Condensed Consolidated Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Net income (loss), including noncontrolling interests	$ 133,077	$ (124,153)	$ 175,751
Equity in earnings of investments, net of distributions			(6,321)
Other adjustments	434,079	455,607	254,508
Cash provided by operating activities	567,156	331,454	423,938
Net cash used in discontinued operations			(6,261)
Net cash provided by operating activities	567,156	331,454	417,677
Capital expenditures	(219,769)	(206,772)	(423,373)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired
Investments in equity investments	(2,699)	(8,253)	(1,657)
Distributions from equity investments, net	3,965	10,539	6,742
Increases in restricted cash	1,598	(70)	(6)
Proceeds from insurance reimbursement		16,106
Proceeds from sale of Cal Dive common stock	3,588		418,168
Proceeds from sale of Cal Dive common stock			305,173
Proceeds from sales of property	31,000	6,894	23,717
Other, net	32,598
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(182,317)	(181,556)	(89,404)
Net cash provided by discontinued operations			20,872
Net cash used in investing activities	(182,317)	(181,556)	(68,532)
Borrowings on revolvers	109,400		100,000
Repayments on revolvers	(109,400)		(349,500)
Repayments of debt	(212,730)	(8,750)	(28,540)
Loan notes repayment	(1,215)	(2,517)	(2,130)
Deferred financing costs	(9,311)	(2,947)	(6,970)
Preferred stock dividends paid	(40)	(114)	(645)
Repurchases of common stock	(7,604)	(11,680)	(13,995)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	(1,013)	(3,945)	895
Exercise of stock options, net	2,018	674	176
Net cash used in financing activities	(229,895)	(29,279)	(300,709)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	436	(207)	(1,376)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	155,380	120,412	47,060
Balance, beginning of year	391,085	270,673	223,613
Balance, end of year	546,465	391,085	270,673
Helix [Member]
Net income (loss), including noncontrolling interests	106,321	(118,611)	158,073
Equity in earnings of affiliates	(262,990)	60,443	(145,340)
Other adjustments	39,860	94,376	26,633
Cash provided by operating activities		36,208	39,366
Net cash provided by operating activities	(116,809)		39,366
Capital expenditures	(32,417)	(56,650)	(35,657)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired
Proceeds from insurance reimbursement		7,020
Proceeds from sale of Cal Dive common stock	3,588
Proceeds from sale of Cal Dive common stock			504,168
Proceeds from sales of property		6,042
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			468,511
Net cash used in investing activities	(28,829)	(43,588)	468,511
Borrowings on revolvers	109,400
Repayments on revolvers	(109,400)		(349,500)
Repayments of debt	(208,085)	(4,326)	(4,326)
Deferred financing costs	(9,311)	(2,947)	(6,970)
Preferred stock dividends paid	(40)	(114)	(645)
Repurchases of common stock	(7,604)	(11,680)	(13,995)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	(1,013)	(3,945)	895
Exercise of stock options, net	2,018	674	176
Intercompany financing	488,723	147,410	(23,474)
Net cash used in financing activities	264,688	125,072	(397,839)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	119,050	117,692	110,038
Balance, beginning of year	376,434	258,742	148,704
Balance, end of year	495,484	376,434	258,742
Guarantors [Member]
Net income (loss), including noncontrolling interests	133,011	(53,483)	76,397
Equity in earnings of affiliates	(7,340)	(8,473)	1,725
Other adjustments	353,728	305,649	163,451
Cash provided by operating activities		243,693	241,573
Net cash provided by operating activities	479,399		241,573
Capital expenditures	(174,739)	(121,709)	(245,354)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired
Increases in restricted cash		(70)	(6)
Proceeds from insurance reimbursement		9,086
Proceeds from sale of Cal Dive common stock
Proceeds from sales of property		852	23,717
Other, net	32,598
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(221,643)
Net cash used in investing activities	(142,141)	(111,841)	(221,643)
Intercompany financing	(338,118)	(131,080)	(22,391)
Net cash used in financing activities	(338,118)	(131,080)	(22,391)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	(860)	772	(2,461)
Balance, beginning of year	3,294	2,522	4,983
Balance, end of year	2,434	3,294	2,522
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Net income (loss), including noncontrolling interests	140,433	4,348	86,896
Equity in earnings of investments, net of distributions			(7,220)
Other adjustments	40,293	76,865	82,411
Cash provided by operating activities		81,213	162,087
Net cash used in discontinued operations			(6,261)
Net cash provided by operating activities	180,726		155,826
Capital expenditures	(12,613)	(28,413)	(142,362)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired
Investments in equity investments	(2,699)	(8,253)	(1,657)
Distributions from equity investments, net	3,965	10,539	6,742
Proceeds from sale of Cal Dive common stock
Proceeds from sale of Cal Dive common stock			(112,995)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(250,272)
Net cash provided by discontinued operations			20,872
Net cash used in investing activities	(11,347)	(26,127)	(229,400)
Borrowings on revolvers			100,000
Repayments of debt	(4,645)	(4,424)	(24,214)
Loan notes repayment	(1,215)	(2,517)	(2,130)
Repurchases of common stock			(86,000)
Intercompany financing	(126,765)	(45,990)	26,777
Net cash used in financing activities	(132,625)	(52,931)	14,433
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	436	(207)	(1,376)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	37,190	1,948	(60,517)
Balance, beginning of year	11,357	9,409	69,926
Balance, end of year	48,547	11,357	9,409
Consolidating Entries [Member]
Net income (loss), including noncontrolling interests	(246,688)	43,593	(145,615)
Equity in earnings of investments, net of distributions			899
Equity in earnings of affiliates	270,330	(51,970)	143,615
Other adjustments	198	(21,283)	(17,987)
Cash provided by operating activities		(29,660)	(19,088)
Net cash provided by operating activities	23,840		(19,088)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired
Proceeds from sale of Cal Dive common stock
Proceeds from sale of Cal Dive common stock			(86,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(86,000)
Net cash used in investing activities			(86,000)
Repurchases of common stock			86,000
Intercompany financing	(23,840)	29,660	19,088
Net cash used in financing activities	$ (23,840)	$ 29,660	$ 105,088