Guarantor Subsidiaries (Income Statement) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Revenue	$ 126,165	$ 23,003	$ 183,837	$ 38,169
Operating expenses	38,103	5,742	55,593	10,640
DD&A expense	51,923	10,627	74,870	18,533
Impairment of oil and gas properties		19,960	3,534	35,700
G&A expenses	4,882	5,030	10,364	10,353
Income (loss) from Operations	31,257	(18,356)	39,476	(37,057)
Derivatives:
Unrealized gains (losses)	(1,277)	3,805	303	(973)
Interest expense	(24,447)	(25,256)	(45,885)	(44,963)
Letter of credit fees	(7,128)	(3,064)	(18,508)	(3,064)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		(21,661)		(21,661)
Other income (expense)	(1,009)	(611)	8,871	(3,282)
Income (loss) before taxes	(2,604)	(65,143)	(15,743)	(111,000)
Income tax expense	11,281	(14,335)	12,189	(24,929)
Net income (loss)	(13,885)	(50,808)	(27,932)	(86,071)
Preferred stock dividends	456	456	911	911
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	(14,341)	(51,264)	(28,843)	(86,982)
Endeavour International Corporation [Member]
G&A expenses	577	643	1,308	1,234
Income (loss) from Operations	(577)	(643)	(1,308)	(1,234)
Derivatives:
Unrealized gains (losses)	323	(1,448)	(377)	(379)
Interest expense	(20,814)	(10,281)	(40,973)	(13,494)
Other income (expense)			(1)	(1)
Income (loss) before taxes	(21,068)	(12,372)	(42,659)	(15,108)
Net income (loss)	(21,068)	(12,372)	(42,659)	(15,108)
Preferred stock dividends	456	456	911	911
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	(21,524)	(12,828)	(43,570)	(16,019)
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue	2,315	2,863	4,851	6,620
Operating expenses	1,844	1,603	5,459	3,237
DD&A expense	1,007	2,474	2,146	5,888
Impairment of oil and gas properties		19,960	3,534	35,700
G&A expenses	1,701	2,450	4,313	5,808
Income (loss) from Operations	(2,237)	(23,624)	(10,601)	(44,013)
Derivatives:
Interest expense	898	(789)	1,500	(2,115)
Other income (expense)	14,520	5,004	28,998	4,774
Income (loss) before taxes	13,181	(19,409)	19,897	(41,354)
Net income (loss)	13,181	(19,409)	19,897	(41,354)
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	13,181	(19,409)	19,897	(41,354)
Combined Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue	123,850	20,140	178,986	31,549
Operating expenses	36,259	4,139	50,134	7,403
DD&A expense	50,916	8,153	72,724	12,645
G&A expenses	2,604	1,937	4,743	3,311
Income (loss) from Operations	34,071	5,911	51,385	8,190
Derivatives:
Unrealized gains (losses)	(1,600)	5,253	680	(594)
Interest expense	(19,531)	(20,788)	(36,411)	(38,097)
Letter of credit fees	(7,128)	(3,064)	(18,508)	(3,064)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		(21,661)		(21,661)
Other income (expense)	(529)	987	9,873	688
Income (loss) before taxes	5,283	(33,362)	7,019	(54,538)
Income tax expense	11,281	(14,335)	12,189	(24,929)
Net income (loss)	(5,998)	(19,027)	(5,170)	(29,609)
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	(5,998)	(19,027)	(5,170)	(29,609)
Eliminations [Member]
Derivatives:
Interest expense	15,000	6,602	29,999	8,743
Other income (expense)	$ (15,000)	$ (6,602)	$ (29,999)	$ (8,743)