Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Net revenues:
Contracting services	$ 702,000		$ 774,469		$ 1,076,349
Oil and gas	696,607		425,369		385,338
Total net revenues	1,398,607		1,199,838		1,461,687
Cost of sales:
Contracting services	528,375		600,083		854,975
Oil and gas	396,123		376,724		218,617
Oil and gas property impairments	132,603		181,083		120,550
Exploration expense	10,914	[1]	8,276	[1]	24,383	[1]
Total cost of sales	1,068,015		1,166,166		1,218,525
Gross profit	330,592		33,672		243,162
Goodwill impairments			(16,743)	[2]
Gain on oil and gas derivative commodity contracts			1,088		89,485
Gain on sale of assets, net	4,525		9,405		2,019
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(99,589)		(122,078)		(130,851)
Income (loss) from operations	235,528	[3]	(94,656)	[3]	203,815	[3]
Equity in earnings of investments	22,215		19,469		32,329
Other than temporary loss on equity investments	(10,563)		(2,240)
Gain on investment in Cal Dive common stock	753				77,343
Net interest expense	(95,796)		(85,303)		(56,733)
Other income (expense)	(4,157)		(1,021)		5,238
Income (loss) before income taxes	147,980		(163,751)		261,992
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	14,903		(39,598)		95,822
Income (loss) from continuing operations	133,077		(124,153)		166,170
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax					9,581
Net income (loss), including noncontrolling interests	133,077		(124,153)		175,751
Net income applicable to noncontrolling interests	(3,098)		(2,835)		(19,697)
Net income (loss) applicable to Helix	129,979		(126,988)		156,054
Preferred stock dividends	(40)		(114)		(748)
Preferred stock beneficial conversion charges					(53,439)
Net income (loss) applicable to Helix common shareholders	$ 129,939		$ (127,102)		$ 101,867
Basic earnings (loss) per share of common stock:
Continuing operations	$ 1.23		$ (1.22)		$ 0.92
Discontinued operations					$ 0.09
Net income (loss) per common share	$ 1.23		$ (1.22)		$ 1.01
Diluted earnings (loss) per share of common stock:
Continuing operations	$ 1.22		$ (1.22)		$ 0.87
Discontinued operations					$ 0.09
Net income (loss) per common share	$ 1.22		$ (1.22)		$ 0.96
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	104,528		103,857		99,136
Diluted	104,953		103,857		105,720

[1] See Note 5 for additional information related to the components of our exploration costs, including impairment charges for expiring unproved leases.

[2] Amount reflects full write off of goodwill associated with our WOSEA operations.

[3] Includes $16.7 million of goodwill impairment charge for year ending December 31, 2010 related to our contracting services segment. Also includes approximately $132.6 million, $181.1 million and $120.6 million of asset impairment charges for certain oil and gas properties for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 respectively.