Guarantor Subsidiaries (Income Statement) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Revenue	$ 94,163	$ 57,672
Operating expenses	27,170	17,490
DD&A expense	44,968	22,947
Impairment of oil and gas properties		3,534
General and administrative	4,849	5,482
Income (loss) From Operations	17,176	8,219
Unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives	2,659	1,580
Interest expense	(31,477)	(21,438)
Letter of credit fees	(3,789)	(11,380)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(3,543)
Litigation settlement expense	(19,034)
Unrealized foreign currency gains (losses)	(1,273)	9,760
Other income (expense)	(2,020)	122
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	(41,301)	(13,137)
Petroleum Revenue Tax ("PRT") Expense (Benefit)	1,725	628
Corporate Tax Expense	1,844	281
Total tax expense	3,569	909
Net income (loss)	(44,870)	(14,046)
Preferred stock dividends	456	456
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	(45,326)	(14,502)
Eliminations [Member]
Interest expense	15,000	15,000
Other income (expense)	(15,000)	(15,000)
Endeavour International Corporation [Member]
General and administrative	995	732
Income (loss) From Operations	(995)	(732)
Unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives	469	(700)
Interest expense	(20,620)	(20,160)
Other income (expense)	(322)	1
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	(21,468)	(21,591)
Net income (loss)	(21,468)	(21,591)
Preferred stock dividends	456	456
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	(21,924)	(22,047)
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue	1,947	2,536
Operating expenses	1,181	3,615
DD&A expense	721	1,139
Impairment of oil and gas properties		3,534
General and administrative	3,709	2,611
Income (loss) From Operations	(3,664)	(8,363)
Interest expense	578	603
Litigation settlement expense	(19,034)
Unrealized foreign currency gains (losses)		(1)
Other income (expense)	14,406	14,478
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	(7,714)	6,717
Net income (loss)	(7,714)	6,717
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	(7,714)	6,717
Combined Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue	92,216	55,136
Operating expenses	25,989	13,875
DD&A expense	44,247	21,808
General and administrative	145	2,139
Income (loss) From Operations	21,835	17,314
Unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives	2,190	2,280
Interest expense	(26,435)	(16,881)
Letter of credit fees	(3,789)	(11,380)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(3,543)
Unrealized foreign currency gains (losses)	(1,273)	9,761
Other income (expense)	(1,104)	643
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	(12,119)	1,737
Petroleum Revenue Tax ("PRT") Expense (Benefit)	1,725	628
Corporate Tax Expense	1,844	281
Total tax expense	3,569	909
Net income (loss)	(15,688)	828
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	$ (15,688)	$ 828