Exhibit 5.1

May 29, 2015

Superior Energy Services, Inc.

1001 Louisiana Street, Suite 2900

Houston, Texas 77002

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Superior Energy Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of an aggregate 6.85 million additional shares of Common Stock of the Company, $0.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), to be issued under the Superior Energy Services, Inc. Amended and Restated 2013 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

We have examined instruments, documents, and records which we deemed relevant and necessary for the basis of our opinion hereinafter expressed. In such examination, we have assumed the following: (a) the authenticity of original documents and the genuineness of all signatures; (b) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; and (c) the truth, accuracy, and completeness of the information, representations, and warranties contained in the records, documents, instruments, and certificates we have reviewed.

Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the shares of Common Stock to be issued by the Company pursuant to the Plan after the filing of this Registration Statement, are validly authorized shares of Common Stock and, when issued in accordance with the terms described in the Plan, will be legally issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name wherever it appears in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not consider that we are “experts” within the meaning of such term as used in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued thereunder, with respect to any part of the Registration Statement, including this opinion as an exhibit or otherwise.

JONES WALKER LLP

/s/ Jones Walker LLP