Condensed Consolidated Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	$ 2,392	$ 66,516
Other adjustments	(10,559)	(8,351)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(8,167)	58,165
Net cash provided (used in) by discontinued operations	(30,503)	75,640
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(38,670)	133,805
Capital expenditures	(36,455)	(82,962)
Distributions from equity investments, net	2,050	5,943
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(34,405)	(77,019)
Net cash used in discontinued operations	582,965	(17,860)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	548,560	(94,879)
Borrowings of debt	2,573	400,000
Repayments of debt	(325,371)	(356,604)
Deferred financing costs	(41)	(6,337)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(1,037)
Repurchases of common stock	(1,473)	(991)
Excess tax from stock-based compensation	617	(340)
Exercise of stock options, net and other	174	381
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(324,558)	36,109
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	3,218	(1,051)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	188,550	73,984
Balance, beginning of year	437,100	546,465
Balance, end of period	625,650	620,449
Helix [Member]
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	1,588	65,696
Equity in earnings of affiliates	(33,146)	(93,250)
Other adjustments	31,324	15,695
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(234)	(11,859)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(234)	(11,859)
Capital expenditures	166	(896)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	166	(896)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	166	(896)
Borrowings of debt	2,573	400,000
Repayments of debt	(322,842)	(354,195)
Deferred financing costs	(41)	(6,337)
Repurchases of common stock	(1,473)	(991)
Excess tax from stock-based compensation	617	(340)
Exercise of stock options, net and other	174	381
Intercompany financing	491,057	45,040
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	170,065	83,558
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	169,997	70,803
Balance, beginning of year	381,599	495,484
Balance, end of period	551,596	566,287
Guarantors [Member]
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	16,441	67,935
Equity in earnings of affiliates	6,395	(2,625)
Other adjustments	(46,931)	(6,751)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(24,095)	58,559
Net cash provided (used in) by discontinued operations	(30,503)	75,640
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(54,598)	134,199
Capital expenditures	(6,486)	(75,858)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(6,486)	(75,858)
Net cash used in discontinued operations	582,965	(17,860)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	576,479	(93,718)
Intercompany financing	(519,043)	(40,417)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(519,043)	(40,417)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	2,838	64
Balance, beginning of year	4,436	2,434
Balance, end of period	7,274	2,498
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	11,086	28,729
Other adjustments	21,420	(14,792)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	32,506	13,937
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	32,506	13,937
Capital expenditures	(30,135)	(6,208)
Distributions from equity investments, net	2,050	5,943
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(28,085)	(265)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(28,085)	(265)
Repayments of debt	(2,529)	(2,409)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(1,037)
Intercompany financing	11,642	(7,095)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	8,076	(9,504)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	3,218	(1,051)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	15,715	3,117
Balance, beginning of year	51,065	48,547
Balance, end of period	66,780	51,664
Consolidating Entries [Member]
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	(26,723)	(95,844)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	26,751	95,875
Other adjustments	(16,372)	(2,503)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(16,344)	(2,472)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(16,344)	(2,472)
Intercompany financing	16,344	2,472
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	$ 16,344	$ 2,472