Kommandor LLC	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Kommandor LLC [Abstract]
Kommandor LLC	Note 8 — Kommandor LLC In October 2006, we partnered with Kommandor RØMØ, a Danish corporation, to form Kommandor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, the purpose of which was to convert a ferry vessel into a ship-shaped dynamically-positioned floating production unit vessel. Upon completion of the conversion in April 2009, the vessel, (the HP I) was leased to us under a bareboat charter. We subsequently installed topside oil and gas processing equipment, at 100% our cost, that allows the HP I to serve as a floating production system. The HP I will primarily service fields in the Deepwater of the Gulf of Mexico. The initial plan was to utilize the HP I at our Phoenix field, in which we hold a 70% working interest. In June 2010, the HP I was certified for use as a floating production unit by the U.S. Coast Guard. Following that certification, the HP I was preparing to initiate service to the Phoenix field; however, it was then contracted by BP to participate in the Gulf oil spill response and containment efforts. The HP I participated in those response and containment efforts until early October 2010 at which time BP released it from its contract and the HP I returned to the Phoenix field where production commenced on October 19, 2010. The total cost of the conversion of the vessel was $148.7 million. The total cost of us to install the topside oil and gas processing facilities was $196.2 million. The operating agreement with Kommandor RØMØ provides that for a period of two months immediately following the fifth anniversary of the completion of the initial conversion (April 2014 – June 2014, the "Helix Option Period"), we may purchase Kommandor RØMØ's membership interest at a value specified in the agreement. In addition, for a period of two months starting from 30 days after the Helix Option Period, Kommandor RØMØ can require us to purchase its share of the company at a value specified in the operating agreement. We estimate the cash outlay to Kommandor RØMØ for its interest in Kommandor LLC at the time the put or call is exercised to be approximately $19 million. The consolidated results of Kommandor LLC are included in our Production Facilities segment. We own approximately 81% of Kommandor LLC at December 31, 2011.

Note 8 — Kommandor LLC

In October 2006, we partnered with Kommandor RØMØ, a Danish corporation, to form Kommandor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, the purpose of which was to convert a ferry vessel into a ship-shaped dynamically-positioned floating production unit vessel. Upon completion of the conversion in April 2009, the vessel, (the HP I) was leased to us under a bareboat charter. We subsequently installed topside oil and gas processing equipment, at 100% our cost, that allows the HP I to serve as a floating production system. The HP I will primarily service fields in the Deepwater of the Gulf of Mexico. The initial plan was to utilize the HP I at our Phoenix field, in which we hold a 70% working interest. In June 2010, the HP I was certified for use as a floating production unit by the U.S. Coast Guard. Following that certification, the HP I was preparing to initiate service to the Phoenix field; however, it was then contracted by BP to participate in the Gulf oil spill response and containment efforts. The HP I participated in those response and containment efforts until early October 2010 at which time BP released it from its contract and the HP I returned to the Phoenix field where production commenced on October 19, 2010.

The total cost of the conversion of the vessel was $148.7 million. The total cost of us to install the topside oil and gas processing facilities was $196.2 million.

The operating agreement with Kommandor RØMØ provides that for a period of two months immediately following the fifth anniversary of the completion of the initial conversion (April 2014 – June 2014, the "Helix Option Period"), we may purchase Kommandor RØMØ's membership interest at a value specified in the agreement. In addition, for a period of two months starting from 30 days after the Helix Option Period, Kommandor RØMØ can require us to purchase its share of the company at a value specified in the operating agreement. We estimate the cash outlay to Kommandor RØMØ for its interest in Kommandor LLC at the time the put or call is exercised to be approximately $19 million.

The consolidated results of Kommandor LLC are included in our Production Facilities segment. We own approximately 81% of Kommandor LLC at December 31, 2011.