v2.4.0.8

Common Shares (Details 2) (USD $)			0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Jul. 16, 2012 Series A Preferred Stock	Jul. 16, 2012 Series A Preferred Stock Rights	Jul. 16, 2012 Series A Preferred Stock Rights Maximum
Shareholder Rights Plan
Number of purchase rights issued per Common Share			$ 1
Number of shares each Right entitled to purchase			0.001
Par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Exercise price (in dollars per share)			$ 80.00
Minimum percentage holding of common shares for exercising preferred share purchase rights			10.00%
Conditions of rights issuance, number of days following announcement			10 days	20 days
Conditions of rights issuance, business days following Commencement or Announcement to make an offer			10 days

X

- Definition

Represents the number of business days that the rights become exercisable following a the commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 10% or more of the issued and outstanding Common Shares.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Represents the number of days that the rights become exercisable following a public announcement of an acquisition, or right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 10 percent or more of the entity's outstanding common stock shares.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The number of rights issued for each share of common stock outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfRightsIssuedPerShareOfCommonStock
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Represents the minimum percentage holding of common shares for exercising preferred share purchase rights.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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X

- Definition

Exercise price per share or per unit of warrants or rights outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(i)(4))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph i

-Subparagraph 4

-Article 4

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X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Number of securities into which the class of warrant or right may be converted. For example, but not limited to, 500,000 warrants may be converted into 1,000,000 shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(i)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph i

-Subparagraph 2

-Article 4

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
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X

- Definition

Face amount or stated value per share of preferred stock nonredeemable or redeemable solely at the option of the issuer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.28)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29

-Article 5

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant