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Quarterly Financial Information (Summary Of Consolidated Quarterly Financial Information) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 207,160us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 340,837us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 305,587us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 253,572us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 226,837us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 220,117us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 232,178us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 197,429us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 1,107,156us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 876,561us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 846,109us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Gross profit	32,805us-gaap_GrossProfit	126,247us-gaap_GrossProfit	109,138us-gaap_GrossProfit	75,846us-gaap_GrossProfit	71,164us-gaap_GrossProfit	69,457us-gaap_GrossProfit	67,497us-gaap_GrossProfit	52,567us-gaap_GrossProfit	344,036us-gaap_GrossProfit	260,685us-gaap_GrossProfit	49,915us-gaap_GrossProfit
Net income applicable to Helix:
Net income from continuing operations					36,503	44,549	27,240	557	195,047	108,849	(70,018)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations						44	(29)	1,058		1,073	23,684
Net income (loss) applicable to Helix	7,960	75,586	57,782	53,719	36,503	44,593	27,211	1,615	195,047	109,922	(46,334)
Basic earnings per common share:
Continuing operations					$ 0.35	$ 0.42	$ 0.26	$ 0.01	$ 1.85	$ 1.03	$ (0.67)
Discontinued operations								$ 0.01		$ 0.01	$ 0.23
Net income (loss) per common share	$ 0.08us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.72us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.55us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.51us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.35us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.42us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.26us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.02us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 1.85us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 1.04us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ (0.44)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations					$ 0.35	$ 0.42	$ 0.26	$ 0.01	$ 1.85	$ 1.03	$ (0.67)
Discontinued operations								$ 0.01		$ 0.01	$ 0.23
Net income (loss) per common share	$ 0.08us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.71us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.55us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.51us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.35us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.42us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.26us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.02us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 1.85us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 1.04us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ (0.44)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Net revenues								48,800
Gross profit								$ 28,200