Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations and Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Net revenues:
Contracting services	$ 217,110	$ 213,278	$ 644,413	$ 501,887
Oil and gas	119,124	159,218	447,142	500,535
Total net revenues	336,234	372,496	1,091,555	1,002,422
Cost of sales:
Contracting services	148,731	147,614	452,855	371,042
Contracting services impairments	4,422		19,012
Oil and gas	97,324	102,587	278,996	320,238
Oil and gas property impairments				11,573
Total cost of sales	250,477	250,201	750,863	702,853
Gross profit	85,757	122,295	340,692	299,569
Loss on sale of assets, net	(12,933)		(14,647)	(6)
Hedge ineffectiveness and non-hedge gain on commodity derivative contracts	(9,427)		(1,697)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(28,022)	(22,082)	(78,289)	(70,821)
Income from operations	35,375	100,213	246,059	228,742
Equity in earnings of investments	1,392	4,906	7,547	16,443
Net interest expense	(18,211)	(24,114)	(58,598)	(73,628)
Loss on early extinguishment of long term debt		(2,354)	(17,127)	(2,354)
Other income (expense)	2,086	(8,360)	480	(4,447)
Income before income taxes	20,642	70,291	178,361	164,756
Provision for income taxes	4,967	23,465	50,720	49,186
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	15,675	46,826	127,641	115,570
Less net income applicable to noncontrolling interests	(800)	(800)	(2,378)	(2,354)
Net income applicable to Helix	14,875	46,026	125,263	113,216
Preferred stock dividends	(10)	(10)	(30)	(30)
Net income applicable to Helix common shareholders	14,865	46,016	125,233	113,186
Earnings (loss) per share of common stock:
Basic	$ 0.14	$ 0.43	$ 1.19	$ 1.07
Diluted	$ 0.14	$ 0.43	$ 1.18	$ 1.06
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	104,256	104,700	104,450	104,616
Diluted	104,729	105,154	104,897	105,061
Total comprehensive income (loss) applicable to Helix common shareholders (Note 9)	$ (1,266)	$ 81,492	$ 109,294	$ 159,764