Condensed Consolidated Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009		Dec. 31, 2008
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 546,465	$ 391,085	$ 270,673		$ 223,613
Accounts receivable, net	238,781	177,293
Unbilled revenue	37,375	49,411
Income taxes receivable		6,099
Other current assets	121,621	116,966
Total current assets	944,242	740,854
Property and equipment, net	2,331,327	2,527,080	2,863,706
Equity investments in unconsolidated affiliates	175,656	187,031
Goodwill, net	62,215	62,494	78,643	[1]	704,300
Other assets, net	68,907	74,561
Total assets	3,582,347	3,592,020	3,779,533
Accounts payable	147,043	159,381
Accrued liabilities	239,963	198,237
Income taxes payable	1,293
Current maturities of long-term debt	7,877	10,179
Total current liabilities	396,176	367,797
Long-term debt	1,147,444	1,347,753
Deferred income taxes	417,610	413,639
Asset retirement obligations	161,208	170,410
Other long-term liabilities	9,368	5,777
Total liabilities	2,131,806	2,305,376
Convertible preferred stock	1,000	1,000
Total equity	1,449,541	1,285,644	1,427,462		1,513,776
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,582,347	3,592,020
Helix [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	495,484	376,434	258,742		148,704
Accounts receivable, net	79,290	61,846
Unbilled revenue	10,530	11,990
Income taxes receivable	80,388	19,334
Other current assets	68,627	63,306
Total current assets	734,319	532,910
Intercompany	(147,187)	1,906
Property and equipment, net	230,946	217,153
Equity investments in affiliates	1,952,392	1,998,289
Other assets, net	53,425	43,971
Due from subsidiaries/parent	64,655	95,398
Total assets	2,888,550	2,889,627
Accounts payable	39,280	60,308
Accrued liabilities	115,921	58,074
Current maturities of long-term debt	3,000	4,326
Total current liabilities	158,201	122,708
Long-term debt	1,042,155	1,237,587
Deferred income taxes	231,255	185,453
Other long-term liabilities	4,150	1,421
Total liabilities	1,435,761	1,547,169
Convertible preferred stock	1,000	1,000
Total equity	1,451,789	1,341,458
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,888,550	2,889,627
Guarantors [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	2,434	3,294	2,522		4,983
Accounts receivable, net	117,767	91,659
Unbilled revenue	155
Other current assets	48,661	49,557
Total current assets	169,017	144,510
Intercompany	315,821	263,920
Property and equipment, net	1,422,326	1,605,906
Equity investments in affiliates	37,239	29,899
Goodwill, net	45,107	45,107
Other assets, net	36,453	38,324
Due from subsidiaries/parent	430,496	105,434
Total assets	2,456,459	2,233,100
Accounts payable	82,750	56,107
Accrued liabilities	97,692	107,874
Income taxes payable	97,692	36,678
Total current liabilities	278,134	200,659
Deferred income taxes	88,625	135,101
Asset retirement obligations	161,208	170,410
Other long-term liabilities	4,647	3,691
Total liabilities	532,614	509,861
Total equity	1,923,845	1,723,239
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,456,459	2,233,100
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	48,547	11,357	9,409		69,926
Accounts receivable, net	41,724	23,788
Unbilled revenue	26,690	37,421
Income taxes receivable		7,195
Other current assets	10,159	12,889
Total current assets	127,120	92,650
Intercompany	(102,826)	(171,513)
Property and equipment, net	682,899	709,082
Equity investments in unconsolidated affiliates	175,656	187,031
Goodwill, net	17,108	17,387
Other assets, net	16,809	21,900
Total assets	916,766	856,537
Accounts payable	25,013	42,966
Accrued liabilities	26,350	32,289
Income taxes payable	217
Current maturities of long-term debt	10,377	14,301
Total current liabilities	61,957	89,556
Long-term debt	105,289	110,166
Deferred income taxes	103,552	98,968
Other long-term liabilities	571	665
Due to parent	98,285	120,884
Total liabilities	369,654	420,239
Total equity	547,112	436,298
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	916,766	856,537
Consolidating Entries [Member]
Income taxes receivable	(80,388)	(20,430)
Other current assets	(5,826)	(8,786)
Total current assets	(86,214)	(29,216)
Intercompany	(65,808)	(94,313)
Property and equipment, net	(4,844)	(5,061)
Equity investments in affiliates	(1,989,631)	(2,028,188)
Other assets, net	(37,780)	(29,634)
Due from subsidiaries/parent	(495,151)	(200,832)
Total assets	(2,679,428)	(2,387,244)
Income taxes payable	(96,616)	(36,678)
Current maturities of long-term debt	(5,500)	(8,448)
Total current liabilities	(102,116)	(45,126)
Deferred income taxes	(5,822)	(5,883)
Due to parent	(98,285)	(120,884)
Total liabilities	(206,223)	(171,893)
Total equity	(2,473,205)	(2,215,351)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (2,679,428)	$ (2,387,244)

[1] Prior to 2009, we fully impaired our oil and gas related goodwill ($704.3 million) as well as the $8.3 million of goodwill associated with our former reservoir consulting business.