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		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Net revenues	$ 347,394	$ 338,319	$ 755,321	$ 629,926
Cost of sales	254,169	238,121	500,386	452,652
Gross profit	93,225	100,198	254,935	177,274
Ineffectiveness on oil & gas derivative contracts	10,069		7,730
Gain (loss) on sale or acquisition of assets	(236)	(22)	(1,714)	(6)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(24,571)	(23,758)	(50,267)	(48,739)
Income (loss) 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 and other	(20,319)	(24,025)	(59,120)	(45,601)
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)
Preferred stock dividends	(10)	(10)	(20)	(20)
Net income applicable to Helix common shareholders	44,641	41,313	110,368	67,170
Total comprehensive income (loss) applicable to Helix common shareholders	54,483	60,867	110,560	78,272
Helix [Member]
Net revenues	19,963	20,545	39,985	36,127
Cost of sales	26,084	15,123	42,705	31,716
Gross profit	(6,121)	5,422	(2,720)	4,411
Gain (loss) on sale or acquisition of assets		(22)		(6)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(11,658)	(9,574)	(22,930)	(20,760)
Income (loss) from operations	(17,779)	(4,174)	(25,650)	(16,355)
Equity in earnings of investments	64,446	58,929	157,696	107,036
Net interest expense and other	(9,597)	(18,243)	(40,144)	(35,527)
Income before income taxes	37,070	36,512	91,902	55,154
Provision for income taxes	(7,554)	(4,790)	(18,428)	(11,963)
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	44,624	41,302	110,330	67,117
Preferred stock dividends	(10)	(10)	(20)	(20)
Net income applicable to Helix common shareholders	44,614	41,292	110,310	67,097
Total comprehensive income (loss) applicable to Helix common shareholders	44,535	41,542	109,985	67,559
Guarantors [Member]
Net revenues	254,880	247,855	540,568	489,897
Cost of sales	178,437	173,897	343,030	339,128
Gross profit	76,443	73,958	197,538	150,769
Ineffectiveness on oil & gas derivative contracts	10,069		7,730
Gain (loss) on sale or acquisition of assets	(236)		(1,714)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(8,919)	(9,915)	(18,796)	(19,951)
Income (loss) from operations	77,357	64,043	184,758	130,818
Equity in earnings of investments	3,670	4,194	6,295	(1,468)
Net interest expense and other	(7,074)	(5,890)	(14,284)	(10,599)
Income before income taxes	73,953	62,347	176,769	118,751
Provision for income taxes	24,142	20,319	59,023	42,060
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	49,811	42,028	117,746	76,691
Net income applicable to Helix common shareholders	49,811	42,028	117,746	76,691
Total comprehensive income (loss) applicable to Helix common shareholders	62,570	62,748	116,950	86,633
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Net revenues	95,632	92,926	221,532	150,802
Cost of sales	72,509	71,730	160,954	128,008
Gross profit	23,123	21,196	60,578	22,794
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(4,257)	(4,658)	(9,091)	(8,812)
Income (loss) from operations	18,866	16,538	51,487	13,982
Equity in earnings of investments	5,748	5,887	6,155	11,537
Net interest expense and other	(3,648)	108	(4,692)	525
Income before income taxes	20,966	22,533	52,950	26,044
Provision for income taxes	1,872	637	5,127	(4,404)
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	19,094	21,896	47,823	30,448
Net income applicable to Helix common shareholders	19,094	21,896	47,823	30,448
Total comprehensive income (loss) applicable to Helix common shareholders	16,254	20,485	49,138	31,157
Consolidating Entries [Member]
Net revenues	(23,081)	(23,007)	(46,764)	(46,900)
Cost of sales	(22,861)	(22,629)	(46,303)	(46,200)
Gross profit	(220)	(378)	(461)	(700)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	263	389	550	784
Income (loss) from operations	43	11	89	84
Equity in earnings of investments	(68,116)	(63,123)	(163,991)	(105,568)
Income before income taxes	(68,073)	(63,112)	(163,902)	(105,484)
Provision for income taxes	16	5	31	28
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	(68,089)	(63,117)	(163,933)	(105,512)
Less net income applicable to noncontrolling interests	(789)	(786)	(1,578)	(1,554)
Net income applicable to Helix common shareholders	(68,878)	(63,903)	(165,511)	(107,066)
Total comprehensive income (loss) applicable to Helix common shareholders	$ (68,876)	$ (63,908)	$ (165,513)	$ (107,077)