Guarantor Subsidiaries (Income Statement) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenue	$ 36,901	$ 83,275	$ 220,738	$ 121,444
Operating expenses	16,358	23,973	71,951	34,613
DD&A expense	18,596	23,759	93,466	42,292
Impairment of oil and gas properties	6,032	11,416	9,566	47,116
G&A expenses	3,913	5,026	14,276	15,379
Income (loss) from Operations	(7,998)	19,101	31,479	(17,956)
Derivatives:
Unrealized gains (losses)	855	(1,204)	1,158	(2,178)
Interest expense	(26,461)	(18,053)	(72,346)	(63,016)
Letter of credit fees	(7,274)	(9,378)	(25,782)	(12,442)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				(21,661)
Unrealized foreign currency gains (losses)	(10,793)	(1,448)	38	(4,186)
Other income (expense)	(2,544)	(1,215)	(4,505)	(1,758)
Income (loss) before taxes	(54,215)	(12,197)	(69,958)	(123,197)
Income tax (benefit) expense	(14,330)	21,505	(2,141)	(3,424)
Net income (loss)	(39,885)	(33,702)	(67,817)	(119,773)
Preferred stock dividends	456	456	1,367	1,367
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	(40,341)	(34,158)	(69,184)	(121,140)
Endeavour International Corporation [Member]
G&A expenses	596	769	1,905	2,003
Income (loss) from Operations	(596)	(769)	(1,905)	(2,003)
Derivatives:
Unrealized gains (losses)	85	1,301	(292)	922
Interest expense	(19,994)	(20,015)	(60,967)	(33,509)
Income (loss) before taxes	(20,505)	(19,483)	(63,164)	(34,590)
Net income (loss)	(20,505)	(19,483)	(63,164)	(34,590)
Preferred stock dividends	456	456	1,367	1,367
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	(20,961)	(19,939)	(64,531)	(35,957)
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue	1,952	2,549	6,803	9,168
Operating expenses	1,090	1,239	6,550	4,476
DD&A expense	1,093	1,526	3,239	7,414
Impairment of oil and gas properties	6,032	11,416	9,566	47,116
G&A expenses	1,173	2,824	5,484	8,632
Income (loss) from Operations	(7,436)	(14,456)	(18,036)	(58,470)
Derivatives:
Interest expense	895	561	2,394	(1,553)
Unrealized foreign currency gains (losses)	1
Other income (expense)	14,347	14,566	43,346	19,338
Income (loss) before taxes	7,807	671	27,704	(40,685)
Net income (loss)	7,807	671	27,704	(40,685)
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	7,807	671	27,704	(40,685)
Combined Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue	34,949	80,726	213,935	112,276
Operating expenses	15,268	22,734	65,401	30,137
DD&A expense	17,503	22,233	90,227	34,878
G&A expenses	2,144	1,433	6,887	4,744
Income (loss) from Operations	34	34,326	51,420	42,517
Derivatives:
Unrealized gains (losses)	770	(2,505)	1,450	(3,100)
Interest expense	(11,567)	(15,035)	(58,811)	(51,697)
Letter of credit fees	(7,274)	(9,378)	(25,782)	(12,442)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				(21,661)
Unrealized foreign currency gains (losses)	(10,794)	(1,448)	38	(4,186)
Other income (expense)	(12,686)	655	(2,813)	2,647
Income (loss) before taxes	(41,517)	6,615	(34,498)	(47,922)
Income tax (benefit) expense	(14,330)	21,505	(2,141)	(3,424)
Net income (loss)	(27,187)	(14,890)	(32,357)	(44,498)
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	(27,187)	(14,890)	(32,357)	(44,498)
Eliminations [Member]
Derivatives:
Interest expense	4,205	16,436	45,038	23,743
Other income (expense)	$ (4,205)	$ (16,436)	$ (45,038)	$ (23,743)