v3.7.0.1

Commitments and Contingencies - Financial Guarantees (Details) $ in Thousands | Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)
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Summary of total maximum amount of financial guarantees issued |
2017 | $ 276,391
2018 | 518
2019 | 11,914
Total | $ 288,823

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- Definition Financial guarantees future maximum amounts issued. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nbr_FinancialGuaranteesFutureMaximumAmountsIssuedAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | nbr_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Amount of the Guarantee obligations maximum exposure maturing in the remainder of the fiscal year following the latest fiscal year ended. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nbr_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposureInYearOne
Namespace Prefix: | nbr_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Amount of the guarantee obligation's maximum exposure maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year ended. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nbr_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposureInYearThree
Namespace Prefix: | nbr_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of the guarantee obligations maximum exposure maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year ended. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nbr_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposureInYearTwo
Namespace Prefix: | nbr_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant