Guarantor Financial Statements (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Operating revenue:
Oil production									$ 663,958	$ 417,948	$ 438,942
Gas production									195,243	233,055	272,353
Other operational income									3,938	5,916	4,326
Derivative income, net									1,418	3,265	3,061
Total operating revenue	222,742	213,007	234,132	198,738	171,447	155,417	167,638	166,235	864,557	660,184	718,682
Operating expenses:
Lease operating expenses									179,475	152,326	156,786
Other operational expense									2,149	5,579	11,798
Production taxes									9,380	5,808	7,920
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									280,020	248,201	259,639
Write-down of oil and gas properties											508,989
Accretion expense									30,764	34,469	39,306
Salaries, general and administrative									40,169	42,759	41,367
Incentive compensation expense									11,600	5,888	6,402
Total operating expenses									553,557	495,030	1,032,207
Income (loss) from operations	73,399	80,694	92,155	64,752	41,100	34,555	44,107	45,392	311,000	165,154	(313,525)
Other (income) expenses:
Interest expense									9,289	12,192	21,361
Interest income									(420)	(1,464)	(528)
Other income									(1,942)	(776)	(36)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt									607	1,820
Total other expenses									7,534	12,443	21,305
Net income (loss) before income taxes									303,466	152,711	(334,830)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes:
Current									(20,386)	5,808	30,376
Deferred									129,520	50,474	(146,935)
Total income taxes									109,134	56,282	(116,559)
Net income (loss)	45,523	51,821	57,196	39,792	23,757	19,382	27,872	25,418	194,332	96,429	(218,271)
Less: net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest											27
Net income (loss) attributable to Stone Energy Corporation											(218,298)
Parent [Member]
Operating revenue:
Oil production									5,675	51,357	136,513
Gas production									19,470	61,137	123,511
Other operational income									3,085	4,831	3,475
Derivative income, net										3,265	3,061
Total operating revenue									28,230	120,590	266,560
Operating expenses:
Lease operating expenses									6,632	64,868	36,563
Other operational expense									1,404	2,097	10,742
Production taxes									1,434	3,631	6,022
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									17,860	40,351	47,695
Write-down of oil and gas properties											3,849
Accretion expense									15	14,503	16,058
Salaries, general and administrative									40,073	42,741	41,178
Incentive compensation expense									11,600	5,888	6,402
Total operating expenses									79,018	174,079	168,509
Income (loss) from operations									(50,788)	(53,489)	98,051
Other (income) expenses:
Interest expense									9,043	12,192	21,183
Interest income									(178)	(1,439)	(515)
Other income									(52)	548	(49)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt									607	1,820
(Income) loss from investment in subsidiaries									(232,751)	(140,366)	268,011
Total other expenses									(223,331)	(127,245)	288,630
Net income (loss) before income taxes									172,543	73,756	(190,579)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes:
Current									(20,386)	5,896	30,376
Deferred									(1,403)	(28,569)	(2,657)
Total income taxes									(21,789)	(22,673)	27,719
Net income (loss)									194,332	96,429	(218,298)
Net income (loss) attributable to Stone Energy Corporation											(218,298)
Guarantor Subsidiary [Member]
Operating revenue:
Oil production									658,283	366,591	302,429
Gas production									175,773	171,918	148,842
Other operational income									249	(54)	(36)
Derivative income, net									1,418
Total operating revenue									835,723	538,455	451,235
Operating expenses:
Lease operating expenses									172,612	87,458	120,223
Other operational expense									745	3,482	1,056
Production taxes									7,946	2,177	1,898
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									261,326	206,856	211,465
Write-down of oil and gas properties											505,140
Accretion expense									30,385	19,524	23,203
Salaries, general and administrative									94	17	184
Total operating expenses									473,108	319,514	863,169
Income (loss) from operations									362,615	218,941	(411,934)
Other (income) expenses:
Interest expense									246		178
Interest income									(242)	(25)	(13)
Other income									(1,890)	(692)	187
(Income) loss from investment in subsidiaries									827	337	3
Total other expenses									(1,059)	(380)	355
Net income (loss) before income taxes									363,674	219,321	(412,289)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes:
Current										(88)
Deferred									130,923	79,043	(144,278)
Total income taxes									130,923	78,955	(144,278)
Net income (loss)									232,751	140,366	(268,011)
Net income (loss) attributable to Stone Energy Corporation											(268,011)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Operating revenue:
Other operational income									604	1,139	887
Total operating revenue									604	1,139	887
Operating expenses:
Lease operating expenses									231
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									834	994	479
Accretion expense									364	442	45
Salaries, general and administrative									2	1	5
Total operating expenses									1,431	1,437	529
Income (loss) from operations									(827)	(298)	358
Other (income) expenses:
Other income										39	334
Total other expenses										39	334
Net income (loss) before income taxes									(827)	(337)	24
Provision (benefit) for income taxes:
Net income (loss)									(827)	(337)	24
Net income (loss) attributable to Stone Energy Corporation											24
Eliminations [Member]
Other (income) expenses:
(Income) loss from investment in subsidiaries									231,924	140,029	(268,014)
Total other expenses									231,824	140,029	(268,014)
Net income (loss) before income taxes									(231,924)	(140,029)	268,014
Provision (benefit) for income taxes:
Net income (loss)									(231,924)	(140,029)	268,014
Less: net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest											27
Net income (loss) attributable to Stone Energy Corporation											$ 267,987