v3.7.0.1

Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates (Details) - C&J Energy Services, Ltd. - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions |  | 3 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 24, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2016
Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates |  |
Cash consideration in merger | $ 693.5 |
Cash proceeds from merger after working capital requirements | $ 650.0 |
Common shares held in merged entity | 62.5 |
Percentage of outstanding and issued common shares held | 53.00% |
Net income (loss) |  | $ 167.1
Other-than-temporary impairment |  | $ 153.4

X
- Definition The cash inflow from merger transaction after adjustment for working capital requirements. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nbr_CashProceedsFromMergerAfterWorkingCapitalAdjustment
Namespace Prefix: | nbr_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The method of determining the fair value of the equity interests of the merged entity, including the number of instruments or interests received in consideration for the merger. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nbr_ConsiderationForMergerAsMergedEntityEquityInterests
Namespace Prefix: | nbr_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cash inflow associated with the sale of merger transaction. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nbr_ProceedsFromMergerTransaction
Namespace Prefix: | nbr_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This item represents an other than temporary decline in value that has been recognized against an investment accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the investment represents the amount of the write down which is or was reflected in earnings. The written down value is a new cost basis with the adjusted value of the investment becoming its new carrying value subject to the equity accounting method. Evidence of a loss in value might include, but would not necessarily be limited to, absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or inability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity which would justify the carrying amount of the investment. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 32 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64825282&loc=d3e32787-111569 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOtherThanTemporaryImpairment
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of net income (loss) reported by an equity method investment of the entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=SL51721683-107760 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14064-108612 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571 Reference 4: 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(g)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33912-111571 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=nbr_CAndJEnergyServicesLtdMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |