Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Consolidated Statements Of Operations [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 253,572	$ 197,429
Cost of sales	177,726	144,862
Gross profit	75,846	52,567
Loss on commodity derivative contracts		(14,113)
Gain on sale of assets	11,496
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(20,394)	(23,216)
Income from operations	66,948	15,238
Equity in earnings of investments	708	610
Net interest expense	(4,483)	(10,323)
Loss on early extinguishment of long term debt		(2,882)
Other expense, net	(810)	(3,684)
Other income - oil and gas	12,276	2,818
Income before income taxes	74,639	1,777
Income tax provision	20,417	443
Net income from continuing operations	54,222	1,334
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		1,058
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	54,222	2,392
Less net income applicable to noncontrolling interests	(503)	(777)
Net income applicable to Helix	$ 53,719	$ 1,615
Basic earnings per share of common stock:
Continuing operations	$ 0.51	$ 0.01
Discontinued operations		$ 0.01
Net income per common share	$ 0.51	$ 0.02
Diluted earnings per share of common stock:
Continuing operations	$ 0.51	$ 0.01
Discontinued operations		$ 0.01
Net income per common share	$ 0.51	$ 0.02
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	105,126	105,032
Diluted	105,375	105,165