Guarantor Subsidiaries (Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 81,850	$ 34,742	$ 59,185	$ 106,036
Accounts receivable	35,507	65,171
Prepaid expenses and other	47,397	60,318
Current Assets	164,754	160,231
Property, plant and equipment, net	469,509	1,072,151
Goodwill		259,238	262,764
Restricted Cash, Long-Term Portion	100,241
Other assets	72	33,222
Total Assets	734,576	1,524,842
Accounts payable	27,364	38,033
Current maturities of debt	432,181
Deferred revenue	14,157	20,965
Monetary Production Payments, current portion		74,167
Asset retirement obligations, current portion	40,547	48,895
Accrued expenses and other	15,196	88,625
Current Liabilities	529,445	221,790
Long-term debt		870,878
Deferred taxes	56,670	146,213
Monetary production payment, long-term portion		92,500
Other liabilities	66,077	131,370
Total Liabilities Not Subject to Compromise	652,192	1,462,751
Liabilities Subject to Compromise	841,044
Total Liabilities	1,493,236	1,462,751
Series C convertible preferred stock	17,481	43,703
Stockholder's equity (deficit)	(776,141)	18,388	99,431	154,079
Total Liabilities and Equity	734,576	1,524,842
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Current receivables due from affiliates	(634,610)	(920,664)
Current Assets	(634,610)	(920,664)
Long-term receivables due from affiliates	(1,054,000)	(500,008)
Investments in subsidiaries	(276,720)	(276,728)
Total Assets	(1,965,330)	(1,697,400)
Current liabilities due to affiliates	(634,610)	(920,672)
Current Liabilities	(634,610)	(920,672)
Long-term liabilities due from affiliates	(1,054,000)	(500,000)
Total Liabilities Not Subject to Compromise	(1,688,610)
Total Liabilities		(1,420,672)
Stockholder's equity (deficit)	(276,720)	(276,728)
Total Liabilities and Equity	(1,965,330)	(1,697,400)
Endeavour International Corporation [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Current receivables due from affiliates	477,351	853,900
Current Assets	477,351	853,900
Long-term receivables due from affiliates	554,000
Investments in subsidiaries	57,662	57,662
Other assets		20,518
Total Assets	1,089,013	932,080
Current liabilities due to affiliates	648	648
Accrued expenses and other	385	27,474
Current Liabilities	1,033	28,122
Long-term debt		678,850
Other liabilities	1	3,535
Total Liabilities Not Subject to Compromise	1,034
Liabilities Subject to Compromise	751,219
Total Liabilities		710,507
Series C convertible preferred stock	17,481	43,703
Stockholder's equity (deficit)	319,279	177,870
Total Liabilities and Equity	1,089,013	932,080
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	32,055	2,417	27,800	2,951
Accounts receivable	2,427	1,832
Current receivables due from affiliates	53,174	20,782
Prepaid expenses and other	7,350	594
Current Assets	95,006	25,625
Property, plant and equipment, net	35,529	87,313
Long-term receivables due from affiliates	500,000	500,000
Investments in subsidiaries	219,058	219,066
Other assets	10	6,056
Total Assets	849,603	838,060
Accounts payable	2,065	1,214
Current liabilities due to affiliates	581,402	899,853
Asset retirement obligations, current portion	42
Accrued expenses and other	5,663	3,352
Current Liabilities	589,172	904,419
Long-term liabilities due from affiliates	554,000
Other liabilities	436	601
Total Liabilities Not Subject to Compromise	1,143,608
Liabilities Subject to Compromise	6,079
Total Liabilities		905,020
Stockholder's equity (deficit)	(300,084)	(66,960)
Total Liabilities and Equity	849,603	838,060
Combined Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	49,795	32,325	31,385	103,085
Accounts receivable	33,080	63,339
Current receivables due from affiliates	104,085	45,982
Prepaid expenses and other	40,047	59,724
Current Assets	227,007	201,370
Property, plant and equipment, net	433,980	984,838
Goodwill		259,238
Long-term receivables due from affiliates		8
Restricted Cash, Long-Term Portion	100,241
Other assets	62	6,648
Total Assets	761,290	1,452,102
Accounts payable	25,299	36,819
Current maturities of debt	432,181
Deferred revenue	14,157	20,965
Monetary Production Payments, current portion		74,167
Current liabilities due to affiliates	52,560	20,171
Asset retirement obligations, current portion	40,505
Accrued expenses and other	9,148	57,799
Current Liabilities	573,850	209,921
Long-term debt		192,028
Long-term liabilities due from affiliates	500,000	500,000
Deferred taxes	56,670	146,213
Monetary production payment, long-term portion		92,500
Other liabilities	65,640	127,234
Total Liabilities Not Subject to Compromise	1,196,160
Liabilities Subject to Compromise	83,746
Total Liabilities		1,267,896
Stockholder's equity (deficit)	(518,616)	184,206
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 761,290	$ 1,452,102