Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Consolidated Statements Of Operations [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 305,587	$ 232,178	$ 559,159	$ 429,607
Cost of sales	196,449	164,681	374,175	309,543
Gross profit	109,138	67,497	184,984	120,064
Loss on commodity derivative contracts				(14,113)
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets, net	(1,078)	(1,085)	10,418	(1,085)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(29,304)	(19,215)	(49,698)	(42,431)
Income from operations	78,756	47,197	145,704	62,435
Equity in earnings (losses) of investments	(507)	683	201	1,293
Net interest expense	(4,517)	(11,344)	(9,000)	(21,667)	[1]
Loss on early extinguishment of long-term debt		(646)		(3,528)
Other expense, net	(17)	(566)	(827)	(4,250)
Other income - oil and gas	1,596	1,282	13,872	4,100
Income before income taxes	75,311	36,606	149,950	38,383
Income tax provision	17,529	8,577	37,946	9,020
Net income from continuing operations	57,782	28,029	112,004	29,363
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		(29)		1,029
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	57,782	28,000	112,004	30,392
Less net income applicable to noncontrolling interests		(789)	(503)	(1,566)
Net income applicable to Helix	$ 57,782	$ 27,211	$ 111,501	$ 28,826
Basic earnings per share of common stock:
Continuing operations	$ 0.55	$ 0.26	$ 1.06	$ 0.26
Discontinued operations				$ 0.01
Net income per common share	$ 0.55	$ 0.26	$ 1.06	$ 0.27
Diluted earnings per share of common stock:
Continuing operations	$ 0.55	$ 0.26	$ 1.05	$ 0.26
Discontinued operations				$ 0.01
Net income per common share	$ 0.55	$ 0.26	$ 1.05	$ 0.27
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	104,992	105,046	105,059	105,039
Diluted	105,295	105,133	105,359	105,141

[1] Interest expense amount includes $2.8 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2013 that was allocated to ERT and is included in discontinued operations. Following the sale of ERT in February 2013, we ceased allocating interest expense to ERT, which then constituted a discontinued operation.