Condensed Consolidated Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Net revenues	$ 407,927	$ 291,607
Cost of sales	246,217	214,531
Gross profit	161,710	77,076
Loss on oil & gas derivative contracts	(2,339)
Gain (loss) on sale or acquisition of assets	(1,478)	16
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(25,696)	(24,981)
Income (loss) from operations	132,197	52,111
Equity in earnings of investments	407	5,650
Net interest expense and other	(38,801)	(21,576)
Income before income taxes	93,803	36,185
Provision for income taxes	27,277	9,550
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	66,526	26,635
Less net income applicable to noncontrolling interests	(789)	(768)
Preferred stock dividends	(10)	(10)
Net income applicable to Helix common shareholders	65,727	25,857
Helix [Member]
Net revenues	20,022	15,582
Cost of sales	16,621	16,593
Gross profit	3,401	(1,011)
Gain (loss) on sale or acquisition of assets		16
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(11,272)	(11,186)
Income (loss) from operations	(7,871)	(12,181)
Equity in earnings of investments	93,250	48,107
Net interest expense and other	(30,547)	(17,284)
Income before income taxes	54,832	18,642
Provision for income taxes	(10,874)	(7,173)
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	65,706	25,815
Preferred stock dividends	(10)	(10)
Net income applicable to Helix common shareholders	65,696	25,805
Guarantors [Member]
Net revenues	285,688	242,042
Cost of sales	164,593	165,231
Gross profit	121,095	76,811
Loss on oil & gas derivative contracts	(2,339)
Gain (loss) on sale or acquisition of assets	(1,478)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(9,877)	(10,036)
Income (loss) from operations	107,401	66,775
Equity in earnings of investments	2,625	(5,662)
Net interest expense and other	(7,210)	(4,709)
Income before income taxes	102,816	56,404
Provision for income taxes	34,881	21,741
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	67,935	34,663
Net income applicable to Helix common shareholders	67,935	34,663
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Net revenues	125,900	57,876
Cost of sales	88,445	56,278
Gross profit	37,455	1,598
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(4,834)	(4,154)
Income (loss) from operations	32,621	(2,556)
Equity in earnings of investments	407	5,650
Net interest expense and other	(1,044)	417
Income before income taxes	31,984	3,511
Provision for income taxes	3,255	(5,041)
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	28,729	8,552
Net income applicable to Helix common shareholders	28,729	8,552
Consolidating Entries [Member]
Net revenues	(23,683)	(23,893)
Cost of sales	(23,442)	(23,571)
Gross profit	(241)	(322)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	287	395
Income (loss) from operations	46	73
Equity in earnings of investments	(95,875)	(42,445)
Income before income taxes	(95,829)	(42,372)
Provision for income taxes	15	23
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	(95,844)	(42,395)
Less net income applicable to noncontrolling interests	(789)	(768)
Net income applicable to Helix common shareholders	$ (96,633)	$ (43,163)