Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Net revenues:
Contracting services	$ 213,278	$ 297,103	$ 501,887	$ 604,634
Oil and gas	159,218	95,566	500,535	288,867
Total net revenues	372,496	392,669	1,002,422	893,501
Cost of sales:
Contracting services	147,614	211,634	371,042	438,008
Oil and gas	100,230	93,586	306,733	266,032
Oil and gas property impairments	2,357	897	25,078	171,871
Total cost of sales	250,201	306,117	702,853	875,911
Gross profit (loss)	122,295	86,552	299,569	17,590
Gain on oil and gas derivative contracts		161		2,643
Gain (loss) on sale or acquisition of assets, net		13	(6)	6,246
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(22,082)	(26,628)	(70,821)	(91,675)
Income (loss) from operations	100,213	60,098	228,742	(65,196)
Equity in earnings of investments	4,906	6,221	16,443	12,932
Gain on sale of Cal Dive common stock			753
Net interest expense	(24,114)	(25,479)	(73,628)	(61,637)
Other income (expense)	(10,714)	4,072	(7,554)	(3,189)
Income (loss) before income taxes	70,291	44,912	164,756	(117,090)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	23,465	17,965	49,186	(41,962)
Net income (loss), including noncontrolling interests	46,826	26,947	115,570	(75,128)
Less net income applicable to noncontrolling interests	(800)	(776)	(2,354)	(2,049)
Net income (loss) applicable to Helix	46,026	26,171	113,216	(77,177)
Preferred stock dividends	(10)	(10)	(30)	(104)
Net income (loss) applicable to Helix common shareholders	$ 46,016	$ 26,161	$ 113,186	$ (77,281)
Earnings (loss) per share of common stock:
Basic	$ 0.43	$ 0.25	$ 1.07	$ (0.74)
Diluted	$ 0.43	$ 0.25	$ 1.06	$ (0.74)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	104,700	104,090	104,616	103,772
Diluted	105,154	105,307	105,061	103,772