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Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2013 | Mar. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Summarized financial data for investment in unconsolidated affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. oil and gas joint venture earnings (losses) | $ (400)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | $ (2,900)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | $ (600)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | $ (2,400)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | $ (1,600)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | $ (2,600)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | $ 1,400 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | $ 2,900 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | $ (6,301)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | $ 39 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | $ (288,718)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Impairment charges for unconsolidated oil and gas joint ventures included in continuing operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,974 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOtherThanTemporaryImpairment |  |
Joint Venture in Saudi Arabia |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 51.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = nbr_JointVentureInSaudiArabiaMember
Assets Held-for-sale |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summarized financial data for investment in unconsolidated affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current assets | 470,501 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember |  |  |  | 442,703 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember |  |  |  | 470,501 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember | 442,703 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember |
Long-term assets | 324,234 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember |  |  |  | 138,222 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember |  |  |  | 324,234 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember | 138,222 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember |
Current liabilities | 467,000 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember |  |  |  | 440,585 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember |  |  |  | 467,000 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember | 440,585 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember |
Long-term liabilities | 207,681 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember |  |  |  | 4,169 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember |  |  |  | 207,681 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember | 4,169 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember |
Gross revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 605,179 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRevenue / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember | 562,101 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRevenue / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember | 657,362 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRevenue / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember
Gross margin |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 35,370 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationGrossProfitLoss / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember | 46,446 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationGrossProfitLoss / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember | 107,035 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationGrossProfitLoss / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember
Net income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (642)us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember | 1,088 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember | (624,172)us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember
U.S. oil and gas joint venture earnings (losses) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (6,301)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember | $ 39 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember | $ (288,718)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMember

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