Allowance Accounts (Schedule Of Allowance Accounts) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member]
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Deductions	$ 4,000
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member] | Helix [Member]
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance, Beginning Balance	5,152		4,000		4,460
Additions	2,236	[1]	1,257	[2]	61	[3]
Deductions	(5,154)	[4]	(105)		(521)
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance, Ending Balance	2,234		5,152		4,000
Valuation Allowance of Deferred Tax Assets [Member] | Helix [Member]
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance, Beginning Balance	16,391		14,310		8,497
Additions	6,469	[1]	2,081	[2]	5,813	[3]
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance, Ending Balance	22,860		16,391		14,310
WOSEA [Member] | Valuation Allowance of Deferred Tax Assets [Member]
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Additions	6,500		2,000		4,900
Oil And Gas Operations In United Kingdom [Member] | Valuation Allowance of Deferred Tax Assets [Member]
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Additions			$ 100		$ 900

[1] The increase in valuation allowance includes $6.5 million related to our former WOSEA operations. WOSEA has a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax asset balance.

[2] The increase in valuation allowance includes $2.0 million related to our former WOSEA operations and $0.1 million to our oil and gas operations in the United Kingdom. WOSEA has a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax asset balance.

[3] The increase in valuation allowance includes $4.9 million related to our former WOSEA operations and $0.9 million to our oil and gas operations in the United Kingdom.

[4] The decrease primarily reflects the reversal of a $4 million allowance against our trade receivables for work performed offshore India in 2007 as we collected the previously adjusted receivable balance pursuant to a settlement agreement (Note 13).