RPT-Nabors 3rd-qtr profit falls 26 percent

(Repeats without change to headline or text)

HOUSTON, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Nabors Industries Ltd (NBR.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), the world's largest land-based oil and gas driller, on Tuesday reported a 26 percent decrease in its third-quarter profit, as weakness in North American markets weighed on results.

Net profit in the 2007 quarter was $218 million, or 76 cents per diluted share, compared with $292.8 million, or $1.02 per share, in the year-earlier period.

The quarter's results include $22.3 million, or 8 cents per diluted share, in income from discontinued operations derived from the sale of Nabors' Sea Mar unit, it said.

Earlier this month, Hamilton, Bermuda-based Nabors said it would miss Wall Street expectations for the third quarter and 2008. Before the profit warning, analysts had expected a third-quarter profit of 81 cents a share. (Reporting by Anna Driver)