Details Of Certain Accounts - Other Non-Current Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Asset Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]
Asset retirement obligations	$ 55,542	$ 51,956
Contingent consideration		42,754
Other	4,631	520
Total other non-current liabilities	60,173	$ 95,230
P&A Systems
Asset Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]
Credit towards future services, non-current	$ 2,600

Amount of liability recognized from contingent consideration in asset acquisition, classified as noncurrent.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 50
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 15
-Paragraph 3
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480123/805-50-15-3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLiabilityNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Noncurrent portion of the carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481850/410-20-50-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationsNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of liability recognized arising from contingent consideration in a business combination, expected to be settled beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 25
-Paragraph 6
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479668/805-30-25-6

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 35
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph b
-SubTopic 30
-Topic 805
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479613/805-30-35-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiabilityNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of expenses incurred but not yet paid classified as other, due after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.24)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of liabilities classified as other, due after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis=hlx_FiveOperablePlugAndAbandonmentSystemsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: