Guarantor Subsidiaries (Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 60,357	$ 59,185	$ 75,722	$ 106,036
Accounts receivable	24,496	46,181
Prepaid expenses and other	48,696	20,995
Current Assets	133,549	126,361
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,078,906	1,003,441
Goodwill	259,238	262,764
Other assets	36,396	49,906
Total Assets	1,508,089	1,442,472
Accounts payable	44,802	60,153
Current maturities of debt	115,163	15,713
Deferred revenue	40,691
Monetary production payment, current portion	19,167
Accrued expenses and other	54,422	90,100
Current Liabilities	274,245	165,966
Long-Term Debt	752,769	843,793
Deferred taxes	127,658	141,887
Monetary production payment, long-term	126,667
Other liabilities	136,798	147,692
Total Liabilities	1,418,137	1,299,338
Series C convertible preferred stock	43,703	43,703
Stockholder's equity	46,249	99,431
Total Liabilities and Equity	1,508,089	1,442,472
Endeavour International Corporation [Member]
Current receivables due from affiliates	854,025	950,210
Current Assets	854,025	950,210
Investments in subsidiaries	57,662	57,662
Other assets	21,865	25,200
Total Assets	933,552	1,033,072
Current liabilites due to affiliates		34,509
Accrued expenses and other	8,948	27,548
Current Liabilities	8,948	62,057
Long-Term Debt	678,241	676,413
Other liabilities	3,323	3,033
Total Liabilities	690,512	741,503
Series C convertible preferred stock	43,703	43,703
Stockholder's equity	199,337	247,866
Total Liabilities and Equity	933,552	1,033,072
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	3,584	27,800	6,456	2,951
Accounts receivable	1,936	2,695
Current receivables due from affiliates	5,530	36,725
Prepaid expenses and other	404	508
Current Assets	11,454	67,728
Property, plant and equipment, net	91,871	92,692
Long-term receivables due from affiliates	599,000	599,000
Investments in subsidiaries	120,058	120,058
Other assets	6,056	6,085
Total Assets	828,439	885,563
Accounts payable	2,843	2,622
Current liabilites due to affiliates	901,429	987,664
Accrued expenses and other	2,589	1,517
Current Liabilities	906,861	991,803
Long-Term Debt	(1)
Other liabilities	676	561
Total Liabilities	907,536	992,364
Stockholder's equity	(79,097)	(106,801)
Total Liabilities and Equity	828,439	885,563
Combined Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	56,773	31,385	69,266	103,085
Accounts receivable	22,560	43,486
Current receivables due from affiliates	47,597	71,964
Prepaid expenses and other	48,292	20,487
Current Assets	175,222	167,322
Property, plant and equipment, net	987,035	910,749
Goodwill	259,238	262,764
Other assets	8,475	18,621
Total Assets	1,429,970	1,359,456
Accounts payable	41,959	57,531
Current maturities of debt	115,163	15,713
Deferred revenue	40,691
Monetary production payment, current portion	19,167
Current liabilites due to affiliates	5,723	36,726
Accrued expenses and other	42,885	61,035
Current Liabilities	265,588	171,005
Long-Term Debt	74,529	167,380
Long-term liabilities due to affiliates	599,000	599,000
Deferred taxes	127,658	141,887
Monetary production payment, long-term	126,667
Other liabilities	132,799	144,098
Total Liabilities	1,326,241	1,223,370
Stockholder's equity	103,729	136,086
Total Liabilities and Equity	1,429,970	1,359,456
Eliminations [Member]
Current receivables due from affiliates	(907,152)	(1,058,899)
Current Assets	(907,152)	(1,058,899)
Long-term receivables due from affiliates	(599,000)	(599,000)
Investments in subsidiaries	(177,720)	(177,720)
Total Assets	(1,683,872)	(1,835,619)
Current liabilites due to affiliates	(907,152)	(1,058,899)
Current Liabilities	(907,152)	(1,058,899)
Long-term liabilities due to affiliates	(599,000)	(599,000)
Total Liabilities	(1,506,152)	(1,657,899)
Stockholder's equity	(177,720)	(177,720)
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ (1,683,872)	$ (1,835,619)