v2.4.0.8

Fair Value Measurements (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Dec. 31, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
--- | --- | --- | ---
Fair Value of Financial Instruments |  |  |
Subsidiary preferred stock, effective interest rate (as a percent) | 4.00% |  | 4.00%
Carrying Value | $ 3,983,490 |  | $ 4,448,888
Fair Value | 4,251,473 |  | 5,142,918
Subsidiary preferred stock, carrying value | 69,188 |  | 69,188
Subsidiary preferred stock, fair value | 69,000 |  | 68,625
Securities available-for-sale | 117,218 |  | 200,577
Trading equity securities, fair value | 3,200 |  | 52,705
Securities classified as available-for-sale and trading | 117,200 |  |
2.35% senior notes due September 2016 |  |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments |  |  |
Effective Interest Rate (as a percent) | 2.56% |  | 6.42%
Carrying Value | 349,820 |  |
Fair Value | 354,694 |  |
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent) | 2.35% | 2.35% |
6.15% senior notes due February 2018 |  |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments |  |  |
Effective Interest Rate (as a percent) | 6.42% |  | 6.42%
Carrying Value | 969,928 |  | 968,708
Fair Value | 1,097,480 |  | 1,164,813
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent) | 6.15% |  |
9.25% senior notes due January 2019 |  |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments |  |  |
Effective Interest Rate (as a percent) | 9.33% |  | 9.33%
Carrying Value | 339,607 |  | 1,125,000
Fair Value | 428,733 |  | 1,492,819
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent) | 9.25% |  |
5.00% senior notes due September 2020 |  |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments |  |  |
Effective Interest Rate (as a percent) | 5.20% |  | 5.20%
Carrying Value | 697,947 |  | 697,648
Fair Value | 731,955 |  | 770,707
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent) | 5.00% |  |
4.625% senior notes due September 2021 |  |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments |  |  |
Effective Interest Rate (as a percent) | 4.75% |  | 4.75%
Carrying Value | 698,148 |  | 697,907
Fair Value | 709,793 |  | 755,517
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent) | 4.625% |  |
5.10% senior notes due September 2023 |  |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments |  |  |
Effective Interest Rate (as a percent) | 5.26% |  |
Carrying Value | 348,765 |  |
Fair Value | 349,731 |  |
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent) | 5.10% | 5.10% |
Revolving Credit Facility |  |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments |  |  |
Effective Interest Rate (as a percent) | 2.28% |  | 2.17%
Carrying Value | 170,000 |  | 890,000
Fair Value | 170,000 |  | 890,000
Commercial paper |  |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments |  |  |
Effective Interest Rate (as a percent) | 0.45% |  |
Carrying Value | 329,844 |  |
Fair Value | 329,844 |  |
Other |  |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments |  |  |
Carrying Value | 10,243 |  | 437
Fair Value | $ 10,243 |  | $ 437

X
- Definition This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nbr_MarketableSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | nbr_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the information pertaining to fair value of the temporary equity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nbr_TemporaryEquityFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | nbr_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the effective interest rate for the temporary equity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nbr_TemporaryEquityInterestRateEffectivePercentage
Namespace Prefix: | nbr_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28360136&loc=d3e22054-111558 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (aa) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27232-111563 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26610-111562 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28364263&loc=d3e13433-108611 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28364263&loc=d3e13476-108611 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsFinancialLiabilitiesBalanceSheetGroupingsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Carrying amount, attributable to noncontrolling interests, of an entity's issued and outstanding stock which is not included within permanent equity. Temporary equity is a security with redemption features that are outside the control of the issuer, is not classified as an asset or liability in conformity with GAAP, and is not mandatorily redeemable. Includes any type of security that is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price or on a fixed or determinable date or dates, is redeemable at the option of the holder, or has conditions for redemption which are not solely within the control of the issuer. Includes stock with a put option held by an ESOP and stock redeemable by a holder only in the event of a change in control of the issuer. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_TemporaryEquityCarryingAmountAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of investments in debt and equity securities and other forms of securities that provide ownership interests classified as trading. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26610-111562 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26626-111562 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Trading Securities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6526789 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_TradingSecurities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant