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Impairments and Other Charges (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 item | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 12, 2013
Summary of Impairments and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |
Provision for retirement of assets | $ 393,962,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf | $ 14,044,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf | $ 138,666,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf |  |  |
Impairment of long-lived assets | 217,627,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse | 20,000,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse | 50,355,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse |  |  |
Subtotal | 611,589,000 nbr_RetirementAndImpairmentChargesForTangibleAssets |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill impairments | 356,605,000 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss | 26,279,000 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss |  |  |
Inangible Asset Impairments | 29,942,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill |  | 74,960,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill |  |  |
Subtotal | 386,547,000 us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment |  | 101,239,000 us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment |  |  |
Transaction Costs | 22,313,000 us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityTransactionCosts |  |  |  |  |
Other-than-temporary impairment on equity security | 6,974,000 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOtherThanTemporaryImpairment |  |  |  |  |
Loss on tendered notes |  | 208,197,000 nbr_PremiumPaidOnExtinguishmentOfDebt |  |  |  |
Termination of employment contract |  | 45,000,000 nbr_ProvisionForTerminationPayment |  |  |  |
Impairments and other charges | 1,027,423,000 nbr_AssetImpairmentAndOtherCharges | 287,241,000 nbr_AssetImpairmentAndOtherCharges | 290,260,000 nbr_AssetImpairmentAndOtherCharges |  |  |
Goodwill | 173,928,000 us-gaap_Goodwill | 512,964,000 us-gaap_Goodwill | 472,326,000 us-gaap_Goodwill | 472,326,000 us-gaap_Goodwill |  |
Loss on tendered notes |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of retired mechanical rigs | 25 nbr_NumberOfRetiredMechanicalRigs |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of charges from drilling rigs and rig equipment | 0.67%nbr_PercentageOfChargesFromDrillingRigsAndRigEquipmentDuringPeriod |  |  |  |  |
Senior Notes Due January 2019 |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss on tendered notes |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent) | 9.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = nbr_SeniorNotesDueTwoZeroOneNineMember | 9.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = nbr_SeniorNotesDueTwoZeroOneNineMember |  |  | 9.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = nbr_SeniorNotesDueTwoZeroOneNineMember |
Principal amount repurchased |  | 785,400,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchasedFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = nbr_SeniorNotesDueTwoZeroOneNineMember |  |  |  | 785,400,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchasedFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = nbr_SeniorNotesDueTwoZeroOneNineMember
Aggregate payments of debt repurchased |  | 1,000,000,000 us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtExtinguishmentCosts / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = nbr_SeniorNotesDueTwoZeroOneNineMember |  |  |  |
Petrello |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Impairments and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash awarded in connection with termination of prior contract |  | 18,000,000 nbr_CashPaidOnTerminationPriorEmploymentContract / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember |  |  |  |
Common Stock | Petrello |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Impairments and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash awarded in connection with termination of prior contract |  | 27,000,000 nbr_CashPaidOnTerminationPriorEmploymentContract / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember |  |  |  |
U.S. |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Impairments and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |
Provision for retirement of assets | 271,141,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = country_US |  | 37,100,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = country_US |  |  |
Impairment of long-lived assets | 137,000,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = country_US |  |  | 17,400,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = country_US |  |
Subtotal | 408,141,000 nbr_RetirementAndImpairmentChargesForTangibleAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = country_US |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 50,149,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = country_US | 50,149,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = country_US | 50,149,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = country_US | 50,149,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = country_US |  |
CANADA |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Impairments and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |
Provision for retirement of assets | 24,211,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = country_CA |  | 33,700,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = country_CA |  |  |
Impairment of long-lived assets | 10,176,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = country_CA |  |  | 32,900,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = country_CA |  |
Subtotal | 34,387,000 nbr_RetirementAndImpairmentChargesForTangibleAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = country_CA |  |  |  |  |
International |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Impairments and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |
Provision for retirement of assets | 56,472,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_InternationalMember |  | 16,500,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_InternationalMember |  |  |
Impairment of long-lived assets | 70,451,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_InternationalMember |  |  |  |  |
Subtotal | 126,923,000 nbr_RetirementAndImpairmentChargesForTangibleAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_InternationalMember |  |  |  |  |
Rig Services |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Impairments and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |
Provision for retirement of assets | 42,138,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_RigServicesMember |  | 2,000,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_RigServicesMember |  |  |
Subtotal | 42,138,000 nbr_RetirementAndImpairmentChargesForTangibleAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_RigServicesMember |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 31,667,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_RigServicesMember | 37,261,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_RigServicesMember | 32,113,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_RigServicesMember | 32,113,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_RigServicesMember |  |
Subtotal drilling and rig services |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Impairments and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 81,816,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_DrillingAndRigServicesMember | 87,410,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_DrillingAndRigServicesMember | 82,262,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_DrillingAndRigServicesMember | 82,262,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_DrillingAndRigServicesMember |  |
Completion Services |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Impairments and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  | 334,992,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_CompletionServicesMember | 334,992,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_CompletionServicesMember | 334,992,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_CompletionServicesMember |  |
Production Services |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Impairments and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 92,112,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_ProductionServicesMember | 90,562,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_ProductionServicesMember | 55,072,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_ProductionServicesMember | 55,072,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_ProductionServicesMember |  |
Subtotal completion and production services |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Impairments and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |
Provision for retirement of assets | 20,000,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_CompletionAndProductionServicesMember |  | 49,400,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_CompletionAndProductionServicesMember |  |  |
Subtotal | 29,900,000 nbr_RetirementAndImpairmentChargesForTangibleAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_CompletionAndProductionServicesMember |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 92,112,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_CompletionAndProductionServicesMember | 425,554,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_CompletionAndProductionServicesMember | 390,064,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_CompletionAndProductionServicesMember | 390,064,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_CompletionAndProductionServicesMember |  |
Gulf of Mexico |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Impairments and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |
Provision for retirement of assets | 54,400,000 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_GulfOfMexicoMember |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisitions Acquiree Superior | Completion Services |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Impairments and other charges |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | $ 335,000,000 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = nbr_BusinessAcquisitionsAcquireeSuperiorMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = nbr_CompletionServicesMember |  |  |  |  |

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