Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
Interest paid, net of interest capitalized	$	39,040	$	68,735	$	81,000
Income taxes paid	$	113,331	$	43,111	$	11,216

Property, Plant and Equipment

	Estimated Useful Life		2013		2012
ROVs/Vessels	10 to 30 years	$	1,671,451	$	1,822,642
Machinery, equipment, buildings and leasehold improvements	5 to 30 years		288,332		229,154
Total property and equipment		$	1,959,783	$	2,051,796

Schedule of Goodwill

		Well
		Intervention		Robotics		Total
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	17,108	$	45,107	$	62,215
Other adjustments (1)		720		-		720
Balance at December 31, 2012		17,828		45,107		62,935
Other adjustments (1)		295		-		295
Balance at December 31, 2013	$	18,123	$	45,107	$	63,230

(1) Reflects foreign currency adjustment for certain amounts of our goodwill.

Computations Of Basic And Diluted EPS

		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
		Income	Shares		Income	Shares		Income	Shares
Basic:
Continuing operations:
Net income (loss) applicable to Helix	$	109,922		$	(46,334)		$	129,939
Less: Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		(1,073)			(23,684)			(95,221)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		108,849			(70,018)			34,718
Less: Undistributed income allocable to participating securities – continuing operations		(801)			-			(427)
Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders – continuing operations	$	108,048	105,032	$	(70,018)	104,449	$	34,291	104,528

Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	$	1,073		$	23,684		$	95,221
Less: Undistributed income allocable to participating securities – discontinued operations		(8)			-			(1,172)
Income applicable to common shareholders – discontinued operations	$	1,065	105,032	$	23,684	104,449	$	94,049	104,528

		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
		Income	Shares		Income	Shares		Income	Shares
Diluted:
Continuing operations:
Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders – continuing operations	$	108,048	105,032	$	(70,018)	104,449	$	34,291	104,528
Effect of dilutive securities:
Share-based awards other than participating securities		-	152		-	-		-	64
Undistributed income reallocated to participating securities		1	-		-	-		2	-
Convertible preferred stock		-	-		-	-		40	361
Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders – continuing operations	$	108,049	105,184	$	(70,018)	104,449	$	34,333	104,953
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	$	1,073	105,184	$	23,684	104,449	$	95,221	104,953

Excluded Securities On Diluted Shares Calculation

	2012
Diluted shares (as reported)	104,449
Share-based awards	382
Convertible preferred stock	334
Total	105,165

Assets And Liabilities Measured At Fair Value On A Recurring Basis

		Level 1		Level 2 (1)		Level 3		Total	Valuation Technique
Assets:
Foreign exchange contracts	$	–	$	69	$	–	$	69	(c)
Interest rate swaps		–		446		–		446	(c)
Liabilities:
Fair value of long-term debt (2)		536,213		109,474		–		645,687	(a)
Foreign exchange contracts		–		15,071		–		15,071	(c)
Interest rate swaps		–		746		–		746	(c)
Total net liability	$	536,213	$	124,776	$	–	$	660,989

(1) Unless otherwise indicated, the fair value of our Level2 derivative instruments reflects our best estimate and is based upon exchange or over-the-counter quotations whenever they are available.  Quoted valuations may not be available due to location differences or terms that extend beyond the period for which quotations are available.  Where quotes are not available, we utilize other valuation techniques or models to estimate market values.  These modeling techniques require us to make estimations of future prices, price correlation and market volatility and liquidity based on market data.  Our actual results may differ from our estimates, and these differences could be positive or negative.

(2) See Note7 for additional information regarding our long-term debt.  The fair value of our long-term debt at December31, 2013 and 2012 is as follows (inthousands): 

Fair Value Of Long Term Debt

		2013				2012
		Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
		Value		Value (e)		Value		Value (e)
Term Loans (mature July 2015) (a)	$	-	$	-	$	367,181	$	368,295
Revolving Credit Facility (matures July 2015) (a)		-		-		100,000		100,000
Term Loan (matures June 2018)		292,500		293,963		-		-
2025 Notes (mature December 2025) (b)		-		-		3,487		3,487
2032 Notes (mature March 2032) (c)		200,000		242,250		200,000		239,320
Senior Unsecured Notes (mature January 2016) (d)		-		-		274,960		283,209
MARAD Debt (matures February 2027)		100,168		109,474		105,288		123,187
Total debt	$	592,668	$	645,687	$	1,050,916	$	1,117,498

(a)Relates to the term loans and revolving credit facility under our former credit agreement, which was terminated in June2013.

(b) This remaining amount was repurchased by us in February2013.

(c)  Carrying value excludes the related unamortized debt discount of $26.5 million at December31, 2013.

(d) We redeemed our remaining Senior Unsecured Notes in July2013.

(e)  The estimated fair value of all debt, other than the MARAD debt, was determined using Level 1 inputs using the market approach.  The fair value of the MARAD debt was determined using a third party evaluation of the remaining average life and outstanding principal balance of the MARAD indebtedness as compared to other governmental obligations in the marketplace with similar terms.  The fair value of the MARAD Debt was estimated using Level2 fair value inputs using the market approach.