Basis Of Presentation And New Accounting Standards (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis Of Presentation	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Helix”). Unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms “we,” “us” and “our” in this report refer collectively to Helix and its subsidiaries. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to instructions for the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and do not include all information and footnotes normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP in U.S. dollars and are consistent in all material respects with those applied in our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K (our “2019 Form 10-K”) with the exception of the impact of adopting the new credit loss accounting standard in 2020 (see below). The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the related disclosures. Actual results may differ from our estimates. We have made all adjustments, which, unless otherwise disclosed, are of normal recurring nature, that we believe are necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, statements of comprehensive income and statements of cash flows, as applicable. The operating results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2020. Our balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 included herein has been derived from the audited balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 included in our 2019 Form 10-K. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our 2019 Form 10-K.
Reclassifications	Certain reclassifications were made to previously reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto to make them consistent with the current presentation format.
New Accounting Standards	New accounting standards adopted In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-13, “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which was updated by subsequent amendments. This ASU replaces the current incurred loss model for measurement of credit losses on financial assets (including trade receivables) with a forward-looking expected loss model based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The guidance became effective for us as of January 1, 2020 and resulted in the recognition of $0.6 million (net of deferred taxes of $0.2 million) of allowances for expected credit losses related to our accounts receivable through a cumulative effect offset to retained earnings. The new credit loss standard is expected to accelerate recognition of credit losses on our accounts receivable. See Note 17 for additional information regarding allowance for credit losses on our accounts receivable. New accounting standards issued but not yet effective We do not expect any other new accounting standards to have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows when they become effective.