Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations and Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Net revenues:
Contracting services	$ 197,461	$ 165,861	$ 427,303	$ 288,609
Oil and gas	149,933	172,458	328,018	341,317
Total net revenues	347,394	338,319	755,321	629,926
Cost of sales:
Contracting services	147,156	116,521	304,124	223,428
Contracting services impairments	14,590		14,590
Oil and gas	92,423	110,027	181,672	217,651
Oil and gas property impairments		11,573		11,573
Total cost of sales	254,169	238,121	500,386	452,652
Gross profit	93,225	100,198	254,935	177,274
Loss on sale of assets, net	(236)	(22)	(1,714)	(6)
Ineffectiveness on oil and gas derivative contracts	10,069		7,730
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(24,571)	(23,758)	(50,267)	(48,739)
Income from operations	78,487	76,418	210,684	128,529
Equity in earnings of investments	5,748	5,887	6,155	11,537
Net interest expense	(18,627)	(25,278)	(40,387)	(49,514)
Loss on early extinguishment of long term debt			(17,127)
Other income (expense)	(1,692)	1,253	(1,606)	3,913
Income before income taxes	63,916	58,280	157,719	94,465
Provision for income taxes	18,476	16,171	45,753	25,721
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	45,440	42,109	111,966	68,744
Less net income applicable to noncontrolling interests	(789)	(786)	(1,578)	(1,554)
Net income applicable to Helix	44,651	41,323	110,388	67,190
Preferred stock dividends	(10)	(10)	(20)	(20)
Net income applicable to Helix common shareholders	44,641	41,313	110,368	67,170
Earnings (loss) per share of common stock:
Basic	$ 0.42	$ 0.39	$ 1.05	$ 0.63
Diluted	$ 0.42	$ 0.39	$ 1.04	$ 0.63
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	104,563	104,673	104,547	104,573
Diluted	105,042	105,140	105,012	105,024
Total comprehensive income applicable to Helix common shareholders (Note 9)	$ 54,483	$ 60,867	$ 110,560	$ 78,272