Long-Term Debt (Schedule Of Redemption Price By Maturity) (Details)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Redemption Price, 2013	102.375%
Redemption Price, 2014 and thereafter	100.00%

Senior Secured Notes Redemption Price In Current Fiscal Year

No definition available.

Name:	hlx_SeniorSecuredNotesRedemptionPriceInCurrentFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	hlx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration