Condensed Consolidated Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Net revenues	$ 338,319	$ 299,262	$ 629,926	$ 500,832
Cost of sales	238,121	394,080	452,652	569,794
Gross profit (loss)	100,198	(94,818)	177,274	(68,962)
Gain on oil & gas derivative contracts	0	2,482	0	2,482
Gain (loss) on sale or acquisition of assets	(22)	(14)	(6)	6,233
Selling and administrative expenses	(23,758)	(24,546)	(48,739)	(65,047)
Income (loss) from operations	76,418	(116,896)	128,529	(125,294)
Equity in earnings of investments	5,887	1,656	11,537	6,711
Net interest expense and other	(24,025)	(22,199)	(45,601)	(43,419)
Income (loss) before income taxes	58,280	(137,439)	94,465	(162,002)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	16,171	(52,366)	25,721	(59,927)
Net income (loss), including noncontrolling interests	42,109	(85,073)	68,744	(102,075)
Less net income applicable to noncontrolling interests	(786)	(444)	(1,554)	(1,273)
Preferred stock dividends	(10)	(34)	(20)	(94)
Net income (loss) applicable to Helix common shareholders	41,313	(85,551)	67,170	(103,442)
Helix [Member]
Net revenues	20,545	33,670	36,127	54,692
Cost of sales	15,123	18,158	31,716	31,492
Gross profit (loss)	5,422	15,512	4,411	23,200
Gain on oil & gas derivative contracts	0	0	0	0
Gain (loss) on sale or acquisition of assets	(22)	0	(6)	0
Selling and administrative expenses	(9,574)	(13,583)	(20,760)	(37,458)
Income (loss) from operations	(4,174)	1,929	(16,355)	(14,258)
Equity in earnings of investments	58,929	(69,604)	107,036	(64,736)
Net interest expense and other	(18,243)	(15,319)	(35,527)	(22,708)
Income (loss) before income taxes	36,512	(82,994)	55,154	(101,702)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(4,790)	(1,872)	(11,963)	(6,668)
Net income (loss), including noncontrolling interests	41,302	(81,122)	67,117	(95,034)
Less net income applicable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Preferred stock dividends	(10)	(34)	(20)	(94)
Net income (loss) applicable to Helix common shareholders	41,292	(81,156)	67,097	(95,128)
Guarantors [Member]
Net revenues	247,855	186,247	489,897	355,970
Cost of sales	173,897	317,157	339,128	457,199
Gross profit (loss)	73,958	(130,910)	150,769	(101,229)
Gain on oil & gas derivative contracts	0	2,482	0	2,482
Gain (loss) on sale or acquisition of assets	0	0	0	287
Selling and administrative expenses	(9,915)	(7,834)	(19,951)	(17,915)
Income (loss) from operations	64,043	(136,262)	130,818	(116,375)
Equity in earnings of investments	4,194	3,612	(1,468)	3,105
Net interest expense and other	(5,890)	(5,002)	(10,599)	(12,568)
Income (loss) before income taxes	62,347	(137,652)	118,751	(125,838)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	20,319	(49,351)	42,060	(45,136)
Net income (loss), including noncontrolling interests	42,028	(88,301)	76,691	(80,702)
Less net income applicable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Preferred stock dividends	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) applicable to Helix common shareholders	42,028	(88,301)	76,691	(80,702)
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Net revenues	92,926	100,086	150,802	145,058
Cost of sales	71,730	72,345	128,008	122,302
Gross profit (loss)	21,196	27,741	22,794	22,756
Gain on oil & gas derivative contracts	0	0	0	0
Gain (loss) on sale or acquisition of assets	0	(14)	0	5,946
Selling and administrative expenses	(4,658)	(3,531)	(8,812)	(10,576)
Income (loss) from operations	16,538	24,196	13,982	18,126
Equity in earnings of investments	5,887	1,656	11,537	6,711
Net interest expense and other	108	(1,878)	525	(8,143)
Income (loss) before income taxes	22,533	23,974	26,044	16,694
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	637	1,221	(4,404)	(3,650)
Net income (loss), including noncontrolling interests	21,896	22,753	30,448	20,344
Less net income applicable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Preferred stock dividends	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) applicable to Helix common shareholders	21,896	22,753	30,448	20,344
Consolidating Entries [Member]
Net revenues	(23,007)	(20,741)	(46,900)	(54,888)
Cost of sales	(22,629)	(13,580)	(46,200)	(41,199)
Gross profit (loss)	(378)	(7,161)	(700)	(13,689)
Gain on oil & gas derivative contracts	0	0	0	0
Gain (loss) on sale or acquisition of assets	0	0	0	0
Selling and administrative expenses	389	402	784	902
Income (loss) from operations	11	(6,759)	84	(12,787)
Equity in earnings of investments	(63,123)	65,992	(105,568)	61,631
Net interest expense and other	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	(63,112)	59,233	(105,484)	48,844
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	5	(2,364)	28	(4,473)
Net income (loss), including noncontrolling interests	(63,117)	61,597	(105,512)	53,317
Less net income applicable to noncontrolling interests	(786)	(444)	(1,554)	(1,273)
Preferred stock dividends	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) applicable to Helix common shareholders	$ (63,903)	$ 61,153	$ (107,066)	$ 52,044