<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-20-000953.txt : 20200103
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-20-000953.hdr.sgml : 20200103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20200103213036
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-20-000953
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20191231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20200103
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20200103

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PETRELLO ANTHONY G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001195669

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-32657
		FILM NUMBER:		20507927

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NABORS CORP SERVICES
		STREET 2:		515 W GREENS RD SUITE 1200`
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77067

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001163739
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DRILLING OIL & GAS WELLS [1381]
		IRS NUMBER:				980363970
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			D0
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CROWN HOUSE
		STREET 2:		4 PAR-LA-VILLE ROAD   SECOND FLOOR
		CITY:			HAMILTON, HM08
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			0000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2464219471

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX HM3349
		CITY:			HAMILTON, HMPX
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			0000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001163739</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NBR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195669</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PETRELLO ANTHONY G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NABORS CORPORATE SERVICES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>515 WEST GREENS ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>99</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.87</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5104712</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
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                    <value>D</value>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                    <value>D</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4913456</value>
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                    <value>D</value>
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            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>53464</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.96</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4859992</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-01-02</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7409729</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-01-02</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>657895</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8067624</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6537578</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects the number of shares surrendered on December 31, 2019 to satisfy the tax withholding on the vesting of 250 restricted shares out of the 750 restricted shares originally granted on December 31, 2018. The 151 vested shares remaining were retained by the executive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents the number of TSR shares forfeited on January 2, 2020, out of a total of 318,761  TSR shares originally granted to Mr. Petrello on January 3, 2017, based on the Issuer's relative total shareholder return as compared to a peer group of companies during the three-year performance period beginning on January 1, 2017 and ending on December 31, 2019, as determined on January 2, 2020 by the Compensation Committee of the Issuer's Board of Directors (the &quot;Compensation Committee&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reflects the number of shares surrendered on January 2, 2020 to satisfy the tax withholding on the vesting of 127,505 TSR shares earned out of a total of 318,761 shares originally granted to Mr. Petrello on January 3, 2017, based on the Issuer's relative total shareholder return as compared to a peer group of companies during the three-year performance period beginning on January 1, 2017 and ending on December 31, 2019, as determined on January 2, 2020 by the Compensation Committee. The remaining 74,041 earned and vested shares were retained by the executive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These Performance shares were earned and granted to Mr. Petrello pursuant to his employment agreement based on the achievement of certain objectives for the year 2019, as determined on January 2, 2020, by the Compensation Committee.  The Performance shares are scheduled to vest in three (3) equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Represents an award of TSR shares that will only vest at the end of a three-year performance period (January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022) based on the Issuer's  relative total shareholder return as compared to a peer group of companies. The number of shares reported represents the maximum that may be earned, which is 200% of the target number. No number of shares is guaranteed to vest and the actual number of shares that will vest at the end of the performance period may be anywhere from zero to the amount stated.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mark D. Andrews by Power of Attorney for Anthony G. Petrello</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-01-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
