Guarantor Subsidiaries (Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 55,490	$ 34,742	$ 80,781	$ 59,185
Accounts receivable	48,217	65,171
Prepaid expenses and other	82,896	60,318
Current Assets	186,603	160,231
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,053,775	1,072,151
Goodwill	259,238	259,238
Other assets	32,997	33,222
Total Assets	1,532,613	1,524,842
Accounts payable	56,199	38,033
Current maturities of debt	2,140
Deferred revenue	2,152	20,965
Monetary production payment, current portion	120,833	74,167
Accrued expenses and other	79,219	88,625
Current Liabilities	260,543	221,790
Long-term debt	891,829	870,878
Deferred taxes	173,847	146,213
Monetary production payment, long-term portion	40,833	92,500
Other liabilities	127,789	131,370
Total Liabilities	1,494,841	1,462,751
Series C convertible preferred stock	43,703	43,703
Stockholder's equity	(5,931)	18,388
Total Liabilities and Equity	1,532,613	1,524,842
Eliminations [Member]
Current receivables due from affiliates	(905,967)	(920,665)
Current Assets	(905,967)	(920,665)
Long-term receivables due from affiliates	(500,000)	(500,008)
Investments in subsidiaries	(276,720)	(276,728)
Total Assets	(1,682,687)	(1,697,401)
Current liabilites due to affiliates	(905,967)	(920,673)
Current Liabilities	(905,967)	(920,673)
Long-term liabilities due from affiliates	(500,000)	(500,000)
Total Liabilities	(1,405,967)	(1,420,673)
Stockholder's equity	(276,720)	(276,728)
Total Liabilities and Equity	(1,682,687)	(1,697,401)
Endeavour International Corporation [Member]
Current receivables due from affiliates	850,227	853,900
Current Assets	850,227	853,900
Investments in subsidiaries	57,662	57,662
Other assets	19,619	20,518
Total Assets	927,508	932,080
Current liabilites due to affiliates	648	648
Accrued expenses and other	10,655	27,474
Current Liabilities	11,303	28,122
Long-term debt	691,483	678,850
Other liabilities	4,065	3,535
Total Liabilities	706,851	710,507
Series C convertible preferred stock	43,703	43,703
Stockholder's equity	176,954	177,870
Total Liabilities and Equity	927,508	932,080
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	28,753	2,417	2,525	27,800
Accounts receivable	2,273	1,832
Current receivables due from affiliates	6,704	20,783
Prepaid expenses and other	813	594
Current Assets	38,543	25,626
Property, plant and equipment, net	88,421	87,313
Long-term receivables due from affiliates	500,000	500,000
Investments in subsidiaries	219,058	219,066
Other assets	56	6,056
Total Assets	846,078	838,061
Accounts payable	10,094	1,214
Current liabilites due to affiliates	899,237	899,853
Accrued expenses and other	6,345	3,353
Current Liabilities	915,676	904,420
Other liabilities	5,077	601
Total Liabilities	920,753	905,021
Stockholder's equity	(74,675)	(66,960)
Total Liabilities and Equity	846,078	838,061
Combined Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	26,737	32,325	78,256	31,385
Accounts receivable	45,944	63,339
Current receivables due from affiliates	49,036	45,982
Prepaid expenses and other	82,083	59,724
Current Assets	203,800	201,370
Property, plant and equipment, net	965,354	984,838
Goodwill	259,238	259,238
Long-term receivables due from affiliates		8
Other assets	13,322	6,648
Total Assets	1,441,714	1,452,102
Accounts payable	46,105	36,819
Current maturities of debt	2,140
Deferred revenue	2,152	20,965
Monetary production payment, current portion	120,833	74,167
Current liabilites due to affiliates	6,082	20,172
Accrued expenses and other	62,219	57,798
Current Liabilities	239,531	209,921
Long-term debt	200,346	192,028
Long-term liabilities due from affiliates	500,000	500,000
Deferred taxes	173,847	146,213
Monetary production payment, long-term portion	40,833	92,500
Other liabilities	118,647	127,234
Total Liabilities	1,273,204	1,267,896
Stockholder's equity	168,510	184,206
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 1,441,714	$ 1,452,102