Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			36 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2013 Annual Aggregate [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Q7000 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Q7000 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Q7000 [Member] Vessel Delivery [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Q7000 [Member] Contract Signing [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Q4000 Helix Producer I And Well Enhancer [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Helix 534 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Helix 534 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Q5000 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Q5000 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Seawell And H534 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 General Liability [Member] Per Occurance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Maritime Employers Liability [Member] Per Occurance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Maritime Employers Liability [Member] Annual Aggregate [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Amount						$ 346,000,000							$ 386,500,000
Long Term Purchase Commitment Percentage								80.00%	20.00%
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment							69,200,000				85,000,000			173,800,000
Property and equipment	1,959,783,000	2,051,796,000					76,700,000					202,800,000		210,600,000
Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Net	102,100,000	85,000,000	62,200,000
Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Sublease Rentals	400,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Future Minimum Sublease Rentals	2,400,000
Trade receivables collected				303,000,000
Insurance Deductibles					5,000,000					1,000,000					500,000	100,000	100,000	1,000,000
Insurance liability limits	500,000,000
Self-insured retention for employees	$ 250,000