Guarantor Subsidiaries (Income Statement) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 64,329	$ 94,163
Operating expenses	24,145	27,170
DD&A expense	56,561	44,968
Impairment of oil and gas properties	90,087
Insurance proceeds	(8,425)
G&A expenses	2,572	4,849
Income (Loss) From Operations	(100,611)	17,176
Unrealized gains on derivatives		2,659
Interest expense	(14,351)	(31,477)
Letter of credit fees	(58)	(3,789)
Financing and transaction costs	(1,025)	(1,816)
Reorganization items	(6,866)
Loss on early extinguishment of financing agreements		(3,543)
Litigation settlement expense		(19,034)
Unrealized foreign currency gains (losses)	4	(1,273)
Other income (expense)	105	(204)
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	(122,802)	(41,301)
Petroleum Revenue Tax ("PRT") Benefit	(12,141)	1,725
Corporate Tax Expense (Benefit)		1,844
Total tax benefit	(12,141)	3,569
Net income (loss)	(110,661)	(44,870)
Preferred Stock Dividends		456
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	(110,661)	(45,326)
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Interest expense	31,620	31,620
Other income (expense)	(31,620)	(31,620)
Endeavour International Corporation [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
G&A expenses	33	995
Income (Loss) From Operations	(33)	(995)
Unrealized gains on derivatives		469
Interest expense		(20,620)
Financing and transaction costs		(323)
Other income (expense)	16,620	16,621
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	16,587	(4,848)
Net income (loss)	16,587	(4,848)
Preferred Stock Dividends		456
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	16,587	(5,304)
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenue	1,083	1,947
Operating expenses	1,289	1,181
DD&A expense	562	721
Impairment of oil and gas properties	10,078
G&A expenses	(649)	3,709
Income (Loss) From Operations	(10,197)	(3,664)
Interest expense	(16,620)	(16,042)
Financing and transaction costs	(45)	(590)
Reorganization items	(6,866)
Litigation settlement expense		(19,034)
Other income (expense)	15,018	14,996
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	(18,710)	(24,334)
Net income (loss)	(18,710)	(24,334)
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	(18,710)	(24,334)
Combined Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenue	63,246	92,216
Operating expenses	22,856	25,989
DD&A expense	55,999	44,247
Impairment of oil and gas properties	80,009
Insurance proceeds	(8,425)
G&A expenses	3,188	145
Income (Loss) From Operations	(90,381)	21,835
Unrealized gains on derivatives		2,190
Interest expense	(29,351)	(26,435)
Letter of credit fees	(58)	(3,789)
Financing and transaction costs	(980)	(903)
Loss on early extinguishment of financing agreements		(3,543)
Unrealized foreign currency gains (losses)	4	(1,273)
Other income (expense)	87	(201)
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	(120,679)	(12,119)
Petroleum Revenue Tax ("PRT") Benefit	(12,141)	1,725
Corporate Tax Expense (Benefit)		1,844
Total tax benefit	(12,141)	3,569
Net income (loss)	(108,538)	(15,688)
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	$ (108,538)	$ (15,688)