Guarantor Subsidiaries (Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 66,498	$ 81,850	$ 55,490	$ 34,742
Accounts receivable	34,270	35,507
Prepaid expenses and other	36,821	47,397
Current Assets	137,589	164,754
Property, plant and equipment, net	343,735	469,509
Restricted cash, long-term portion	95,356	100,241
Other assets	73	72
Total Assets	576,753	734,576
Accounts payable	32,697	27,364
Current maturities of debt	433,141	432,181
Deferred revenue	594	14,157
Asset retirement obligations, current portion	29,835	40,547
Accrued expenses and other	5,332	15,196
Current Liabilities	501,599	529,445
Deferred taxes	39,118	56,670
Other liabilities	64,496	66,077
Total Liabilities Not Subject to Compromise	605,213	652,192
Liabilities Subject to Compromise	840,900	841,044
Series C convertible preferred stock	17,481	17,481
Stockholder's equity (deficit)	(886,841)	(776,141)
Total Liabilities and Equity	576,753	734,576
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Current receivables due from affiliates	(662,460)	(634,610)
Current Assets	(662,460)	(634,610)
Long-term receivables due from affiliates	(1,054,000)	(1,054,000)
Investments in subsidiaries	(276,720)	(276,720)
Total Assets	(1,993,180)	(1,965,330)
Current liabilities due to affiliates	(662,460)	(634,610)
Current Liabilities	(662,460)	(634,610)
Long-term liabilities due to affiliates	(1,054,000)	(1,054,000)
Total Liabilities Not Subject to Compromise	(1,716,460)	(1,688,610)
Stockholder's equity (deficit)	(276,720)	(276,720)
Total Liabilities and Equity	(1,993,180)	(1,965,330)
Endeavour International Corporation [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Current receivables due from affiliates	494,133	477,351
Current Assets	494,133	477,351
Long-term receivables due from affiliates	554,000	554,000
Investments in subsidiaries	57,662	57,662
Total Assets	1,105,795	1,089,013
Current liabilities due to affiliates	648	648
Accrued expenses and other	621	385
Current Liabilities	1,269	1,033
Other liabilities	(3)	1
Total Liabilities Not Subject to Compromise	1,266	1,034
Liabilities Subject to Compromise	751,221	751,219
Series C convertible preferred stock	17,481	17,481
Stockholder's equity (deficit)	335,827	319,279
Total Liabilities and Equity	1,105,795	1,089,013
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	17,515	32,055	28,753	2,417
Accounts receivable	2,187	2,427
Current receivables due from affiliates	68,055	53,174
Prepaid expenses and other	5,881	7,350
Current Assets	93,638	95,006
Property, plant and equipment, net	30,077	35,529
Long-term receivables due from affiliates	500,000	500,000
Investments in subsidiaries	219,058	219,058
Other assets	11	10
Total Assets	842,784	849,603
Accounts payable	2,833	2,065
Current liabilities due to affiliates	594,376	581,402
Asset retirement obligations, current portion	41	42
Accrued expenses and other	3,946	5,663
Current Liabilities	601,196	589,172
Long-term liabilities due to affiliates	554,000	554,000
Other liabilities	449	436
Total Liabilities Not Subject to Compromise	1,155,645	1,143,608
Liabilities Subject to Compromise	5,933	6,079
Stockholder's equity (deficit)	(318,794)	(300,084)
Total Liabilities and Equity	842,784	849,603
Combined Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	48,983	49,795	26,737	32,325
Accounts receivable	32,083	33,080
Current receivables due from affiliates	100,272	104,085
Prepaid expenses and other	30,940	40,047
Current Assets	212,278	227,007
Property, plant and equipment, net	313,658	433,980
Restricted cash, long-term portion	95,356	100,241
Other assets	62	62
Total Assets	621,354	761,290
Accounts payable	29,864	25,299
Current maturities of debt	433,141	432,181
Deferred revenue	594	14,157
Current liabilities due to affiliates	67,436	52,560
Asset retirement obligations, current portion	29,794	40,505
Accrued expenses and other	765	9,148
Current Liabilities	561,594	573,850
Long-term liabilities due to affiliates	500,000	500,000
Deferred taxes	39,118	56,670
Other liabilities	64,050	65,640
Total Liabilities Not Subject to Compromise	1,164,762	1,196,160
Liabilities Subject to Compromise	83,746	83,746
Stockholder's equity (deficit)	(627,154)	(518,616)
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 621,354	$ 761,290