	86,601
	Realized gains (losses), net	$	—	$	75,974

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Measurements	'
Fair Value Measurements	'
	Note 4 Fair Value Measurements
	The following table sets forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy, our financial assets and liabilities that are accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2014.  Our debt securities could transfer into or out of a Level 1 or 2 measure depending on the availability of independent and current pricing at the end of each quarter.  During the three months ended March 31, 2014, there were no transfers of our financial assets between Level 1 and Level 2 measures.  Our financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
		Fair Value as of March 31, 2014
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
		(In thousands)
	Assets:
	Short-term investments:
	Available-for-sale equity securities (energy industry)	$	76,729	$	862	$	—	$	77,591
	Available-for-sale debt securities:
	Corporate debt securities	—		19,525		—		19,525
	Mortgage-backed debt securities	—		209		—		209
	Mortgage-CMO debt securities	—		20		—		20
	Asset-backed debt securities	541		—		—		541
	Total short-term investments	$	77,270	$	20,616	$	—	$	97,886
	Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements
	Fair value measurements were applied with respect to our nonfinancial assets and liabilities measured on a nonrecurring basis, which would consist of measurements primarily to assets held-for-sale, goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination, asset retirement obligations and our pipeline contractual commitment.
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The fair value of our financial instruments has been estimated in accordance with GAAP.  The fair value of our long-term debt, revolving credit facility, commercial paper and subsidiary preferred stock is estimated based on quoted market prices or prices quoted from third-party financial institutions. The carrying and fair values of these liabilities were as follows:
		March 31, 2014				December 31, 2013
		Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
		Value		Value		Value		Value
		(In thousands)
	2.35% senior notes due September 2016	$	349,836	$	357,851	$	349,820	$	354,694
	6.15% senior notes due February 2018	970,234		1,102,511		969,928		1,097,480
	9.25% senior notes due January 2019	339,607		427,966		339,607		428,733
	5.00% senior notes due September 2020	698,208		748,720		697,947		731,955
	4.625% senior notes due September 2021	698,024		723,030		698,148		709,793
	5.10% senior notes due September 2023	348,797		362,250		348,765		349,731
	Subsidiary preferred stock	69,188		69,000		69,188		69,000
	Revolving credit facility	117,500		117,500		170,000		170,000
	Commercial paper	290,250		290,250		329,844		329,844
	Other	5,316		5,316		10,243		10,243
	Total	$	3,886,960	$	4,204,394	$	3,983,490	$	4,251,473
	The fair values of our cash equivalents, trade receivables and trade payables approximate their carrying values due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

ShareBased_Compensation

Share-Based Compensation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Share-Based Compensation	'
Share-Based Compensation	'
	Note 5 Share-Based Compensation
	We have several share-based employee and director compensation plans, which are more fully described in Note 9 — Share-Based Compensation in our 2013 Annual Report. Total share-based compensation expense, which includes stock options and restricted stock, totaled $10.7 million and $32.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Share-based compensation expense has been allocated to our various operating segments.  See Note 13 — Segment Information.
	Stock Options
	The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was $6.0 million and $0.7 million, respectively.  The total fair value of stock options that vested during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was $1.5 million and $3.8 million, respectively.
	Restricted Stock
	During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we awarded 1,106,919 and 4,061,027 shares of restricted stock, respectively, vesting over periods of up to four years, to our employees and directors.  These awards had an aggregate value at their date of grant of $25.2 million and $66.8 million, respectively.  The fair value of restricted stock that vested during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was $22.4 million and $35.5 million, respectively.
	Restricted Stock Based on Performance
	During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we awarded 362,311 shares of restricted stock, vesting over a period of three years to some of our executives.  The performance awards granted were based upon achievement of specific financial or operational objectives. The number of shares granted was determined by the number of performance goals achieved during the period January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013.
	Our performance awards based on performance conditions are liability-classified awards until shares are granted, of which our accrued liabilities included $0.4 million at March 31, 2014 for the performance period beginning January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. The fair value of these awards are estimated at each reporting period, based on internal metrics and marked to market.
	Restricted Stock Based on Market Conditions
	During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we awarded 395,550 and 353,933 shares of restricted stock, respectively, which will vest based on our performance compared to our peer group over a three-year period. These awards had an aggregate value at their date of grant of $4.5 million and $3.7 million, respectively, after consideration of all assumptions. The grant date fair value of these awards was based on a Monte Carlo model, using the following assumptions during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:
		2014			2013
	Risk free interest rate	0.8		%	0.41		%
	Expected volatility	40		%	46		%
	Closing stock price	$	18.19		$	16.53
	Expected term (in years)	2.97 years			2.82 years

Debt

Debt	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt	'
Debt	'
	Note 6 Debt
	Debt consisted of the following:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	2.35% senior notes due September 2016	$	349,836	$	349,820
	6.15% senior notes due February 2018	970,234		969,928
	9.25% senior notes due January 2019	339,607		339,607
	5.00% senior notes due September 2020	698,208		697,947
	4.625% senior notes due September 2021	698,024		698,148
	5.10% senior notes due September 2023	348,797		348,765
	Revolving credit facility	117,500		170,000
	Commercial paper	290,250		329,844
	Other	5,316		10,243
		$	3,817,772	$	3,914,302
	Less: current portion	5,296		10,185
		$	3,812,476	$	3,904,117
	Commercial Paper Program
	As of March 31, 2014, we had approximately $290.3 million of commercial paper outstanding.  The weighted average interest rate on borrowings at March 31, 2014 was 0.33%.  Our commercial paper borrowings are classified as long-term debt because the borrowings are fully supported by availability under our revolving credit facility, which matures as currently structured in November 2017, more than one year from now.
	Revolving Credit Facility
	As of March 31, 2014, we had approximately $117.5 million of borrowings outstanding.  The weighted average interest rate on borrowings at March 31, 2014 was 1.46%.  The revolving credit facility contains various covenants and restrictive provisions that limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness, make investments or loans and create liens and require us to maintain a net funded indebtedness to total capitalization ratio, as defined in each agreement. We were in compliance with all covenants under the agreement at March 31, 2014. If we fail to perform our obligations under the covenants, the revolving credit commitment could be terminated, and any outstanding borrowings under the facility could be declared immediately due and payable.

Common_Shares

Common Shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Common Shares	'
Common Shares	'
	Note 7 Common Shares
	During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, our employees exercised vested options to acquire 0.5 million and 0.1 million of our common shares, respectively, resulting in proceeds of $4.9 million and $1.0 million respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we withheld 0.3 million and 0.2 million, respectively, of our common shares with a fair value of $6.6 million and $2.8 million, respectively, to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of all stock awards.
	On February 21, 2014, a cash dividend of $0.04 per share was declared for shareholders of record on March 10, 2014. The dividend was paid on March 31, 2014 in the amount of $11.9 million and was charged to retained earnings in our consolidated statement of changes in equity for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

Subsidiary_Preferred_Stock

Subsidiary Preferred Stock	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Subsidiary Preferred Stock	'
Subsidiary Preferred Stock	'
	Note 8 Subsidiary Preferred Stock
	As of March 31, 2014, dividends on outstanding shares of preferred stock had been declared and paid in full with respect to each quarter since their issuance.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	Note 9 Commitments and Contingencies
	Commitments
	Employment Agreement
	Effective March 3, 2014, we entered an employment agreement with William Restrepo, our Chief Financial Officer. The employment agreement provides for an initial term through December 2017, with automatic one-year extensions at the end of each term, subject to a 365-day notice of termination provided within the agreement. Mr. Restrepo’s annual base salary was set at $0.65 million. In addition, the employment agreement provides for an annual bonus targeted at base salary, with a cap of twice that amount, based on the achievement of one or more annual financial and operational performance goals, as determined by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors.
	The employment agreement also provides for long-term equity incentive awards.  Mr. Restrepo will receive awards of restricted stock that may or may not vest depending upon the Company’s performance relative to a Performance Peer Group (as defined) over a three-year period (“TSR Shares”).  The agreement provides that the target number of TSR Shares that will vest is valued at 100% of base salary, with a maximum number of TSR Shares valued at twice that amount.  In addition, Mr. Restrepo’s employment agreement provides for long-term equity incentive awards in the form of restricted stock based upon the achievement of specific financial or operational objectives (“Performance Shares”).  Once earned, Performance Shares are then subject to three-year vesting requirements.  Performance Shares are targeted at 100% of base salary, with a maximum award of twice that amount, and are also subject to a minimum threshold before any amount can be earned.
	As an inducement to join the Company and to make him whole for certain foregone amounts at his prior employer, Mr. Restrepo received an award of restricted stock with a grant-date fair value of $4.9 million. The award vests over four years.
	Mr. Restrepo’s employment agreement provides for severance payments in the event the agreement is terminated, including in connection with a change in control (as defined in the employment agreement), (i) by the Company prior to the expiration date of the agreement for any reason other than for cause, or (ii) by Mr. Restrepo for constructive termination without cause, each as defined in the employment agreement. Mr. Restrepo would have the right to receive within 30 days of a termination without cause or constructive termination without cause, 2.99 times the sum of the average of his base salary and annual bonus during the three fiscal years preceding the termination (or, if employed less than three completed fiscal years, his then-current base salary and target annual bonus would be used for the years not employed).
	Mr. Restrepo’s employment agreement  also provides that, upon death, disability, termination without cause, or constructive termination without cause, he would receive (a) any unvested stock options and restricted stock outstanding (except for TSR Shares), which will immediately and fully vest; (b)  any amounts earned, accrued or owing to him but not yet paid (including executive benefits, life insurance, disability benefits and reimbursement of expenses and perquisites); (c) continued participation in medical, dental and life insurance coverage; and (d) certain perquisites and other or additional benefits in accordance with applicable plans and programs of Nabors. In addition, under the employment agreement, any unvested TSR Shares at the time of termination for these reasons will vest at target levels.
	Contingencies
	Income Tax
	We are subject to income taxes in the United States and numerous other jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our worldwide provision for income taxes. In the ordinary course of our business, there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. We are regularly audited by tax authorities. Although we believe our tax estimates are reasonable, the final determination of tax audits and any related litigation could be materially different than what is reflected in income tax provisions and accruals. An audit or litigation could materially affect our financial position, income tax provision, net income, or cash flows in the period or periods challenged.
	It is possible that future changes to tax laws (including tax treaties) could impact our ability to realize the tax savings recorded to date as well as future tax savings, resulting from our 2002 corporate reorganization.  See Note 14 — Income Taxes to our 2013 Annual Report for additional discussion.
	In 2006, Nabors Drilling International Limited, one of our wholly owned Bermuda subsidiaries (“NDIL”), received a Notice of Assessment from Mexico’s federal tax authorities in connection with the audit of NDIL’s Mexico branch for 2003. The notice proposed to deny depreciation expense deductions relating to drilling rigs operating in Mexico in 2003. The notice also proposed to deny a deduction for payments made to an affiliated company for the procurement of labor services in Mexico. NDIL’s Mexico branch took similar deductions for depreciation and labor expenses from 2004 to 2008. In 2009, the government proposed similar assessments against the Mexico branch of another wholly owned Bermuda subsidiary, Nabors Drilling International II Ltd. (“NDIL II”) for 2006. We anticipate that a similar assessment will eventually be proposed against NDIL through 2008 and against NDIL II for 2007 to 2010. Although we previously concluded that the deductions were appropriate for each of the years, a reserve has been recorded in accordance with GAAP. During 2013, we reached a negotiated settlement for NDIL’s 2003, 2005 and 2006 tax years (the statute of limitations had previously expired on the 2004 tax year) and NDIL II’s 2006 tax year. Accordingly, the corresponding reserves were reduced by approximately $20 million during 2013. After this settlement, the remaining amounts assessed or expected to be assessed in the aggregate, range from $30 million to $35 million, for which reserves are recorded in accordance with GAAP. If we ultimately do not prevail, we would be required to recognize additional tax expense for any amount in excess of the current reserve.
	Self-Insurance
	We estimate the level of our liability related to insurance and record reserves for these amounts in our consolidated financial statements. Our estimates are based on the facts and circumstances specific to existing claims and our past experience with similar claims. These loss estimates and accruals recorded in our financial statements for claims have historically been reasonable in light of the actual amount of claims paid and are actuarially supported.  Although we believe our insurance coverage and reserve estimates are reasonable, a significant accident or other event that is not fully covered by insurance or contractual indemnity could occur and could materially affect our financial position and results of operations for a particular period.
	We self-insure for certain losses relating to workers’ compensation, employers’ liability, general liability, automobile liability and property damage. Effective April 1, 2014, some of our workers’ compensation claims, employers’ liability and marine employers’ liability claims are subject to a $3.0 million per-occurrence deductible; additionally, some of our automobile liability claims are subject to a $2.5 million deductible.  General liability claims remain subject to a $5.0 million per-occurrence deductible.
	In addition, we are subject to a $5.0 million deductible for land rigs and for offshore rigs.  This applies to all kinds of risks of physical damage except for named windstorms in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico for which we are self-insured.
	Litigation
	Nabors and its subsidiaries are defendants or otherwise involved in a number of lawsuits in the ordinary course of business. We estimate the range of our liability related to pending litigation when we believe the amount and range of loss can 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. In the opinion of management and based on liability accruals provided, our ultimate exposure with respect to these pending lawsuits and claims is not expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or cash flows, although they could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations for a particular reporting period.
	In 2009, the Court of Ouargla entered a judgment of approximately $17.7 million (at current exchange rates) against us relating to alleged customs infractions in Algeria.  We believe we did not receive proper notice of the judicial proceedings, and that the amount of the judgment was excessive in any case.  We asserted the lack of legally required notice as a basis for challenging the judgment on appeal to the Algeria Supreme Court.  In May 2012, that court reversed the lower court and remanded the case to the Ouargla Court of Appeals for treatment consistent with the Supreme Court’s ruling. In January 2013, the Ouargla Court of Appeals reinstated the judgment.  We have again lodged an appeal to the Algeria Supreme Court, asserting the same challenges as before. Based upon our understanding of applicable law and precedent, we continue to believe that we will prevail. Although the appeal remains ongoing at this time, the Hassi Messaoud customs office recently initiated efforts to collect the judgment prior to the Supreme Court’s decision in the case.  As a result, we paid approximately $3.1 million and posted security of approximately $1.33 million to suspend those collection efforts and to enter into a formal negotiations process with the customs authority.  We have recorded a reserve in the amount of the posted security. If we are ultimately required to pay a fine or judgment related to this matter, the resulting loss could be up to $13.3 million in excess of amounts accrued.
	In March 2011, the Court of Ouargla entered a judgment of approximately $34.8 million (at current exchange rates) against us relating to alleged violations of Algeria’s foreign currency exchange controls, which require that goods and services provided locally be invoiced and paid in local currency. The case relates to certain foreign currency payments made to us by CEPSA, a Spanish operator, for wells drilled in 2006. Approximately $7.5 million of the total contract amount was paid offshore in foreign currency, and approximately $3.2 million was paid in local currency. The judgment includes fines and penalties of approximately four times the amount at issue. We have appealed the ruling based on our understanding that the law in question applies only to resident entities incorporated under Algerian law. An intermediate court of appeals has upheld the lower court’s ruling, and we have appealed the matter to the Algeria Supreme Court. While our payments were consistent with our historical operations in the country, and, we believe, those of other multinational corporations there, as well as interpretations of the law by the Central Bank of Algeria, the ultimate resolution of this matter could result in a loss of up to $26.8 million in excess of amounts accrued.
	In 2012, Nabors Global Holdings II Limited (“NGH2L”) signed a contract with ERG Resources, LLC (“ERG”) relating to the sale of all of the Class A shares of NGH2L’s wholly owned subsidiary, Ramshorn International Limited, an oil and gas exploration company.  When ERG failed to meet its closing obligations, NGH2L terminated the transaction on March 19, 2012 and, as contemplated in the agreement, retained ERG’s $3.0 million escrow deposit. ERG filed suit the following day in the 61st Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas, in a case styled ERG Resources, LLC v. Nabors Global Holdings II Limited, Ramshorn International Limited, and Parex Resources, Inc.; Cause No. 2012-16446, seeking injunctive relief to halt any sale of the shares to a third party, specifically naming as defendant Parex Resources, Inc. (“Parex”).  The lawsuit also seeks monetary damages of up to $750.0 million based on an alleged breach of contract by NGH2L and alleged tortious interference with contractual relations by Parex. Nabors successfully defeated ERG’s effort to obtain a temporary restraining order from the Texas court on March 20, 2012.  Nabors completed the sale of Ramshorn’s Class A shares to a Parex affiliate in April 2012, which mooted ERG’s application for a temporary injunction.  The lawsuit is staid, pending further court actions. ERG retains its causes of action for monetary damages, but Nabors believes the claims are foreclosed by the terms of the agreement and are without factual or legal merit.  Although we are vigorously defending the lawsuit, its ultimate outcome cannot be determined at this time.
	Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements (Including Guarantees)
	We are a party to some transactions, agreements or other contractual arrangements defined as “off-balance sheet arrangements” that could have a material future effect on our financial position, results of operations, liquidity and capital resources.  The most significant of these off-balance sheet arrangements involve agreements and obligations under which we provide financial or performance assurance to third parties. Certain of these agreements serve as guarantees, including standby letters of credit issued on behalf of insurance carriers in conjunction with our workers’ compensation insurance program and other financial surety instruments such as bonds. In addition, we have provided indemnifications, which serve as guarantees, to some third parties. These guarantees include indemnification provided by Nabors to our share transfer agent and our insurance carriers. We are not able to estimate the potential future maximum payments that might be due under our indemnification guarantees.
	Management believes the likelihood that we would be required to perform or otherwise incur any material losses associated with any of these guarantees is remote. The following table summarizes the total maximum amount of financial guarantees issued by Nabors:
		Maximum Amount
		Remainder of		2015		2016		Thereafter		Total
		2014
		(In thousands)
	Financial standby letters of credit and other financial surety instruments	$	115,018	$	40,408	$	—	$	19	$	155,445

Earnings_Losses_Per_Share

Earnings (Losses) Per Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings (Losses) Per Share	'
Earnings (Losses) Per Share	'
	Note 10 Earnings (Losses) Per Share
	A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted earnings (losses) per share computations is as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands, except per share amounts)
	Net income (loss) (numerator):
	Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	$	48,977		$	92,207
	Less: net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(573		)	(97		)
	Less: (earnings) losses allocated to unvested shareholders	(733		)	(814		)
	Adjusted income (loss) from continuing operations - basic and diluted	$	47,671		$	91,296
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	$	1,515		$	7,011
	Earnings (losses) per share:
	Basic from continuing operations	$	0.16		$	0.31
	Basic from discontinued operations	0.01			0.03
	Total Basic	$	0.17		$	0.34
	Diluted from continuing operations	$	0.16		$	0.31
	Diluted from discontinued operations	—			0.02
	Total Diluted	$	0.16		$	0.33
	Shares (denominator):
	Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - basic	296,210			291,687
	Net effect of dilutive stock options, warrants and restricted stock awards based on the if-converted method	2,840			2,483
	Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - diluted	299,050			294,170
	For all periods presented, the computation of diluted earnings (losses) per share excludes outstanding stock options with exercise prices greater than the average market price of our common shares, because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive and because they are not considered participating securities. The average number of options and warrants that were excluded from diluted earnings (losses) per share that would potentially dilute earnings per share were 7,853,509 and 12,452,263 shares during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  In any period during which the average market price of our common shares exceeds the exercise prices of these stock options and warrants, such stock options and warrants will be included in our diluted earnings (losses) per share computation using the if-converted method of accounting. Restricted stock is included in our basic and diluted earnings (losses) per share computation using the two-class method of accounting in all periods because such stock is considered participating securities.

Supplemental_Balance_Sheet_Inc

Supplemental Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Cash Flow Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Supplemental Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Cash Flow Information	'
Supplemental Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Cash Flow Information	'
	Note 11 Supplemental Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Cash Flow Information
	Accrued liabilities include the following:
		March 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Accrued compensation	$	158,676		$	172,803
	Deferred revenue	234,900			202,918
	Other taxes payable	41,047			76,781
	Workers’ compensation liabilities	29,459			29,459
	Interest payable	18,284			64,728
	Warranty accrual	4,240			4,653
	Litigation reserves	24,774			30,784
	Current liability to discontinued operations	29,381			64,404
	Professional fees	2,652			2,971
	Current deferred tax liability	3,075			3,075
	Current liability to acquisition of KVS	22,033			22,033
	Other accrued liabilities	16,227			22,484
		$	584,748		$	697,093
	Investment income (loss) includes the following:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Interest and dividend income	$	970		$	776
	Gains (losses) on investments, net	10			78,645		-1
		$	980		$	79,421
	(1)         Includes realized gains of $76.2 million from the sale of short-term and other long-term investments and net realized gains of $2.4 million from the sale of our trading securities.
	Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net include the following:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Losses (gains) on sales, disposals and involuntary conversions of long-lived assets	$	2,432		$	3,411
	Termination of employment contract	—			45,000		-1
	Litigation expenses	3,060			6,161
	Foreign currency transaction losses (gains)	(3,293		)	4,317
	Other losses (gains)	(723		)	848
		$	1,476		$	59,737
	(1)         Represents a one-time stock grant valued at $27 million, which vested immediately and $18 million in cash awarded and paid to Mr. Petrello in connection with the termination of his prior employment agreement. See Note 9 — Commitments and Contingencies to our 2013 Annual Report for additional discussion.
	The changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), by component, includes the following:
					Unrealized
					gains (losses)			Defined
		Gains (losses)			on available-			benefit
		on cash flow			for-sale			pension plan			Foreign
		hedges			securities			items			currency items			Total
		(In thousands)(1)
	As of January 1, 2013	$	(2,793	)	$	134,229		$	(7,632	)	$	216,339	-2	$	340,143	-2
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax of $70	—			10,069			—			(23,265		)	(13,196		)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	94			(75,523		)	173			—			(75,256		)
	Net other comprehensive income (loss)	94			(65,454		)	173			(23,265		)	(88,452		)
	As of March 31, 2013	$	(2,699	)	$	68,775		$	(7,459	)	$	193,074		$	251,691
		Gains (losses)			Unrealized			Defined			Foreign			Total
		on cash flow			gains (losses)			benefit			currency items
		hedges			on available-			pension plan
					for-sale			items
					securities
		(In thousands)(1)
	As of January 1, 2014	$	(2,419	)	$	71,742		$	(4,075	)	$	150,892	-2	$	216,140	-2
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	—			(19,248		)	—			(36,594		)	(55,842		)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	93			—			75			—			168
	Net other comprehensive income (loss)	93			(19,248		)	75			(36,594		)	(55,674		)
	As of March 31, 2014	$	(2,326	)	$	52,494		$	(4,000	)	$	114,298		$	160,466
	(1)         All amounts are net of tax. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits.
	(2)         Reflects amounts reclassified from foreign currency translation adjustment to retained earnings as discussed in Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.
	The line items that were reclassified from net income include the following:
	Three Months Ended March 31,
Line item in consolidated statement of income (loss)	2014			2013
	(In thousands)
Investment income (loss), net of income taxes of $0 and $(451)	$	—		$	(75,974	)
Interest expense, net of income taxes of $60 and $59	(153		)	(153		)
General and administrative expenses, net of income taxes of $48 and $108	(123		)	(281		)
Total before tax	$	276		$	(75,540	)
Tax expense (benefit)	108			(284		)
Reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses included in net income (loss)	$	168		$	(75,256	)

Assets_HeldforSale_and_Discont

Assets Held-for-Sale and Discontinued Operations	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Assets Held-for-Sale and Discontinued Operations	'
Assets Held-for-Sale and Discontinued Operations	'
	Note 12 Assets Held-for-Sale and Discontinued Operations
		March 31,		December 31,
	Assets Held-for-Sale	2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Oil and Gas	$	231,880	$	239,936
	Rig Services	—		3,328
		$	231,880	$	243,264
	We have contracts with pipeline companies to pay specified fees based on committed volumes for gas transport and processing.  At March 31, 2014, our undiscounted contractual commitments for these contracts approximated $145.4 million and we had liabilities of $64.9 million, $29.4 million of which were classified as current and were included in accrued liabilities.  At December 31, 2013, we had liabilities of $113.6 million, $64.4 million of which were classified as current and were included in accrued liabilities. These amounts represent our best estimate of the fair value of the excess capacity of the pipeline commitments calculated using a discounted cash flow model, when considering our disposal plan, current production levels, natural gas prices and expected utilization of the pipeline over the remaining contractual term.  Decreases in actual production or natural gas prices could result in future charges related to excess pipeline commitments.
	Discontinued Operations
	Our condensed statements of income (loss) from discontinued operations for each operating segment were as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Operating revenues
	Oil and Gas	$	5,057	$	9,989
	Rig Services	$	—	$	47,204
	Income (loss) from Oil and Gas discontinued operations:
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$	2,618	$	2,070
	Less: Impairment charges or other (gains) and losses on sale of wholly owned assets	1,002		2,000
	Less: Income tax expense (benefit)	101		(283		)
	Income (loss) from Oil and Gas discontinued operations, net of tax	$	1,515	$	353
	Income (loss) from Rig Services discontinued operations:
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$	—	$	9,371
	Less: Impairment charges or other (gains) and losses on sale of long-lived assets	—		323
	Less: Income tax expense (benefit)	—		2,390
	Income (loss) from Rig Services discontinued operations, net of tax	$	—	$	6,658

Segment_Information

Segment Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Information	'
Segment Information	'
	Note 13 Segment Information
	The following table sets forth financial information with respect to our operating segments:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates: (1)
	Drilling & Rig Services:
	U.S.	$	510,476		$	484,773
	Canada	111,621			126,867
	International	375,069			321,516
	Rig Services (2)	143,726			134,231
	Subtotal Drilling & Rig Services (3)	1,140,892			1,067,387
	Completion & Production Services:
	Completion Services	227,899			262,138
	Production Services	275,400			251,571
	Subtotal Completion & Production Services (4)	503,299			513,709
	Other reconciling items (5)	(57,018		)	(42,723		)
	Total	$	1,587,173		$	1,538,373
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities (1) (6)
	Drilling & Rig Services:
	U.S.	$	72,494		$	77,595
	Canada	26,160			30,518
	International	48,119			21,469
	Rig Services (2)	8,728			1,287
	Subtotal Drilling & Rig Services (3)	155,501			130,869
	Completion & Production Services:
	Completion Services	(33,635		)	17,756
	Production Services	30,591			26,014
	Subtotal Completion & Production Services (4)	(3,044		)	43,770
	Other reconciling items (5)	(43,416		)	(31,501		)
	Total adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	$	109,041		$	143,138
	Interest expense	(44,810		)	(60,011		)
	Investment income (loss)	980			79,421
	Gains (losses) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other income (expense), net	(1,476		)	(59,737		)
	Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	63,735			102,811
	Income tax expense (benefit)	14,008			9,854
	Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	750			750
	Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	48,977			92,207
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,515			7,011
	Net income (loss)	50,492			99,218
	Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(573		)	(97		)
	Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$	49,919		$	99,121
		March 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Total assets:
	Drilling & Rig Services:
	U.S.	$	4,340,581		$	4,248,630
	Canada	608,533			608,018
	International	3,668,340			3,584,339
	Rig Services	479,252			474,275
	Subtotal Drilling & Rig Services (7)	9,096,706			8,915,262
	Completion & Production Services (8) (9)	2,314,481			2,394,865
	Other reconciling items (5)	775,886			849,684
	Total assets:	$	12,187,073		$	12,159,811
	(1)         All periods present the operating activities of our wholly owned oil and gas businesses, our previously held equity interests in oil and gas joint ventures in Canada and Colombia, aircraft logistics operations and construction services as discontinued operations.
	(2)         Includes our drilling technology and top drive manufacturing, directional drilling, rig instrumentation and software services. These services represent our other companies that are not aggregated into a reportable operating segment.
	(3)         Includes earnings (losses), net from unconsolidated affiliates, accounted for using the equity method, of ($2.5) million and $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	(4)         Includes earnings (losses), net from unconsolidated affiliates, accounted for using the equity method, of $0.1 for each of the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.
	(5)         Represents the elimination of inter-segment transactions and unallocated corporate expenses and assets.
(6)         Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities is computed by subtracting the sum of direct costs, general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization from the sum of Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates. These amounts should not be used as a substitute for the amounts reported in accordance with GAAP. However, management evaluates the performance of our business units and the consolidated company based on several criteria, including adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities, because it believes that these financial measures accurately reflect our ongoing profitability. A reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, which is a GAAP measure, is provided in the above table.
(7)         Includes $54.4 million and $56.9 million of investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using the equity method as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
(8)         Reflects assets allocated to the line of business necessary to conduct its operations. Further allocation to individual operating segments of Completion & Production Services is not available.
(9)         Includes $8.7 million and $7.4 million of investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using the equity method as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Condensed_Consolidating_Financ

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information	'
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information	'
	Note 14 Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
	Nabors has fully and unconditionally guaranteed all of the issued public debt securities of Nabors Delaware. The following condensed consolidating financial information is included so that separate financial statements of Nabors Delaware are not required to be filed with the SEC. The condensed consolidating financial statements present investments in both consolidated and unconsolidated affiliates using the equity method of accounting.
	The following condensed consolidating financial information presents condensed consolidating balance sheets as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 and statements of income (loss), statements of other comprehensive income (loss) and statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 of (a) Nabors, parent/guarantor, (b) Nabors Delaware, issuer of public debt securities guaranteed by Nabors, (c) the non-guarantor subsidiaries, (d) consolidating adjustments necessary to consolidate Nabors and its subsidiaries and (e) Nabors on a consolidated basis.
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
		March 31, 2014
								Other
		Nabors			Nabors			Subsidiaries
		(Parent/			Delaware			(Non-			Consolidating
		Guarantor)			(Issuer)			Guarantors)			Adjustments			Total
		(In thousands)
		ASSETS
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	892		$	4		$	325,985		$	—		$	326,881
	Short-term investments	—			—			97,886			—			97,886
	Assets held for sale	—			—			231,880			—			231,880
	Accounts receivable, net	—			—			1,454,368			—			1,454,368
	Inventory	—			—			194,371			—			194,371
	Deferred income taxes	—			—			133,667			—			133,667
	Other current assets	50			30,214			221,951			—			252,215
	Total current assets	942			30,218			2,660,108			—			2,691,268
	Long-term investments	—			—			2,915			—			2,915
	Property, plant and equipment, net	—			32,944			8,657,815			—			8,690,759
	Goodwill	—			—			512,391			—			512,391
	Intercompany receivables	153,352			—			1,787,393			(1,940,745		)	—
	Investment in consolidated affiliates	5,806,653			6,088,501			1,749,780			(13,644,934		)	—
	Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	—			—			63,069			—			63,069
	Other long-term assets	—			32,630			194,041			—			226,671
	Total assets	$	5,960,947		$	6,184,293		$	15,627,512		$	(15,585,679	)	$	12,187,073
		LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
	Current liabilities:
	Current portion of debt	$	—		$	—		$	5,296		$	—		$	5,296
	Trade accounts payable	150			2			630,863			—			631,015
	Accrued liabilities	328			18,094			566,326			—			584,748
	Income taxes payable	—			—			17,083			—			17,083
	Total current liabilities	478			18,096			1,219,568			—			1,238,142
	Long-term debt	—			3,804,956			7,520			—			3,812,476
	Other long-term liabilities	—			30,142			539,851			—			569,993
	Deferred income taxes	—			(237,076		)	763,081			—			526,005
	Intercompany payable	—			1,940,745			—			(1,940,745		)	—
	Total liabilities	478			5,556,863			2,530,020			(1,940,745		)	6,146,616
	Subsidiary preferred stock	—			—			69,188			—			69,188
	Shareholders’ equity	5,960,469			627,430			13,017,504			(13,644,934		)	5,960,469
	Noncontrolling interest	—			—			10,800			—			10,800
	Total equity	5,960,469			627,430			13,028,304			(13,644,934		)	5,971,269
	Total liabilities and equity	$	5,960,947		$	6,184,293		$	15,627,512		$	(15,585,679	)	$	12,187,073
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
		December 31, 2013
								Other
		Nabors			Nabors			Subsidiaries
		(Parent/			Delaware			(Non-			Consolidating
		Guarantor)			(Issuer)			Guarantors)			Adjustments			Total
		(In thousands)
		ASSETS
	Current assets:
	Cash	$	730		$	7,029		$	382,156		$	—		$	389,915
	Short-term investments	—			—			117,218			—			117,218
	Assets held for sale	—			—			243,264			—			243,264
	Accounts receivable, net	27			—			1,399,516			—			1,399,543
	Inventory	—			—			209,793			—			209,793
	Deferred income taxes	—			—			121,316			—			121,316
	Other current assets	50			26,378			246,353			—			272,781
	Total current assets	807			33,407			2,719,616			—			2,753,830
	Long-term investments	—			—			3,236			—			3,236
Property, plant and equipment, net	—			33,815			8,563,998			—			8,597,813
Goodwill	—			—			512,964			—			512,964
Intercompany receivables	160,136			3,891			1,583,539			(1,747,566		)	—
Investment in consolidated affiliates	5,808,607			6,097,337			1,789,851			(13,695,795		)	—
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	—			—			64,260			—			64,260
Other long-term assets	—			34,487			193,221			—			227,708
Total assets	$	5,969,550		$	6,202,937		$	15,430,685		$	(15,443,361	)	$	12,159,811
	LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current debt	$	—		$	—		$	10,185		$	—		$	10,185
Trade accounts payable	86			25			545,401			—			545,512
Accrued liabilities	378			65,947			630,768			—			697,093
Income taxes payable	—			—			58,634			—			58,634
Total current liabilities	464			65,972			1,244,988			—			1,311,424
Long-term debt	—			3,904,059			58			—			3,904,117
Other long-term liabilities	—			31,071			346,673			—			377,744
Deferred income taxes	—			(213,233		)	729,394			—			516,161
Intercompany payable	—			1,747,566			—			(1,747,566		)	—
Total liabilities	464			5,535,435			2,321,113			(1,747,566		)	6,109,446
Subsidiary preferred stock	—			—			69,188			—			69,188
Shareholders’ equity	5,969,086			667,502			13,028,293			(13,695,795		)	5,969,086
Noncontrolling interest	—			—			12,091			—			12,091
Total equity	5,969,086			667,502			13,040,384			(13,695,795		)	5,981,177
Total liabilities and equity	$	5,969,550		$	6,202,937		$	15,430,685		$	(15,443,361	)	$	12,159,811
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Loss)
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
							Other
	Nabors			Nabors			Subsidiaries
	(Parent/			Delaware			(Non-			Consolidating
	Guarantor)			(Issuer)			Guarantors)			Adjustments			Total
	(In thousands)
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	1,589,618		$	—		$	1,589,618
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	—			—			(2,445		)	—			(2,445		)
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	52,583			(8,760		)	(40,089		)	(3,734		)	—
Investment income (loss)	—			—			2,116			(1,136		)	980
Total revenues and other income	52,583			(8,760		)	1,549,200			(4,870		)	1,588,153
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	—			—			1,061,739			—			1,061,739
General and administrative expenses	2,453			(319		)	132,281			(149		)	134,266
Depreciation and amortization	—			902			281,225			—			282,127
Interest expense	—			49,369			(4,559		)	—			44,810
Intercompany interest expense	62			—			(62		)	—			—
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	149			(223		)	1,401			149			1,476
Total costs and other deductions	2,664			49,729			1,472,025			—			1,524,418
Income from continuing operations before income tax	49,919			(58,489		)	77,175			(4,870		)	63,735
Income tax expense (benefit)	—			(18,400		)	32,408			—			14,008
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	—			—			750			—			750
Income (loss) from continuting operations, net of tax	49,919			(40,089		)	44,017			(4,870		)	48,977
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	—			—			1,515			—			1,515
Net income (loss)	49,919			(40,089		)	45,532			(4,870		)	50,492
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(573		)	—			(573		)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$	49,919		$	(40,089	)	$	44,959		$	(4,870	)	$	49,919
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Loss)
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
							Other
	Nabors			Nabors			Subsidiaries
	(Parent/			Delaware			(Non-			Consolidating
	Guarantor)			(Issuer)			Guarantors)			Adjustments			Total
	(In thousands)
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	1,535,478		$	—		$	1,535,478
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	—			—			2,895			—			2,895
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	107,873			42,320			2,023			(152,216		)	—
Investment income (loss)	—			16			79,405			—			79,421
Intercompany interest income	—			29			—			(29		)	—
Total revenues and other income	107,873			42,365			1,619,801			(152,245		)	1,617,794
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	—			—			994,992			—			994,992
General and administrative expenses	1,834			37			129,151			(144		)	130,878
Depreciation and amortization	—			902			268,463			—			269,365
Interest expense	—			63,049			(3,038		)	—			60,011
Intercompany interest expense	—			—			29			(29		)	—
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	6,918			21			52,654			144			59,737
Total costs and other deductions	8,752			64,009			1,442,251			(29		)	1,514,983
Income from continuing operations before income tax	99,121			(21,644		)	177,550			(152,216		)	102,811
Income tax expense (benefit)	—			(23,667		)	33,521			—			9,854
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	—			—			750			—			750
Income (loss) from continuting operations, net of tax	99,121			2,023			143,279			(152,216		)	92,207
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	—			—			7,011			—			7,011
Net income (loss)	99,121			2,023			150,290			(152,216		)	99,218
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(97		)	—			(97		)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$	99,121		$	2,023		$	150,193		$	(152,216	)	$	99,121
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
							Other
	Nabors			Nabors			Subsidiaries
	(Parent/			Delaware			(Non-			Consolidating
	Guarantor)			(Issuer)			Guarantors)			Adjustments			Total
	(In thousands)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$	49,919		$	(40,089	)	$	44,959		$	(4,870	)	$	49,919
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(36,594		)	(216		)	(36,813		)	37,029			(36,594		)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(19,208		)	—			(19,208		)	19,208			(19,208		)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	123			123			246			(369		)	123
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153			153			153			(306		)	153
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	(55,526		)	60			(55,622		)	55,562			(55,526		)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	148			148			236			(384		)	148
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(55,674		)	(88		)	(55,858		)	55,946			(55,674		)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(5,755		)	(40,177		)	(10,899		)	51,076			(5,755		)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			573			—			573
Translation adjustment to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(481		)	—			(481		)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			92			—			92
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	(5,755	)	$	(40,177	)	$	(10,807	)	$	51,076		$	(5,663	)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
							Other
	Nabors			Nabors			Subsidiaries
	(Parent/			Delaware			(Non-			Consolidating
	Guarantor)			(Issuer)			Guarantors)			Adjustments			Total
	(In thousands)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$	99,121		$	2,023		$	150,193		$	(152,216	)	$	99,121
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(23,265		)	(52		)	(23,317		)	23,369			(23,265		)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	10,139			185			10,324			(10,509		)	10,139
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	(75,974		)	(1,186		)	(77,160		)	78,346			(75,974		)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(65,835		)	(1,001		)	(66,836		)	67,837			(65,835		)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	281			281			562			(843		)	281
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153			153			153			(306		)	153
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	(88,666		)	(619		)	(89,438		)	90,057			(88,666		)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(214		)	(214		)	(487		)	701			(214		)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(88,452		)	(405		)	(88,951		)	89,356			(88,452		)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	10,669			1,618			61,242			(62,860		)	10,669
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			97			—			97
Translation adjustment to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(1,414		)	—			(1,414		)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(1,317		)	—			(1,317		)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	10,669		$	1,618		$	59,925		$	(62,860	)	$	9,352
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
								Other
	Nabors				Nabors			Subsidiaries
	(Parent/				Delaware			(Non-			Consolidating
	Guarantor)				(Issuer)			Guarantors)			Adjustments			Total
	(In thousands)
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	$		(1,579	)	$	(83,877	)	$	514,731		$	15,288		$	444,563
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of investments	—				—			(286		)	—			(286		)
Sales and maturities of investments	—				—			733			—			733
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	—				—			(10,200		)	—			(10,200		)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	—				—			(1,255		)	—			(1,255		)
Capital expenditures	—				—			(396,465		)	—			(396,465		)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	—				—			21,605			—			21,605
Changes in intercompany balances	—				176,446			(176,446		)	—			—
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	—				176,446			(562,314		)	—			(385,868		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	—				—			(1,822		)	—			(1,822		)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares	4,931				—			—			—			4,931
Dividends to shareholders	(13,029			)	—			—			1,136			(11,893		)
Proceeds from (payments for) commercial paper, net	—				(39,594		)	—			—			(39,594		)
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities	—				—			15,000			—			15,000
Reduction in revolving credit facilities	—				(60,000		)	(7,500		)	—			(67,500		)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of parent common shares to affiliates	16,424				—			—			(16,424		)	—
Other	(6,585			)	—			(5,000		)	—			(11,585		)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	1,741				(99,594		)	678			(15,288		)	(112,463		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	—				—			(9,266		)	—			(9,266		)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	162				(7,025		)	(56,171		)	—			(63,034		)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	730				7,029			382,156			—			389,915
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$		892		$	4		$	325,985		$	—		$	326,881
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
							Other
	Nabors			Nabors			Subsidiaries
	(Parent/			Delaware			(Non-			Consolidating
	Guarantor)			(Issuer)			Guarantors)			Adjustments			Total
	(In thousands)
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	$	1,144		$	(138,791	)	$	304,142		$	12,800		$	179,295
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sales and maturities of investments	—			—			142,336			—			142,336
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	—			—			(37,516		)	—			(37,516		)
Investment in unconsolidated affilaites	—			—			(12		)	—			(12		)
Capital expenditures	—			—			(235,539		)	—			(235,539		)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	—			—			6,605			—			6,605
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	—			(100,000		)	(200,000		)	300,000			—
Changes in intercompany balances	—			54,192			(54,192		)	—			—
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	—			(45,808		)	(378,318		)	300,000			(124,126		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	—			—			(1,975		)	—			(1,975		)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares	1,027			—			—			—			1,027
Dividends to shareholders	(12,891		)	—			—			—			(12,891		)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of parent common shares to affiliates	12,800			—			—			(12,800		)	—
Proceeds from parent contributions	—			100,000			200,000			(300,000		)	—
Other	(2,773		)	(89		)	4,257			—			1,395
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(1,837		)	99,911			202,282			(312,800		)	(12,444		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	—			—			(2,759		)	—			(2,759		)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(693		)	(84,688		)	125,347			—			39,966
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	1,639			106,778			416,505			—			524,922
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	946		$	22,090		$	541,852		$	—		$	564,888

Subsequent_Events

Subsequent Events	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Subsequent Events	'
Subsequent Events	'
	Note 15 Subsequent Events
	On April 25, 2014, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.04 per share to the holders of record of our common shares as of June 9, 2014 to be paid on June 30, 2014.

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	'
Interim Financial Information	'
	Interim Financial Information
	The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Nabors are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted.  Therefore, these financial statements should be read along with our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 (“2013 Annual Report”).  In management’s opinion, the consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly our financial position as of March 31, 2014, as well as the results of our operations, other comprehensive income, our cash flows and changes in equity for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, in accordance with GAAP.  Interim results for the three months ended March 31, 2014 may not be indicative of results that will be realized for the full year ending December 31, 2014.
	Our independent registered public accounting firm has reviewed and issued a report on these consolidated interim financial statements in accordance with standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.  Pursuant to Rule 436(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this report should not be considered a part of any registration statement prepared or certified within the meanings of Sections 7 and 11 of such Act.
Prior Period Revision	'
	Prior Period Revision
	During the first quarter of 2014, we determined that we had incorrectly applied certain aspects of ASC 830 - Foreign Currency Matters with respect to the recording of foreign currency gains or losses on certain intercompany transactions.  GAAP requires the recognition of foreign currency gains or losses on U.S. dollar denominated intercompany balances of our subsidiaries that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar.  The primary years impacted were 2002 and 2009, which is the period over which a series of intercompany loans were outstanding between our Canadian subsidiary, whose functional currency is the Canadian dollar, and other subsidiaries whose functional currencies are the U.S. dollar.
	The net effect understated net income for periods before 2009 by approximately $90 million, due to foreign currency gains that should have been recorded through net income, rather than through Cumulative Translation Adjustments (a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income).  The correction of this error resulted in a revision to increase the beginning Retained Earnings at January 1, 2010 by approximately $91.5 million with the offset being a decrease to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, both of which are components of Shareholders’ Equity.  There was no other material impact to our assets, liabilities, cash flows or profit and loss for any periods presented. We do not consider this revision material to any period.
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 GAAP.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.
	Investments in operating entities where we have the ability to exert significant influence, but where we do not control operating and financial policies, are accounted for using the equity method.  Our share of the net income (loss) of these entities is recorded as earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates in our consolidated statements of income (loss).  The investments in these entities are included in investment in unconsolidated affiliates in our consolidated balance sheets.
Inventory	'
	Inventory
	Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out or weighted-average cost methods and includes the cost of materials, labor and manufacturing overhead.  Inventory included the following:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Raw materials	$	121,780	$	128,606
	Work-in-progress	27,009		26,762
	Finished goods	45,582		54,425
		$	194,371	$	209,793
Goodwill	'
	Goodwill
	We review goodwill for impairment annually during the second quarter of each fiscal year or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such goodwill and intangible assets exceed their fair value.  We initially assess goodwill for impairment based on qualitative factors to determine whether to perform the two-step annual goodwill impairment test, a Level 3 fair value measurement.  After our qualitative assessment, step one of the impairment test compares the estimated fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying amount.  If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, a second step is required to measure the goodwill impairment loss.  The second step compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill to its carrying amount.  If the carrying amount exceeds the implied fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess.
	Our estimated fair values of our reporting units incorporate judgment and the use of estimates by management.  Potential factors requiring assessment include a further or sustained decline in our stock price, declines in oil and natural gas prices, a variance in results of operations from forecasts, a change in operating strategy for particular assets and additional transactions in the oil and gas industry.  Another factor in determining whether impairment has occurred is the relationship between our market capitalization and our book value. As part of our annual review, we compare the sum of our reporting units’ estimated fair value, which includes the estimated fair value of non-operating assets and liabilities, less debt, to our market capitalization and assess the reasonableness of our estimated fair value. Any of the above-mentioned factors may cause us to re-evaluate goodwill during any quarter throughout the year.

Summary_of_Significant_Account2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	'
Inventory	'
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Raw materials	$	121,780	$	128,606
	Work-in-progress	27,009		26,762
	Finished goods	45,582		54,425
		$	194,371	$	209,793

Cash_and_Cash_Equivalents_and_1

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments	'
Certain information related to our cash and cash equivalents and short term investments	'
		March 31, 2014							December 31, 2013
		Fair Value		Gross		Gross			Fair Value		Gross		Gross
				Unrealized		Unrealized					Unrealized		Unrealized
				Holding		Holding					Holding		Holding
				Gains		Losses					Gains		Losses
		(In thousands)
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	326,881	$	—	$	—		$	389,915	$	—	$	—
	Short-term investments:
	Available-for-sale equity securities	77,591		49,045		—			96,942		68,395		—
	Available-for-sale debt securities:
	Corporate debt securities	19,525		4,252		—			19,388		4,122		—
	Mortgage-backed debt securities	209		11		—			210		11		—
	Mortgage-CMO debt securities	20		—		(1		)	20		—		(2		)
	Asset-backed debt securities	541		1		(37		)	658		2		(54		)
	Total available-for-sale debt securities	20,295		4,264		(38		)	20,276		4,135		(56		)
	Total available-for-sale securities	97,886		53,309		(38		)	117,218		72,530		(56		)
	Total short-term investments	97,886		53,309		(38		)	117,218		72,530		(56		)
	Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	424,767	$	53,309	$	(38	)	$	507,133	$	72,530	$	(56	)
Gross unrealized losses of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments	'
		As of March 31, 2014
		Less Than 12 Months				More Than 12 Months
		Fair Value		Gross		Fair Value			Gross
				Unrealized					Unrealized
				Losses					Losses
		(In thousands)
	Available-for-sale debt securities: (1)
	Mortgage-CMO debt securities	$	20	$	1	$	—		$	—
	Asset-backed debt securities	—		—		361			37
	Total available-for-sale debt securities	20		1		361			37
	Total	$	20	$	1	$	361		$	37
	(1)         Our unrealized losses on available-for-sale debt securities held for more than one year are comprised of various types of securities.  Each of these securities has a rating ranging from “A” to “AAA” from Standard & Poor’s and ranging from “A2” to “Aaa” from Moody’s Investors Service and is considered to be of high credit quality.  In each case, we do not intend to sell these investments, and it is less likely than not that we will be required to sell them to satisfy our own cash flow and working capital requirements.  We believe that we will be able to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of each investment and, therefore, do not consider the decline in value of these investments to be other-than-temporary at March 31, 2014.
Estimated fair values of corporate, mortgage-backed, mortgage-CMO and asset-backed debt securities	'
		Estimated
		Fair Value
		March 31, 2014
		(In thousands)
	Debt securities:
	Due in one year or less	$	—
	Due after one year through five years	15,525
	Due in more than five years	4,770
	Total debt securities	$	20,295
Debt and equity securities	'
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Available-for-sale
	Proceeds from sales and maturities	$	135	$	86,601
	Realized gains (losses), net	$	—	$	75,974

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Measurements	'
Recurring Fair Value Measurements	'
		Fair Value as of March 31, 2014
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
		(In thousands)
	Assets:
	Short-term investments:
	Available-for-sale equity securities (energy industry)	$	76,729	$	862	$	—	$	77,591
	Available-for-sale debt securities:
	Corporate debt securities	—		19,525		—		19,525
	Mortgage-backed debt securities	—		209		—		209
	Mortgage-CMO debt securities	—		20		—		20
	Asset-backed debt securities	541		—		—		541
	Total short-term investments	$	77,270	$	20,616	$	—	$	97,886
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
		March 31, 2014				December 31, 2013
		Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
		Value		Value		Value		Value
		(In thousands)
	2.35% senior notes due September 2016	$	349,836	$	357,851	$	349,820	$	354,694
	6.15% senior notes due February 2018	970,234		1,102,511		969,928		1,097,480
	9.25% senior notes due January 2019	339,607		427,966		339,607		428,733
	5.00% senior notes due September 2020	698,208		748,720		697,947		731,955
	4.625% senior notes due September 2021	698,024		723,030		698,148		709,793
	5.10% senior notes due September 2023	348,797		362,250		348,765		349,731
	Subsidiary preferred stock	69,188		69,000		69,188		69,000
	Revolving credit facility	117,500		117,500		170,000		170,000
	Commercial paper	290,250		290,250		329,844		329,844
	Other	5,316		5,316		10,243		10,243
	Total	$	3,886,960	$	4,204,394	$	3,983,490	$	4,251,473

ShareBased_Compensation_Tables

Share-Based Compensation (Tables) (Restricted Stock Based on Market Conditions)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Restricted Stock Based on Market Conditions	'
Share-based compensation disclosures	'
Schedule of grant date fair value	'
		2014			2013
	Risk free interest rate	0.8		%	0.41		%
	Expected volatility	40		%	46		%
	Closing stock price	$	18.19		$	16.53
	Expected term (in years)	2.97 years			2.82 years

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt	'
Long-term debt	'
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	2.35% senior notes due September 2016	$	349,836	$	349,820
	6.15% senior notes due February 2018	970,234		969,928
	9.25% senior notes due January 2019	339,607		339,607
	5.00% senior notes due September 2020	698,208		697,947
	4.625% senior notes due September 2021	698,024		698,148
	5.10% senior notes due September 2023	348,797		348,765
	Revolving credit facility	117,500		170,000
	Commercial paper	290,250		329,844
	Other	5,316		10,243
		$	3,817,772	$	3,914,302
	Less: current portion	5,296		10,185
		$	3,812,476	$	3,904,117

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies	'
Summary of total maximum amount of financial guarantees issued	'
		Maximum Amount
		Remainder of		2015		2016		Thereafter		Total
		2014
		(In thousands)
	Financial standby letters of credit and other financial surety instruments	$	115,018	$	40,408	$	—	$	19	$	155,445

Earnings_Losses_Per_Share_Tabl

Earnings (Losses) Per Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings (Losses) Per Share	'
Earnings (losses) per share computations	'
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands, except per share amounts)
	Net income (loss) (numerator):
	Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	$	48,977		$	92,207
	Less: net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(573		)	(97		)
	Less: (earnings) losses allocated to unvested shareholders	(733		)	(814		)
	Adjusted income (loss) from continuing operations - basic and diluted	$	47,671		$	91,296
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	$	1,515		$	7,011
	Earnings (losses) per share:
	Basic from continuing operations	$	0.16		$	0.31
	Basic from discontinued operations	0.01			0.03
	Total Basic	$	0.17		$	0.34
	Diluted from continuing operations	$	0.16		$	0.31
	Diluted from discontinued operations	—			0.02
	Total Diluted	$	0.16		$	0.33
	Shares (denominator):
	Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - basic	296,210			291,687
	Net effect of dilutive stock options, warrants and restricted stock awards based on the if-converted method	2,840			2,483
	Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - diluted	299,050			294,170

Supplemental_Balance_Sheet_Inc1

Supplemental Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Cash Flow Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Supplemental Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Cash Flow Information	'
Accrued liabilities	'
		March 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Accrued compensation	$	158,676		$	172,803
	Deferred revenue	234,900			202,918
	Other taxes payable	41,047			76,781
	Workers’ compensation liabilities	29,459			29,459
	Interest payable	18,284			64,728
	Warranty accrual	4,240			4,653
	Litigation reserves	24,774			30,784
	Current liability to discontinued operations	29,381			64,404
	Professional fees	2,652			2,971
	Current deferred tax liability	3,075			3,075
	Current liability to acquisition of KVS	22,033			22,033
	Other accrued liabilities	16,227			22,484
		$	584,748		$	697,093
Investment income (loss)	'
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Interest and dividend income	$	970		$	776
	Gains (losses) on investments, net	10			78,645		-1
		$	980		$	79,421
	(1)         Includes realized gains of $76.2 million from the sale of short-term and other long-term investments and net realized gains of $2.4 million from the sale of our trading securities.
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	'
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Losses (gains) on sales, disposals and involuntary conversions of long-lived assets	$	2,432		$	3,411
	Termination of employment contract	—			45,000		-1
	Litigation expenses	3,060			6,161
	Foreign currency transaction losses (gains)	(3,293		)	4,317
	Other losses (gains)	(723		)	848
		$	1,476		$	59,737
	(1)         Represents a one-time stock grant valued at $27 million, which vested immediately and $18 million in cash awarded and paid to Mr. Petrello in connection with the termination of his prior employment agreement. See Note 9 — Commitments and Contingencies to our 2013 Annual Report for additional discussion.
Schedule of changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	'
					Unrealized
					gains (losses)			Defined
		Gains (losses)			on available-			benefit
		on cash flow			for-sale			pension plan			Foreign
		hedges			securities			items			currency items			Total
		(In thousands)(1)
	As of January 1, 2013	$	(2,793	)	$	134,229		$	(7,632	)	$	216,339	-2	$	340,143	-2
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax of $70	—			10,069			—			(23,265		)	(13,196		)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	94			(75,523		)	173			—			(75,256		)
	Net other comprehensive income (loss)	94			(65,454		)	173			(23,265		)	(88,452		)
	As of March 31, 2013	$	(2,699	)	$	68,775		$	(7,459	)	$	193,074		$	251,691
		Gains (losses)			Unrealized			Defined			Foreign			Total
		on cash flow			gains (losses)			benefit			currency items
		hedges			on available-			pension plan
					for-sale			items
					securities
		(In thousands)(1)
	As of January 1, 2014	$	(2,419	)	$	71,742		$	(4,075	)	$	150,892	-2	$	216,140	-2
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	—			(19,248		)	—			(36,594		)	(55,842		)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	93			—			75			—			168
	Net other comprehensive income (loss)	93			(19,248		)	75			(36,594		)	(55,674		)
	As of March 31, 2014	$	(2,326	)	$	52,494		$	(4,000	)	$	114,298		$	160,466
	(1)         All amounts are net of tax. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits.
	(2)         Reflects amounts reclassified from foreign currency translation adjustment to retained earnings as discussed in Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.
Schedule of line items that were reclassified from net income	'
		Three Months Ended March 31,
	Line item in consolidated statement of income (loss)	2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Investment income (loss), net of income taxes of $0 and $(451)	$	—		$	(75,974	)
	Interest expense, net of income taxes of $60 and $59	(153		)	(153		)
	General and administrative expenses, net of income taxes of $48 and $108	(123		)	(281		)
	Total before tax	$	276		$	(75,540	)
	Tax expense (benefit)	108			(284		)
	Reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses included in net income (loss)	$	168		$	(75,256	)

Assets_HeldforSale_and_Discont1

Assets Held-for-Sale and Discontinued Operations (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Assets Held-for-Sale and Discontinued Operations	'
Schedule of assets held for sale	'
		March 31,		December 31,
	Assets Held-for-Sale	2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Oil and Gas	$	231,880	$	239,936
	Rig Services	—		3,328
		$	231,880	$	243,264
Schedule of condensed statements of income (loss) from discontinued operations for each operating segment	'
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Operating revenues
	Oil and Gas	$	5,057	$	9,989
	Rig Services	$	—	$	47,204
	Income (loss) from Oil and Gas discontinued operations:
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$	2,618	$	2,070
	Less: Impairment charges or other (gains) and losses on sale of wholly owned assets	1,002		2,000
	Less: Income tax expense (benefit)	101		(283		)
	Income (loss) from Oil and Gas discontinued operations, net of tax	$	1,515	$	353
	Income (loss) from Rig Services discontinued operations:
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$	—	$	9,371
	Less: Impairment charges or other (gains) and losses on sale of long-lived assets	—		323
	Less: Income tax expense (benefit)	—		2,390
	Income (loss) from Rig Services discontinued operations, net of tax	$	—	$	6,658

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Information	'
Financial information with respect to operating segments	'
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates: (1)
	Drilling & Rig Services:
	U.S.	$	510,476		$	484,773
	Canada	111,621			126,867
	International	375,069			321,516
	Rig Services (2)	143,726			134,231
	Subtotal Drilling & Rig Services (3)	1,140,892			1,067,387
	Completion & Production Services:
	Completion Services	227,899			262,138
	Production Services	275,400			251,571
	Subtotal Completion & Production Services (4)	503,299			513,709
	Other reconciling items (5)	(57,018		)	(42,723		)
	Total	$	1,587,173		$	1,538,373
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities (1) (6)
	Drilling & Rig Services:
	U.S.	$	72,494		$	77,595
	Canada	26,160			30,518
	International	48,119			21,469
	Rig Services (2)	8,728			1,287
	Subtotal Drilling & Rig Services (3)	155,501			130,869
	Completion & Production Services:
	Completion Services	(33,635		)	17,756
	Production Services	30,591			26,014
	Subtotal Completion & Production Services (4)	(3,044		)	43,770
	Other reconciling items (5)	(43,416		)	(31,501		)
	Total adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	$	109,041		$	143,138
	Interest expense	(44,810		)	(60,011		)
	Investment income (loss)	980			79,421
	Gains (losses) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other income (expense), net	(1,476		)	(59,737		)
	Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	63,735			102,811
	Income tax expense (benefit)	14,008			9,854
	Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	750			750
	Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	48,977			92,207
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,515			7,011
	Net income (loss)	50,492			99,218
	Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(573		)	(97		)
	Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$	49,919		$	99,121
		March 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Total assets:
	Drilling & Rig Services:
	U.S.	$	4,340,581		$	4,248,630
	Canada	608,533			608,018
	International	3,668,340			3,584,339
	Rig Services	479,252			474,275
	Subtotal Drilling & Rig Services (7)	9,096,706			8,915,262
	Completion & Production Services (8) (9)	2,314,481			2,394,865
	Other reconciling items (5)	775,886			849,684
	Total assets:	$	12,187,073		$	12,159,811
	(1)         All periods present the operating activities of our wholly owned oil and gas businesses, our previously held equity interests in oil and gas joint ventures in Canada and Colombia, aircraft logistics operations and construction services as discontinued operations.
	(2)         Includes our drilling technology and top drive manufacturing, directional drilling, rig instrumentation and software services. These services represent our other companies that are not aggregated into a reportable operating segment.
	(3)         Includes earnings (losses), net from unconsolidated affiliates, accounted for using the equity method, of ($2.5) million and $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	(4)         Includes earnings (losses), net from unconsolidated affiliates, accounted for using the equity method, of $0.1 for each of the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.
	(5)         Represents the elimination of inter-segment transactions and unallocated corporate expenses and assets.
	(6)         Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities is computed by subtracting the sum of direct costs, general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization from the sum of Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates. These amounts should not be used as a substitute for the amounts reported in accordance with GAAP. However, management evaluates the performance of our business units and the consolidated company based on several criteria, including adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities, because it believes that these financial measures accurately reflect our ongoing profitability. A reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, which is a GAAP measure, is provided in the above table.
	(7)         Includes $54.4 million and $56.9 million of investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using the equity method as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
(8)         Reflects assets allocated to the line of business necessary to conduct its operations. Further allocation to individual operating segments of Completion & Production Services is not available.
(9)         Includes $8.7 million and $7.4 million of investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using the equity method as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Condensed_Consolidating_Financ1

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information	'
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets	'
		March 31, 2014
								Other
		Nabors			Nabors			Subsidiaries
		(Parent/			Delaware			(Non-			Consolidating
		Guarantor)			(Issuer)			Guarantors)			Adjustments			Total
		(In thousands)
		ASSETS
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	892		$	4		$	325,985		$	—		$	326,881
	Short-term investments	—			—			97,886			—			97,886
	Assets held for sale	—			—			231,880			—			231,880
	Accounts receivable, net	—			—			1,454,368			—			1,454,368
	Inventory	—			—			194,371			—			194,371
	Deferred income taxes	—			—			133,667			—			133,667
	Other current assets	50			30,214			221,951			—			252,215
	Total current assets	942			30,218			2,660,108			—			2,691,268
	Long-term investments	—			—			2,915			—			2,915
	Property, plant and equipment, net	—			32,944			8,657,815			—			8,690,759
	Goodwill	—			—			512,391			—			512,391
	Intercompany receivables	153,352			—			1,787,393			(1,940,745		)	—
	Investment in consolidated affiliates	5,806,653			6,088,501			1,749,780			(13,644,934		)	—
	Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	—			—			63,069			—			63,069
	Other long-term assets	—			32,630			194,041			—			226,671
	Total assets	$	5,960,947		$	6,184,293		$	15,627,512		$	(15,585,679	)	$	12,187,073
		LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
	Current liabilities:
	Current portion of debt	$	—		$	—		$	5,296		$	—		$	5,296
	Trade accounts payable	150			2			630,863			—			631,015
	Accrued liabilities	328			18,094			566,326			—			584,748
	Income taxes payable	—			—			17,083			—			17,083
	Total current liabilities	478			18,096			1,219,568			—			1,238,142
	Long-term debt	—			3,804,956			7,520			—			3,812,476
	Other long-term liabilities	—			30,142			539,851			—			569,993
	Deferred income taxes	—			(237,076		)	763,081			—			526,005
	Intercompany payable	—			1,940,745			—			(1,940,745		)	—
	Total liabilities	478			5,556,863			2,530,020			(1,940,745		)	6,146,616
	Subsidiary preferred stock	—			—			69,188			—			69,188
	Shareholders’ equity	5,960,469			627,430			13,017,504			(13,644,934		)	5,960,469
	Noncontrolling interest	—			—			10,800			—			10,800
	Total equity	5,960,469			627,430			13,028,304			(13,644,934		)	5,971,269
	Total liabilities and equity	$	5,960,947		$	6,184,293		$	15,627,512		$	(15,585,679	)	$	12,187,073
		December 31, 2013
								Other
		Nabors			Nabors			Subsidiaries
		(Parent/			Delaware			(Non-			Consolidating
		Guarantor)			(Issuer)			Guarantors)			Adjustments			Total
		(In thousands)
		ASSETS
	Current assets:
	Cash	$	730		$	7,029		$	382,156		$	—		$	389,915
	Short-term investments	—			—			117,218			—			117,218
	Assets held for sale	—			—			243,264			—			243,264
	Accounts receivable, net	27			—			1,399,516			—			1,399,543
	Inventory	—			—			209,793			—			209,793
	Deferred income taxes	—			—			121,316			—			121,316
	Other current assets	50			26,378			246,353			—			272,781
	Total current assets	807			33,407			2,719,616			—			2,753,830
	Long-term investments	—			—			3,236			—			3,236
	Property, plant and equipment, net	—			33,815			8,563,998			—			8,597,813
	Goodwill	—			—			512,964			—			512,964
	Intercompany receivables	160,136			3,891			1,583,539			(1,747,566		)	—
	Investment in consolidated affiliates	5,808,607			6,097,337			1,789,851			(13,695,795		)	—
	Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	—			—			64,260			—			64,260
Other long-term assets	—			34,487			193,221			—			227,708
Total assets	$	5,969,550		$	6,202,937		$	15,430,685		$	(15,443,361	)	$	12,159,811
	LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current debt	$	—		$	—		$	10,185		$	—		$	10,185
Trade accounts payable	86			25			545,401			—			545,512
Accrued liabilities	378			65,947			630,768			—			697,093
Income taxes payable	—			—			58,634			—			58,634
Total current liabilities	464			65,972			1,244,988			—			1,311,424
Long-term debt	—			3,904,059			58			—			3,904,117
Other long-term liabilities	—			31,071			346,673			—			377,744
Deferred income taxes	—			(213,233		)	729,394			—			516,161
Intercompany payable	—			1,747,566			—			(1,747,566		)	—
Total liabilities	464			5,535,435			2,321,113			(1,747,566		)	6,109,446
Subsidiary preferred stock	—			—			69,188			—			69,188
Shareholders’ equity	5,969,086			667,502			13,028,293			(13,695,795		)	5,969,086
Noncontrolling interest	—			—			12,091			—			12,091
Total equity	5,969,086			667,502			13,040,384			(13,695,795		)	5,981,177
Total liabilities and equity	$	5,969,550		$	6,202,937		$	15,430,685		$	(15,443,361	)	$	12,159,811
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Loss)	'
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
								Other
		Nabors			Nabors			Subsidiaries
		(Parent/			Delaware			(Non-			Consolidating
		Guarantor)			(Issuer)			Guarantors)			Adjustments			Total
		(In thousands)
	Revenues and other income:
	Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	1,589,618		$	—		$	1,589,618
	Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	—			—			(2,445		)	—			(2,445		)
	Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	52,583			(8,760		)	(40,089		)	(3,734		)	—
	Investment income (loss)	—			—			2,116			(1,136		)	980
	Total revenues and other income	52,583			(8,760		)	1,549,200			(4,870		)	1,588,153
	Costs and other deductions:
	Direct costs	—			—			1,061,739			—			1,061,739
	General and administrative expenses	2,453			(319		)	132,281			(149		)	134,266
	Depreciation and amortization	—			902			281,225			—			282,127
	Interest expense	—			49,369			(4,559		)	—			44,810
	Intercompany interest expense	62			—			(62		)	—			—
	Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	149			(223		)	1,401			149			1,476
	Total costs and other deductions	2,664			49,729			1,472,025			—			1,524,418
	Income from continuing operations before income tax	49,919			(58,489		)	77,175			(4,870		)	63,735
	Income tax expense (benefit)	—			(18,400		)	32,408			—			14,008
	Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	—			—			750			—			750
	Income (loss) from continuting operations, net of tax	49,919			(40,089		)	44,017			(4,870		)	48,977
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	—			—			1,515			—			1,515
	Net income (loss)	49,919			(40,089		)	45,532			(4,870		)	50,492
	Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(573		)	—			(573		)
	Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$	49,919		$	(40,089	)	$	44,959		$	(4,870	)	$	49,919
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
								Other
		Nabors			Nabors			Subsidiaries
		(Parent/			Delaware			(Non-			Consolidating
		Guarantor)			(Issuer)			Guarantors)			Adjustments			Total
		(In thousands)
	Revenues and other income:
	Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	1,535,478		$	—		$	1,535,478
	Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	—			—			2,895			—			2,895
	Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	107,873			42,320			2,023			(152,216		)	—
	Investment income (loss)	—			16			79,405			—			79,421
	Intercompany interest income	—			29			—			(29		)	—
	Total revenues and other income	107,873			42,365			1,619,801			(152,245		)	1,617,794
	Costs and other deductions:
	Direct costs	—			—			994,992			—			994,992
	General and administrative expenses	1,834			37			129,151			(144		)	130,878
	Depreciation and amortization	—			902			268,463			—			269,365
	Interest expense	—			63,049			(3,038		)	—			60,011
	Intercompany interest expense	—			—			29			(29		)	—
	Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	6,918			21			52,654			144			59,737
	Total costs and other deductions	8,752			64,009			1,442,251			(29		)	1,514,983
	Income from continuing operations before income tax	99,121			(21,644		)	177,550			(152,216		)	102,811
	Income tax expense (benefit)	—			(23,667		)	33,521			—			9,854
	Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	—			—			750			—			750
	Income (loss) from continuting operations, net of tax	99,121			2,023			143,279			(152,216		)	92,207
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	—			—			7,011			—			7,011
	Net income (loss)	99,121			2,023			150,290			(152,216		)	99,218
	Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(97		)	—			(97		)
	Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$	99,121		$	2,023		$	150,193		$	(152,216	)	$	99,121
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
								Other
		Nabors			Nabors			Subsidiaries
		(Parent/			Delaware			(Non-			Consolidating
		Guarantor)			(Issuer)			Guarantors)			Adjustments			Total
		(In thousands)
	Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$	49,919		$	(40,089	)	$	44,959		$	(4,870	)	$	49,919
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes:
	Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(36,594		)	(216		)	(36,813		)	37,029			(36,594		)
	Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(19,208		)	—			(19,208		)	19,208			(19,208		)
	Pension liability amortization and adjustment	123			123			246			(369		)	123
	Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153			153			153			(306		)	153
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	(55,526		)	60			(55,622		)	55,562			(55,526		)
	Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	148			148			236			(384		)	148
	Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(55,674		)	(88		)	(55,858		)	55,946			(55,674		)
	Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(5,755		)	(40,177		)	(10,899		)	51,076			(5,755		)
	Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			573			—			573
	Translation adjustment to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(481		)	—			(481		)
	Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			92			—			92
	Comprehensive income (loss)	$	(5,755	)	$	(40,177	)	$	(10,807	)	$	51,076		$	(5,663	)
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
								Other
		Nabors			Nabors			Subsidiaries
		(Parent/			Delaware			(Non-			Consolidating
		Guarantor)			(Issuer)			Guarantors)			Adjustments			Total
		(In thousands)
	Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$	99,121		$	2,023		$	150,193		$	(152,216	)	$	99,121
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes:
	Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(23,265		)	(52		)	(23,317		)	23,369			(23,265		)
	Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
	Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	10,139			185			10,324			(10,509		)	10,139
	Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	(75,974		)	(1,186		)	(77,160		)	78,346			(75,974		)
	Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(65,835		)	(1,001		)	(66,836		)	67,837			(65,835		)
	Pension liability amortization and adjustment	281			281			562			(843		)	281
	Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153			153			153			(306		)	153
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	(88,666		)	(619		)	(89,438		)	90,057			(88,666		)
	Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(214		)	(214		)	(487		)	701			(214		)
	Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(88,452		)	(405		)	(88,951		)	89,356			(88,452		)
	Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	10,669			1,618			61,242			(62,860		)	10,669
	Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			97			—			97
	Translation adjustment to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(1,414		)	—			(1,414		)
	Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(1,317		)	—			(1,317		)
	Comprehensive income (loss)	$	10,669		$	1,618		$	59,925		$	(62,860	)	$	9,352
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows	'
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
									Other
		Nabors				Nabors			Subsidiaries
		(Parent/				Delaware			(Non-			Consolidating
		Guarantor)				(Issuer)			Guarantors)			Adjustments			Total
		(In thousands)
	Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	$		(1,579	)	$	(83,877	)	$	514,731		$	15,288		$	444,563
	Cash flows from investing activities:
	Purchase of investments	—				—			(286		)	—			(286		)
	Sales and maturities of investments	—				—			733			—			733
	Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	—				—			(10,200		)	—			(10,200		)
	Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	—				—			(1,255		)	—			(1,255		)
	Capital expenditures	—				—			(396,465		)	—			(396,465		)
	Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	—				—			21,605			—			21,605
	Changes in intercompany balances	—				176,446			(176,446		)	—			—
	Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	—				176,446			(562,314		)	—			(385,868		)
	Cash flows from financing activities:
	Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	—				—			(1,822		)	—			(1,822		)
	Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares	4,931				—			—			—			4,931
	Dividends to shareholders	(13,029			)	—			—			1,136			(11,893		)
	Proceeds from (payments for) commercial paper, net	—				(39,594		)	—			—			(39,594		)
	Proceeds from revolving credit facilities	—				—			15,000			—			15,000
	Reduction in revolving credit facilities	—				(60,000		)	(7,500		)	—			(67,500		)
	Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of parent common shares to affiliates	16,424				—			—			(16,424		)	—
	Other	(6,585			)	—			(5,000		)	—			(11,585		)
	Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	1,741				(99,594		)	678			(15,288		)	(112,463		)
	Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	—				—			(9,266		)	—			(9,266		)
	Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	162				(7,025		)	(56,171		)	—			(63,034		)
	Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	730				7,029			382,156			—			389,915
	Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$		892		$	4		$	325,985		$	—		$	326,881
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
								Other
		Nabors			Nabors			Subsidiaries
		(Parent/			Delaware			(Non-			Consolidating
		Guarantor)			(Issuer)			Guarantors)			Adjustments			Total
		(In thousands)
	Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	$	1,144		$	(138,791	)	$	304,142		$	12,800		$	179,295
	Cash flows from investing activities:
	Sales and maturities of investments	—			—			142,336			—			142,336
	Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	—			—			(37,516		)	—			(37,516		)
	Investment in unconsolidated affilaites	—			—			(12		)	—			(12		)
	Capital expenditures	—			—			(235,539		)	—			(235,539		)
	Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	—			—			6,605			—			6,605
	Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	—			(100,000		)	(200,000		)	300,000			—
	Changes in intercompany balances	—			54,192			(54,192		)	—			—
	Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	—			(45,808		)	(378,318		)	300,000			(124,126		)
	Cash flows from financing activities:
	Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	—			—			(1,975		)	—			(1,975		)
	Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares	1,027			—			—			—			1,027
	Dividends to shareholders	(12,891		)	—			—			—			(12,891		)
	Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of parent common shares to affiliates	12,800			—			—			(12,800		)	—
	Proceeds from parent contributions	—			100,000			200,000			(300,000		)	—
	Other	(2,773		)	(89		)	4,257			—			1,395
	Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(1,837		)	99,911			202,282			(312,800		)	(12,444		)
	Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	—			—			(2,759		)	—			(2,759		)
	Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(693		)	(84,688		)	125,347			—			39,966
	Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	1,639			106,778			416,505			—			524,922
	Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	946		$	22,090		$	541,852		$	—		$	564,888

Nature_of_Operations_Details

Nature of Operations (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
	item
	rig
Nature of Operations	'
Number of major business lines	2
Number of platform rigs actively marketed	39
Number of jack-up rigs actively marketed	7
Number of barge rigs actively marketed	4
Number of hydraulic horsepower pressure pumping services in key basins throughout United States and Canada	800,000
Nature of operations	'
Number of actively marketed land drilling rigs	493
Minimum number of countries in which oil and gas land drilling operations are conducted	20
Joint Venture in Saudi Arabia	'
Nature of Operations	'
Ownership percentage	51.00%
Number of rigs actively markets in joint venture	5
U.S.	'
Nature of Operations	'
Number of rigs marketing for land well-servicing and workover service	445
Canada	'
Nature of Operations	'
Number of rigs marketing for land well-servicing and workover service	98

Summary_of_Significant_Account3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Retained earnings	$4,342,690,000	$4,304,664,000
Adjustment of opening balance | Revision of CTA	'	'
Retained earnings	91,500,000	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	$91,500,000	'

Summary_of_Significant_Account4

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory	'	'
Raw materials	$121,780	$128,606
Work-in-progress	27,009	26,762
Finished goods	45,582	54,425
Total inventory	$194,371	$209,793

Cash_and_Cash_Equivalents_and_2

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, fair value	$326,881	$389,915
Available-for-sale debt securities:	'	'
Total available-for-sale debt securities, fair value	97,886	117,218
Available-for-sale securities, gross unrealized holding gains	53,309	72,530
Available-for-sale securities, gross unrealized holding losses	-38	-56
Total short-term investments	97,886	117,218
Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, fair value	424,767	507,133
Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, gross unrealized gains	53,309	72,530
Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, gross unrealized losses	-38	-56
Available-for-sale equity securities	'	'
Available-for-sale equities securities	'	'
Available-for-sale equity securities, fair value	77,591	96,942
Available-for-sale debt securities:	'	'
Available-for-sale securities, gross unrealized holding gains	49,045	68,395
Available-for-sale debt securities	'	'
Available-for-sale debt securities:	'	'
Total available-for-sale debt securities, fair value	20,295	20,276
Available-for-sale securities, gross unrealized holding gains	4,264	4,135
Available-for-sale securities, gross unrealized holding losses	-38	-56
Corporate debt securities	'	'
Available-for-sale debt securities:	'	'
Total available-for-sale debt securities, fair value	19,525	19,388
Available-for-sale securities, gross unrealized holding gains	4,252	4,122
Mortgage-backed debt securities	'	'
Available-for-sale debt securities:	'	'
Total available-for-sale debt securities, fair value	209	210
Available-for-sale securities, gross unrealized holding gains	11	11
Mortgage-CMO debt securities	'	'
Available-for-sale debt securities:	'	'
Total available-for-sale debt securities, fair value	20	20
Available-for-sale securities, gross unrealized holding losses	-1	-2
Asset-backed debt securities	'	'
Available-for-sale debt securities:	'	'
Total available-for-sale debt securities, fair value	541	658
Available-for-sale securities, gross unrealized holding gains	1	2
Available-for-sale securities, gross unrealized holding losses	-37	-54
Total Short-term investments	'	'
Available-for-sale debt securities:	'	'
Total short-term investments	97,886	117,218
Total short-term investments, gross unrealized gains	53,309	72,530
Total short-term investments, gross unrealized holding losses	($38)	($56)

Cash_and_Cash_Equivalents_and_3

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments (Details 2) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Gross unrealized losses of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments	'
Available-for-sale securities, less than 12 months	$20
Available-for-sale securities, more than 12 months	361
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 Months, aggregate losses	1
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, aggregate losses	37
Available-for-sale debt securities	'
Gross unrealized losses of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments	'
Available-for-sale securities, less than 12 months	20
Available-for-sale securities, more than 12 months	361
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 Months, aggregate losses	1
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, aggregate losses	37
Mortgage-CMO debt securities	'
Gross unrealized losses of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments	'
Available-for-sale securities, less than 12 months	20
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 Months, aggregate losses	1
Asset-backed debt securities	'
Gross unrealized losses of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments	'
Available-for-sale securities, more than 12 months	361
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, aggregate losses	$37

Cash_and_Cash_Equivalents_and_4

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments (Details 3) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt securities:	'
Due after one year through five years	$15,525
Due in more than five years	4,770
Total debt securities	$20,295

Cash_and_Cash_Equivalents_and_5

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments (Details 4) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Available-for-sale:	'	'
Proceeds from sales and maturities	$135	$86,601
Realized gains (losses), net	'	$75,974

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail

Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value Measurements	'	'
Amount of transfers of financial assets between Level 1 and Level 2 measures	$0	'
Available-for-sale equity securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Short term investments:	77,591	96,942
Recurring	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Total short-term investments	97,886	'
Recurring | Available-for-sale equity securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Short term investments:	77,591	'
Recurring | Corporate debt securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Short term investments:	19,525	'
Recurring | Mortgage-backed debt securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Short term investments:	209	'
Recurring | Mortgage-CMO debt securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Short term investments:	20	'
Recurring | Asset-backed debt securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Short term investments:	541	'
Recurring | Level 1	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Total short-term investments	77,270	'
Recurring | Level 1 | Available-for-sale equity securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Short term investments:	76,729	'
Recurring | Level 1 | Asset-backed debt securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Short term investments:	541	'
Recurring | Level 2	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Total short-term investments	20,616	'
Recurring | Level 2 | Available-for-sale equity securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Short term investments:	862	'
Recurring | Level 2 | Corporate debt securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Short term investments:	19,525	'
Recurring | Level 2 | Mortgage-backed debt securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Short term investments:	209	'
Recurring | Level 2 | Mortgage-CMO debt securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Short term investments:	$20	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail1

Fair Value Measurements (Details 2) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'	'
Carrying Value	$3,886,960	$3,983,490
Fair Value	4,204,394	4,251,473
Subsidiary preferred stock, carrying value	69,188	69,188
Subsidiary preferred stock, fair value	69,000	69,000
2.35% senior notes due September 2016	'	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'	'
Carrying Value	349,836	349,820
Fair Value	357,851	354,694
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	2.35%	'
6.15% senior notes due February 2018	'	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'	'
Carrying Value	970,234	969,928
Fair Value	1,102,511	1,097,480
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	6.15%	'
9.25% senior notes due January 2019	'	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'	'
Carrying Value	339,607	339,607
Fair Value	427,966	428,733
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	9.25%	'
5.00% senior notes due September 2020	'	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'	'
Carrying Value	698,208	697,947
Fair Value	748,720	731,955
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	5.00%	'
4.625% senior notes due September 2021	'	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'	'
Carrying Value	698,024	698,148
Fair Value	723,030	709,793
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	4.63%	'
5.10% senior notes due September 2023	'	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'	'
Carrying Value	348,797	348,765
Fair Value	362,250	349,731
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	5.10%	'
Revolving Credit Facility	'	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'	'
Carrying Value	117,500	170,000
Fair Value	117,500	170,000
Commercial paper	'	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'	'
Carrying Value	290,250	329,844
Fair Value	290,250	329,844
Other	'	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'	'
Carrying Value	5,316	10,243
Fair Value	$5,316	$10,243

ShareBased_Compensation_Detail

Share-Based Compensation (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based compensation disclosures	'	'	'
Share Based Compensation expense	$10,700,000	$32,900,000	'
Liability related to awards	158,676,000	'	172,803,000
Restricted Stock Award | Employees and Director	'	'	'
Share-based compensation disclosures	'	'	'
Shares awarded during period	1,106,919	4,061,027	'
Aggregate value of restricted stock awards at date of grant	25,200,000	66,800,000	'
Fair value awards vested	22,400,000	35,500,000	'
Restricted Stock Award | Maximum | Employees and Director	'	'	'
Share-based compensation disclosures	'	'	'
Vesting period of shares	'4 years	'	'
Restricted Stock Based on Performance Conditions | Executives	'	'	'
Share-based compensation disclosures	'	'	'
Shares awarded during period	362,311	'	'
Vesting period of shares	'3 years	'	'
Liability related to awards	400,000	'	'
Restricted Stock Based on Market Conditions	'	'	'
Assumptions used to value grant date fair value	'	'	'
Risk free interest rate (as a percent	0.80%	0.41%	'
Expected volatility (as a percent)	40.00%	46.00%	'
Closing stock price (in dollars per share)	$18.19	$16.53	'
Expected term (in years)	'2 years 11 months 19 days	'2 years 9 months 25 days	'
Restricted Stock Based on Market Conditions | Executives	'	'	'
Share-based compensation disclosures	'	'	'
Shares awarded during period	395,550	353,933	'
Aggregate value of restricted stock awards at date of grant	4,500,000	3,700,000	'
Stock options | Employees and Director	'	'	'
Share-based compensation disclosures	'	'	'
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised	6,000,000	700,000	'
Total fair value of option vested during the period	$1,500,000	$3,800,000	'

Debt_Details

Debt (Details) (USD $)

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

2.35% senior notes due September 2016

2.35% senior notes due September 2016

6.15% senior notes due February 2018

6.15% senior notes due February 2018

9.25% senior notes due January 2019

9.25% senior notes due January 2019

5.00% senior notes due September 2020

5.00% senior notes due September 2020

4.625% senior notes due September 2021

4.625% senior notes due September 2021

5.10% senior notes due September 2023

5.10% senior notes due September 2023

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Commercial paper

Commercial paper

Minimum

Long-term debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Senior Notes

'

'

$349,836,000

$349,820,000

$970,234,000

$969,928,000

$339,607,000

$339,607,000

$698,208,000

$697,947,000

$698,024,000

$698,148,000

$348,797,000

$348,765,000

'

'

'

'

'

Revolving credit facility

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

117,500,000

170,000,000

'

'

'

Other

5,316,000

10,243,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long-term Debt

3,817,772,000

3,914,302,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

290,250,000

329,844,000

Less: Current portion

5,296,000

10,185,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long-term debt

3,812,476,000

3,904,117,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)

'

'

2.35%

'

6.15%

'

9.25%

'

5.00%

'

4.63%

'

5.10%

'

'

'

'

'

'

Aggregate amount of senior notes

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

290,300,000

'

Weighted average interest rate on revolving credit facilities (as a percent)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.46%

'

'

0.33%

'

Remaining period to maturity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'1 year

'

'

Remaining availability under credit facility

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$117,500,000

'

'

'

'

Common_Shares_Details

Common Shares (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 21, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Common shares	'	'	'
Issuance of common shares for stock options exercised (in shares)	'	0.5	0.1
Proceeds from stock options exercised	'	$4,900,000	$1,000,000
Common shares withheld by company	'	0.3	0.2
Common shares fair value	'	6,600,000	2,800,000
Common stock dividend declared (in dollars per share)	$0.04	'	'
Cash dividends paid	'	$11,893,000	'

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (Mr. Restrepo, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Employment contracts	'
New term of the employment agreement	'365 days
Automatic extension period	'1 year
Annual base salary	$0.60
Employment benefit due to termination or contructive termination without cause	'30 days
Employment agreement termination without cause, benefit as a ratio to 3 year average base salary and bonus	2.99
Employment agreement termination without cause, benefit base period	'3 years
Minimum	'
Employment contracts	'
Number of financial performance goals used to calculate annual bonus	1
Number of operational performance goals used to calculate annual bonus	1
TSR Shares	'
Employment contracts	'
Vesting period	'3 years
Maximum value of award that will vest as multiplier of base salary	2
Value of award that will vest as percentage of base salary	100.00%
Restricted stock	'
Employment contracts	'
Vesting period	'4 years
Award grant date fair value	$4.90

Commitments_and_Contingencies_2

Commitments and Contingencies (Details 2) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified		Mexico	Mexico	Mexico
			Minimum	Maximum
Income tax	'	'	'	'
Aggregate remaining amounts assessed or expected to assessed range	'	'	$30	$35
Reduction in reserves	'	20	'	'
Self-Insurance disclosures	'	'	'	'
Employer's liability claims subject to per-occurrence deductible	3	'	'	'
Workers automobile claims	2.5	'	'	'
General liability claims subject to per-occurrence deductible	5	'	'	'
Deductions in land rigs and for offshore rigs	$5	'	'	'

Commitments_and_Contingencies_3

Commitments and Contingencies (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2009	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2006	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 19, 2012	Mar. 31, 2014
	Court of Ouargla Customs Infringement	Court of Ouargla Customs Infringement	Court of Ouargla Customs Infringement	Court of Ouargla Foreign Currency Controls	Court of Ouargla Foreign Currency Controls	Court of Ouargla Foreign Currency Controls	Court of Ouargla Foreign Currency Controls	NGH2L	NGH2L
			Maximum				Maximum		Maximum
Commitments and Contingencies, Disclosure	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Judgment against the reporting entity at current exchange rate	'	$17.70	'	$34.80	'	'	'	'	'
Payment of contract amount in foreign currency	'	'	'	'	'	7.5	'	'	'
Payment of contract amount in domestic currency	'	'	'	'	'	3.2	'	'	'
Approximate multiplier of the amount at issue for fines and penalties	'	'	'	'	4	'	'	'	'
Amount paid to customs authority	3.1	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Posted security paid	1.33	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Potential judgment in excess of accrual	'	'	13.3	'	'	'	26.8	'	'
Escrow Deposit	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	3	'
Monetary damages sought based on alleged breach of contract by NGH2L and alleged tortious interference with contractual relations by Parex	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$750

Commitments_and_Contingencies_4

Commitments and Contingencies (Details 4) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Summary of total maximum amount of financial guarantees issued	'
Remainder of 2014	$115,018
2015	40,408
Thereafter	19
Total	$155,445

Earnings_Losses_Per_Share_Deta

Earnings (Losses) Per Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Net income (loss) (numerator):	'	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	$48,977	$92,207
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	-573	-97
Less: (earnings) losses allocated to unvested shareholders	-733	-814
Adjusted income (loss) from continuing operations - basic and diluted	47,671	91,296
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	$1,515	$7,011
Earnings (losses) per share:	'	'
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$0.16	$0.31
Basic from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$0.01	$0.03
Total Basic (in dollars per share)	$0.17	$0.34
Diluted from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$0.16	$0.31
Diluted from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	'	$0.02
Total Diluted (in dollars per share)	$0.16	$0.33
Shares (denominator):	'	'
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - basic	296,210	291,687
Net effect of dilutive stock options, warrants and restricted stock awards based on the if-converted method (in shares)	2,840	2,483
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - diluted	299,050	294,170

Earnings_Losses_Per_Share_Deta1

Earnings (Losses) Per Share (Details 2)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Debt	'	'
Average number of options and warrants excluded from diluted earnings (losses) per share (in shares)	7,853,509	12,452,263

Supplemental_Balance_Sheet_Inc2

Supplemental Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Cash Flow Information (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accrued liabilities	'	'
Accrued compensation	$158,676	$172,803
Deferred revenue	234,900	202,918
Other taxes payable	41,047	76,781
Workers' compensation liabilities	29,459	29,459
Interest payable	18,284	64,728
Warranty accrual	4,240	4,653
Litigation reserves	24,774	30,784
Current liability to discontinued operations	29,381	64,404
Professional fees	2,652	2,971
Current deferred tax liability	3,075	3,075
Current liability to acquisition of KVS	22,033	22,033
Other accrued liabilities	16,227	22,484
Accrued liabilities	$584,748	$697,093

Supplemental_Balance_Sheet_Inc3

Supplemental Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Cash Flow Information (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Investment income (loss)	'	'
Interest and dividend income	$970	$776
Gains (losses) on investments, net	10	78,645
Investment income (loss)	$980	$79,421

Supplemental_Balance_Sheet_Inc4

Supplemental Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Cash Flow Information (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Supplemental Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Cash Flow Information	'
Realized gains on short-term and long term investments	$76.20
Net unrealized gains (loss) from trading securities	$2.40

Supplemental_Balance_Sheet_Inc5

Supplemental Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Cash Flow Information (Details 4) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Supplemental Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Cash Flow Information	'	'
Losses (gains) on sales, disposals and involuntary conversions of long-lived assets	$2,432	$3,411
Termination of employment contract	'	45,000
Litigation expenses	3,060	6,161
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains)	-3,293	4,317
Other losses (gains)	-723	848
Losses (gains) on sales and retirements of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	1,476	59,737
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'
Balance at the beginning of the period	216,140	340,143
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	-55,842	-13,196
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, tax portion	'	70
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	168	-75,256
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-55,674	-88,452
Balance at the end of the period	160,466	251,691
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'
Balance at the beginning of the period	-2,419	-2,793
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	93	94
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	93	94
Balance at the end of the period	-2,326	-2,699
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'
Balance at the beginning of the period	71,742	134,229
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	-19,248	10,069
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	'	-75,523
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-19,248	-65,454
Balance at the end of the period	52,494	68,775
Defined benefit pension plan items	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'
Balance at the beginning of the period	-4,075	-7,632
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	75	173
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	75	173
Balance at the end of the period	-4,000	-7,459
Foreign currency items	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'
Balance at the beginning of the period	150,892	216,339
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	-36,594	-23,265
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-36,594	-23,265
Balance at the end of the period	$114,298	$193,074

Supplemental_Balance_Sheet_Inc6

Supplemental Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Cash Flow Information (Details 5) (Petrello, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Employment agreement	'
Value of incentives in the form of one-time stock grant	$18
Common stock	'
Employment agreement	'
Value of incentives in the form of one-time stock grant	$27

Supplemental_Balance_Sheet_Inc7

Supplemental Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Cash Flow Information (Details 6) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Unrealized (gains) losses on available-for-sale securities that were reclassified from net income	'	'
Investment income (loss)	$980	$79,421
Interest expense	44,810	60,011
General and administrative expenses	134,266	130,878
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	63,735	102,811
Tax expense (benefit)	-14,008	-9,854
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	49,919	99,121
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities | Reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses included in net income (loss)	'	'
Unrealized (gains) losses on available-for-sale securities that were reclassified from net income	'	'
Investment income (loss)	'	-75,974
Investment income (loss), income taxes	0	-451
Interest expense	-153	-153
Interest expense, income taxes	60	59
General and administrative expenses	-123	-281
General and administrative expenses, income taxes	48	108
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	276	-75,540
Tax expense (benefit)	108	-284
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$168	($75,256)

Assets_HeldforSale_and_Discont2

Assets Held-for-Sale and Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets held-for-sale	'	'
Assets held for sale	$231,880	$243,264
Oil and gas	'	'
Assets held-for-sale	'	'
Assets held for sale	231,880	239,936
Rig Services	'	'
Assets held-for-sale	'	'
Assets held for sale	'	$3,328

Assets_HeldforSale_and_Discont3

Assets Held-for-Sale and Discontinued Operations (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Discontinued operations	'	'	'
Undiscounted contractual commitments	$145,400,000	'	'
Liability related to discontinue operation	64,900,000	'	113,600,000
Current liability to discontinued operations	29,381,000	'	64,404,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	'	'	'
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,515,000	7,011,000	'
Oil and gas	'	'	'
Operating revenues	'	'	'
Operating revenues	5,057,000	9,989,000	'
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	'	'	'
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	2,618,000	2,070,000	'
Less: Impairment charges or other (gains) and losses on sale of wholly owned assets	1,002,000	2,000,000	'
Less: Income tax expense (benefit)	101,000	-283,000	'
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,515,000	353,000	'
Rig Services	'	'	'
Operating revenues	'	'	'
Operating revenues	'	47,204,000	'
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	'	'	'
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	'	9,371,000	'
Less: Impairment charges or other (gains) and losses on sale of wholly owned assets	'	323,000	'
Less: Income tax expense (benefit)	'	2,390,000	'
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	'	$6,658,000	'

Segment_Information_Details

Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	'	'	'
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	$1,587,173,000	$1,538,373,000	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	'	'	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	109,041,000	143,138,000	'
Interest expense	-44,810,000	-60,011,000	'
Investment income (loss)	980,000	79,421,000	'
Gains (losses) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other income (expense), net	-1,476,000	-59,737,000	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	63,735,000	102,811,000	'
Income tax expense (benefit)	14,008,000	9,854,000	'
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	750,000	750,000	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	48,977,000	92,207,000	'
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,515,000	7,011,000	'
Net income (loss)	50,492,000	99,218,000	'
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	-573,000	-97,000	'
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	49,919,000	99,121,000	'
ASSETS	'	'	'
Total assets	12,187,073,000	'	12,159,811,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net	-2,445,000	2,896,000	'
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services	'	'	'
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	'	'	'
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	1,140,892,000	1,067,387,000	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	'	'	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	155,501,000	130,869,000	'
ASSETS	'	'	'
Total assets	9,096,706,000	'	8,915,262,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net	-2,500,000	2,800,000	'
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	54,400,000	'	56,900,000
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | U.S.	'	'	'
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	'	'	'
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	510,476,000	484,773,000	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	'	'	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	72,494,000	77,595,000	'
ASSETS	'	'	'
Total assets	4,340,581,000	'	4,248,630,000
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | Canada	'	'	'
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	'	'	'
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	111,621,000	126,867,000	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	'	'	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	26,160,000	30,518,000	'
ASSETS	'	'	'
Total assets	608,533,000	'	608,018,000
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | International	'	'	'
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	'	'	'
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	375,069,000	321,516,000	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	'	'	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	48,119,000	21,469,000	'
ASSETS	'	'	'
Total assets	3,668,340,000	'	3,584,339,000
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | Rig Services	'	'	'
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	'	'	'
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	143,726,000	134,231,000	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	'	'	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	8,728,000	1,287,000	'
ASSETS	'	'	'
Total assets	479,252,000	'	474,275,000
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services	'	'	'
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	'	'	'
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	503,299,000	513,709,000	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	'	'	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	-3,044,000	43,770,000	'
ASSETS	'	'	'
Total assets	2,314,481,000	'	2,394,865,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net	100,000	100,000	'
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	8,700,000	'	7,400,000
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services | Reportable subsegments | Production Services	'	'	'
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	'	'	'
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	275,400,000	251,571,000	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	'	'	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	30,591,000	26,014,000	'
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services | Reportable subsegments | Completion Services	'	'	'
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	'	'	'
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	227,899,000	262,138,000	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	'	'	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	-33,635,000	17,756,000	'
Other reconciling items	'	'	'
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	'	'	'
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	-57,018,000	-42,723,000	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	'	'	'
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	-43,416,000	-31,501,000	'
ASSETS	'	'	'
Total assets	$775,886,000	'	$849,684,000

Condensed_Consolidating_Financ2

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$326,881,000	$389,915,000	$564,888,000	$524,922,000
Short-term investments	97,886,000	117,218,000	'	'
Assets held for sale	231,880,000	243,264,000	'	'
Accounts receivable, net	1,454,368,000	1,399,543,000	'	'
Inventory	194,371,000	209,793,000	'	'
Deferred income taxes	133,667,000	121,316,000	'	'
Other current assets	252,215,000	272,781,000	'	'
Total current assets	2,691,268,000	2,753,830,000	'	'
Long-term investments	2,915,000	3,236,000	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,690,759,000	8,597,813,000	'	'
Goodwill	512,391,000	512,964,000	'	'
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	63,069,000	64,260,000	'	'
Other long-term assets	226,671,000	227,708,000	'	'
Total assets	12,187,073,000	12,159,811,000	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Current portion of debt	5,296,000	10,185,000	'	'
Trade accounts payable	631,015,000	545,512,000	'	'
Accrued liabilities	584,748,000	697,093,000	'	'
Income taxes payable	17,083,000	58,634,000	'	'
Total current liabilities	1,238,142,000	1,311,424,000	'	'
Long-term debt	3,812,476,000	3,904,117,000	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	569,993,000	377,744,000	'	'
Deferred income taxes	526,005,000	516,161,000	'	'
Total liabilities	6,146,616,000	6,109,446,000	'	'
Subsidiary preferred stock	69,188,000	69,188,000	'	'
Shareholders' equity	5,960,469,000	5,969,086,000	'	'
Noncontrolling interest	10,800,000	12,091,000	'	'
Total equity	5,971,269,000	5,981,177,000	5,984,685,000	5,957,117,000
Total liabilities and equity	12,187,073,000	12,159,811,000	'	'
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	892,000	730,000	946,000	1,639,000
Accounts receivable, net	'	27,000	'	'
Other current assets	50,000	50,000	'	'
Total current assets	942,000	807,000	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Trade accounts payable	150,000	86,000	'	'
Accrued liabilities	328,000	378,000	'	'
Total current liabilities	478,000	464,000	'	'
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	4,000	7,029,000	22,090,000	106,778,000
Other current assets	30,214,000	26,378,000	'	'
Total current assets	30,218,000	33,407,000	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	32,944,000	33,815,000	'	'
Other long-term assets	32,630,000	34,487,000	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Trade accounts payable	2,000	25,000	'	'
Accrued liabilities	18,094,000	65,947,000	'	'
Total current liabilities	18,096,000	65,972,000	'	'
Long-term debt	3,804,956,000	3,904,059,000	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	30,142,000	31,071,000	'	'
Deferred income taxes	-237,076,000	-213,233,000	'	'
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	325,985,000	382,156,000	541,852,000	416,505,000
Short-term investments	97,886,000	117,218,000	'	'
Assets held for sale	231,880,000	243,264,000	'	'
Accounts receivable, net	1,454,368,000	1,399,516,000	'	'
Inventory	194,371,000	209,793,000	'	'
Deferred income taxes	133,667,000	121,316,000	'	'
Other current assets	221,951,000	246,353,000	'	'
Total current assets	2,660,108,000	2,719,616,000	'	'
Long-term investments	2,915,000	3,236,000	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,657,815,000	8,563,998,000	'	'
Goodwill	512,391,000	512,964,000	'	'
Other long-term assets	194,041,000	193,221,000	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Current portion of debt	5,296,000	10,185,000	'	'
Trade accounts payable	630,863,000	545,401,000	'	'
Accrued liabilities	566,326,000	630,768,000	'	'
Income taxes payable	17,083,000	58,634,000	'	'
Total current liabilities	1,219,568,000	1,244,988,000	'	'
Long-term debt	7,520,000	58,000	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	539,851,000	346,673,000	'	'
Deferred income taxes	763,081,000	729,394,000	'	'
Subsidiary preferred stock	69,188,000	69,188,000	'	'
Noncontrolling interest	10,800,000	12,091,000	'	'
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Intercompany receivables	153,352,000	160,136,000	'	'
Investment in consolidated affiliates	5,806,653,000	5,808,607,000	'	'
Total assets	5,960,947,000	5,969,550,000	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Total liabilities	478,000	464,000	'	'
Shareholders' equity	5,960,469,000	5,969,086,000	'	'
Total equity	5,960,469,000	5,969,086,000	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	5,960,947,000	5,969,550,000	'	'
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Intercompany receivables	'	3,891,000	'	'
Investment in consolidated affiliates	6,088,501,000	6,097,337,000	'	'
Total assets	6,184,293,000	6,202,937,000	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Intercompany payable	1,940,745,000	1,747,566,000	'	'
Total liabilities	5,556,863,000	5,535,435,000	'	'
Shareholders' equity	627,430,000	667,502,000	'	'
Total equity	627,430,000	667,502,000	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	6,184,293,000	6,202,937,000	'	'
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Intercompany receivables	1,787,393,000	1,583,539,000	'	'
Investment in consolidated affiliates	1,749,780,000	1,789,851,000	'	'
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	63,069,000	64,260,000	'	'
Total assets	15,627,512,000	15,430,685,000	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Total liabilities	2,530,020,000	2,321,113,000	'	'
Shareholders' equity	13,017,504,000	13,028,293,000	'	'
Total equity	13,028,304,000	13,040,384,000	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	15,627,512,000	15,430,685,000	'	'
Consolidating Adjustments	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Intercompany receivables	-1,940,745,000	-1,747,566,000	'	'
Investment in consolidated affiliates	-13,644,934,000	-13,695,795,000	'	'
Total assets	-15,585,679,000	-15,443,361,000	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Intercompany payable	-1,940,745,000	-1,747,566,000	'	'
Total liabilities	-1,940,745,000	-1,747,566,000	'	'
Shareholders' equity	-13,644,934,000	-13,695,795,000	'	'
Total equity	-13,644,934,000	-13,695,795,000	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	($15,585,679,000)	($15,443,361,000)	'	'

Condensed_Consolidating_Financ3

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Revenues and other income:	'	'
Operating revenues	$1,589,618	$1,535,478
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	-2,445	2,895
Investment income (loss)	980	79,421
Total revenues and other income	1,588,153	1,617,794
Costs and other deductions:	'	'
Direct costs	1,061,739	994,992
General and administrative expenses	134,266	130,878
Depreciation and amortization	282,127	269,365
Interest expense	44,810	60,011
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	1,476	59,737
Total costs and other deductions	1,524,418	1,514,983
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	63,735	102,811
Income tax expense (benefit)	14,008	9,854
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	750	750
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	48,977	92,207
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,515	7,011
Net income (loss)	50,492	99,218
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	-573	-97
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	49,919	99,121
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)	'	'
Revenues and other income:	'	'
Investment income (loss)	'	16
Costs and other deductions:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	902	902
Interest expense	49,369	63,049
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)	'	'
Revenues and other income:	'	'
Operating revenues	1,589,618	1,535,478
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	-2,445	2,895
Investment income (loss)	2,116	79,405
Costs and other deductions:	'	'
Direct costs	1,061,739	994,992
Depreciation and amortization	281,225	268,463
Interest expense	-4,559	-3,038
Income tax expense (benefit)	32,408	33,521
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	750	750
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,515	7,011
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	-573	-97
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)	'	'
Revenues and other income:	'	'
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	52,583	107,873
Total revenues and other income	52,583	107,873
Costs and other deductions:	'	'
General and administrative expenses	2,453	1,834
Intercompany interest expense	62	'
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	149	6,918
Total costs and other deductions	2,664	8,752
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	49,919	99,121
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	49,919	99,121
Net income (loss)	49,919	99,121
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	49,919	99,121
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)	'	'
Revenues and other income:	'	'
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	-8,760	42,320
Intercompany interest income	'	29
Total revenues and other income	-8,760	42,365
Costs and other deductions:	'	'
General and administrative expenses	-319	37
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	-223	21
Total costs and other deductions	49,729	64,009
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	-58,489	-21,644
Income tax expense (benefit)	-18,400	-23,667
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	-40,089	2,023
Net income (loss)	-40,089	2,023
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	-40,089	2,023
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)	'	'
Revenues and other income:	'	'
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	-40,089	2,023
Total revenues and other income	1,549,200	1,619,801
Costs and other deductions:	'	'
General and administrative expenses	132,281	129,151
Intercompany interest expense	-62	29
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	1,401	52,654
Total costs and other deductions	1,472,025	1,442,251
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	77,175	177,550
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	44,017	143,279
Net income (loss)	45,532	150,290
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	44,959	150,193
Consolidating Adjustments	'	'
Revenues and other income:	'	'
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	-3,734	-152,216
Investment income (loss)	-1,136	'
Intercompany interest income	'	-29
Total revenues and other income	-4,870	-152,245
Costs and other deductions:	'	'
General and administrative expenses	-149	-144
Intercompany interest expense	'	-29
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	149	144
Total costs and other deductions	'	-29
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	-4,870	-152,216
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	-4,870	-152,216
Net income (loss)	-4,870	-152,216
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	($4,870)	($152,216)

Condensed_Consolidating_Financ4

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income	'	'
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$49,919	$99,121
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes:	'	'
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	-36,594	-23,265
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:	'	'
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	-19,208	10,139
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	'	-75,974
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	-19,208	-65,835
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	123	281
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	-55,526	-88,666
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	148	-214
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-55,674	-88,452
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	-5,755	10,669
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	573	97
Translation adjustment to noncontrolling interest	481	1,414
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	92	-1,317
Comprehensive income (loss)	-5,663	9,352
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)	'	'
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:	'	'
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	573	97
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)	'	'
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income	'	'
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	49,919	99,121
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes:	'	'
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	-36,594	-23,265
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:	'	'
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	'	10,139
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	'	-75,974
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	-19,208	-65,835
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	123	281
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	-55,526	-88,666
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	148	-214
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-55,674	-88,452
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	-5,755	10,669
Comprehensive income (loss)	-5,755	10,669
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)	'	'
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income	'	'
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	-40,089	2,023
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes:	'	'
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	-216	-52
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:	'	'
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	'	185
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	'	-1,186
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	'	-1,001
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	123	281
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	60	-619
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	148	-214
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-88	-405
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	-40,177	1,618
Comprehensive income (loss)	-40,177	1,618
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)	'	'
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income	'	'
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	44,959	150,193
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes:	'	'
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	-36,813	-23,317
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:	'	'
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	'	10,324
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	'	-77,160
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	-19,208	-66,836
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	246	562
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	-55,622	-89,438
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	236	-487
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-55,858	-88,951
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	-10,899	61,242
Translation adjustment to noncontrolling interest	-481	-1,414
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	92	-1,317
Comprehensive income (loss)	-10,807	59,925
Consolidating Adjustments	'	'
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income	'	'
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	-4,870	-152,216
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes:	'	'
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	37,029	23,369
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:	'	'
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	'	-10,509
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	'	78,346
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	19,208	67,837
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	-369	-843
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	-306	-306
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	55,562	90,057
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	-384	701
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	55,946	89,356
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	51,076	-62,860
Comprehensive income (loss)	$51,076	($62,860)

Condensed_Consolidating_Financ5

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 4) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows	'	'
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	$444,563	$179,295
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Purchases of investments	-286	'
Sales and maturities of investments	733	142,336
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	-10,200	-37,516
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	-1,255	-12
Capital expenditures	-396,465	-235,539
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	21,605	6,605
Net cash used for investing activities	-385,868	-124,126
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	-1,822	-1,975
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares	4,931	1,027
Dividends to shareholders	-11,893	'
Proceeds from (payments for) commercial paper, net	-39,594	-12,891
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities	15,000	'
Reduction in revolving credit facilities	-67,500	'
Other	-11,585	1,395
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	-112,463	-12,444
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-9,266	-2,759
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-63,034	39,966
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	389,915	524,922
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	326,881	564,888
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)	'	'
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares	4,931	1,027
Other	-6,585	-2,773
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	162	-693
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	730	1,639
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	892	946
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)	'	'
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Changes in intercompany balances	176,446	54,192
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from (payments for) commercial paper, net	-39,594	'
Reduction in revolving credit facilities	-60,000	'
Other	'	-89
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-7,025	-84,688
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	7,029	106,778
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	4	22,090
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)	'	'
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Purchases of investments	-286	'
Sales and maturities of investments	733	142,336
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	-10,200	-37,516
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	-1,255	-12
Capital expenditures	-396,465	-235,539
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	21,605	6,605
Changes in intercompany balances	-176,446	-54,192
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	-1,822	-1,975
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities	15,000	'
Reduction in revolving credit facilities	-7,500	'
Other	-5,000	4,257
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-9,266	-2,759
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-56,171	125,347
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	382,156	416,505
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	325,985	541,852
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)	'	'
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows	'	'
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	-1,579	1,144
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Dividends to shareholders	-13,029	-12,891
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of parent common shares to affiliates	16,424	12,800
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	1,741	-1,837
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)	'	'
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows	'	'
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	-83,877	-138,791
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	'	-100,000
Net cash used for investing activities	176,446	-45,808
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from parent contributions	'	100,000
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	-99,594	99,911
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)	'	'
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows	'	'
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	514,731	304,142
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	'	-200,000
Net cash used for investing activities	-562,314	-378,318
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from parent contributions	'	200,000
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	678	202,282
Consolidating Adjustments	'	'
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows	'	'
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	15,288	12,800
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	'	300,000
Net cash used for investing activities	'	300,000
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Dividends to shareholders	1,136	'
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of parent common shares to affiliates	-16,424	-12,800
Proceeds from parent contributions	'	-300,000
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	($15,288)	($312,800)

Subsequent_Events_Details

Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended
	Feb. 21, 2014	Apr. 25, 2014
		Subsequent event
Subsequent event	'	'
Dividend declared (in dollars per share)	$0.04	$0.04