Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

		Year Ended December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
Interest paid, net of interest capitalized	$	11,628	$	39,040	$	68,735
Income taxes paid	$	70,509	$	113,331	$	43,111

Property, Plant And Equipment

	Estimated Useful Life		2014		2013
Vessels	15 to 30 years	$	1,657,448	$	1,403,573
ROVs, trenchers and ROVDrills	10 years		310,841		271,801
Machinery, equipment, buildings and leasehold improvements	5 to 30 years		273,155		288,332
Total property and equipment		$	2,241,444	$	1,963,706

Schedule Of Goodwill

		Well
		Intervention		Robotics		Total
Balance at December 31, 2012	$	17,828	$	45,107	$	62,935
Other adjustments (1)		295		-		295
Balance at December 31, 2013		18,123		45,107		63,230
Other adjustments (1)		(1,084)		-		(1,084)
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	17,039	$	45,107	$	62,146

(1) Reflects foreign currency adjustment for certain amounts of our goodwill.

Computations Of Basic And Diluted EPS

		Year Ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
		Income	Shares		Income	Shares		Income	Shares
Basic:
Continuing operations:
Net income applicable to Helix	$	195,047		$	109,922		$	(46,334)
Less: Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		-			(1,073)			(23,684)
Net income from continuing operations		195,047			108,849			(70,018)
Less: Undistributed income allocable to participating securities – continuing operations		(1,018)			(801)			-
Net income applicable to common shareholders – continuing operations	$	194,029	105,029	$	108,048	105,032	$	(70,018)	104,449

Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	$	-		$	1,073		$	23,684
Less: Undistributed income allocable to participating securities – discontinued operations		-			(8)			-
Net income applicable to common shareholders – discontinued operations	$	-	105,029	$	1,065	105,032	$	23,684	104,449

		Year Ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
		Income	Shares		Income	Shares		Income	Shares
Diluted:
Continuing operations:
Net income applicable to common shareholders – continuing operations	$	194,029	105,029	$	108,048	105,032	$	(70,018)	104,449
Effect of dilutive securities:
Share-based awards other than participating securities		-	16		-	152		-	-
Undistributed income reallocated to participating securities		-	-		1	-		-	-
Net income applicable to common shareholders – continuing operations	$	194,029	105,045	$	108,049	105,184	$	(70,018)	104,449
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	$	-	105,045	$	1,073	105,184	$	23,684	104,449

Excluded Securities On Diluted Shares Calculation

	2012
Diluted shares (as reported)	104,449
Share-based awards	382
Convertible preferred stock	334
Total	105,165

Assets And Liabilities Measured At Fair Value On A Recurring Basis

		Fair Value Measurements at
		December 31, 2014 Using							Valuation
		Level 1		Level 2 (1)		Level 3		Total	Technique
Assets:
Interest rate swaps	$	-	$	369	$	-	$	369	(c)
Liabilities:
Fair value of long-term debt (2)		222,900		375,393		-		598,293	(a)
Foreign exchange contracts		-		50,428		-		50,428	(c)
Interest rate swaps		-		561		-		561	(c)
Total net liability	$	222,900	$	426,013	$	-	$	648,913

		Fair Value Measurements at
		December 31, 2013 Using							Valuation
		Level 1		Level 2 (1)		Level 3		Total	Technique
Assets:
Foreign exchange contracts	$	-	$	69	$	-	$	69	(c)
Interest rate swaps		-		446		-		446	(c)
Liabilities:
Fair value of long-term debt (2)		242,250		403,437		-		645,687	(a)
Foreign exchange contracts		-		15,071		-		15,071	(c)
Interest rate swaps		-		746		-		746	(c)
Total net liability	$	242,250	$	418,739	$	-	$	660,989

(1) Unless otherwise indicated, the fair value of our Level 2 derivative instruments reflects our best estimate and is based upon exchange or over-the-counter quotations whenever they are available.  Quoted valuations may not be available due to location differences or terms that extend beyond the period for which quotations are available.  Where quotes are not available, we utilize other valuation techniques or models to estimate market values.  These modeling techniques require us to make estimations of future prices, price correlation and market volatility and liquidity based on market data.  Our actual results may differ from our estimates, and these differences could be positive or negative.  See Note 15 for further discussion on fair value of our derivative instruments. 

(2) See Note 6 for additional information regarding our long-term debt.  The value of our long-term debt at December 31, 2014 and 2013 is as follows (in thousands):

Value Of Long Term Debt

		2014				2013
		Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
		Amount		Value (b)		Amount		Value (b)
Term Loan (matures June 2018)	$	277,500	$	270,563	$	292,500	$	293,963
2032 Notes (mature March 2032) (a)		200,000		222,900		200,000		242,250
MARAD Debt (matures February 2027)		94,792		104,830		100,168		109,474
Total debt	$	572,292	$	598,293	$	592,668	$	645,687

(a) Carrying amount excludes the related unamortized debt discount of $20.9 million and $26.5 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

(b) The estimated fair value of the 2032 Notes was determined using Level 1 inputs under the market approach.  The fair value of the Term Loan and the MARAD Debt was estimated using Level 2 fair value inputs under the market approach.  The fair value of the Term Loan and the MARAD debt was determined using a third party evaluation of the remaining average life and outstanding principal balance of the indebtedness as compared to other obligations in the marketplace with similar terms.