Guarantor Subsidiaries (Cash Flow Statement)(Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net loss	$ (67,817)	$ (119,773)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
DD&A expense	93,466	42,292
Impairment of oil and gas properties	9,566	47,116
Deferred tax benefit	(17,262)	(15,849)
Unrealized (gains) lossess on derivatives	(1,158)	2,178
Amortization of non-cash compensation	2,352	3,605
Amortization of loan costs and discount	15,330	10,536
Non-cash interest expense	5,246	7,077
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		21,661
Other	10,192	9,692
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in receivables	21,685	5,553
(Increase) decrease in other current assets	(3,226)	(14,550)
Increase (decrease) in liabilities	(13,587)	1,806
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	54,787	1,344
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(176,171)	(175,597)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(2,602)	(228,437)
Increase in restricted cash		(179)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(178,773)	(404,213)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Repayments of borrowings		(247,065)
Borrowings under debt agreements, net of debt discount		595,000
Proceeds from issuance of MPP	150,000
Repayments of MPP	(4,167)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		60,805
Dividends paid	(1,249)	(833)
Payments for early extinguishment of debt		(7,248)
Financing costs paid	(19,427)	(28,109)
Other financing	1	5
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	125,158	372,555
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	1,172	(30,314)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period	59,185	106,036
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period	60,357	75,722
Endeavour International Corporation [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net loss	(63,164)	(34,590)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Unrealized (gains) lossess on derivatives	292	(922)
Amortization of non-cash compensation	470	689
Amortization of loan costs and discount	5,870	4,935
Non-cash interest expense		160
Other	44	(37)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in other current assets	72,254
Increase (decrease) in liabilities	(14,517)	(489,766)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	1,249	(519,531)
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures		368
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities		368
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Borrowings under debt agreements, net of debt discount		480,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		61,088
Dividends paid	(1,249)	(833)
Financing costs paid		(20,728)
Other financing		4
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	(1,249)	519,531
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net loss	27,704	(40,685)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
DD&A expense	3,239	7,414
Impairment of oil and gas properties	9,566	47,116
Amortization of loan costs and discount		5
Non-cash interest expense	(10,379)	605
Other	11,169	(3)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in receivables	760	1,585
(Increase) decrease in other current assets	(53,060)	(8,945)
Increase (decrease) in liabilities	2,603	541,941
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	(8,398)	549,033
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(11,519)	(37,337)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(2,036)
Issuance of note receivable to affiliates		(500,000)
Increase in restricted cash		(51)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(11,519)	(539,424)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Repayments of borrowings		(5,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		(283)
Financing costs paid	(4,301)	(1,190)
Other financing	2	369
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	(4,299)	(6,104)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(24,216)	3,505
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period	27,800	2,951
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period	3,584	6,456
Combined Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net loss	(32,357)	(44,498)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
DD&A expense	90,227	34,878
Deferred tax benefit	(17,262)	(15,849)
Unrealized (gains) lossess on derivatives	(1,450)	3,100
Amortization of loan costs and discount	9,460	5,596
Non-cash interest expense	15,625	6,312
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		21,661
Other	(1,021)	9,732
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in receivables	20,925	3,968
(Increase) decrease in other current assets	(22,420)	(5,605)
Increase (decrease) in liabilities	1,785	(47,453)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	63,512	(28,158)
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(166,228)	(138,628)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(2,602)	(226,401)
Increase in restricted cash		(128)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(168,830)	(365,157)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Repayments of borrowings		(242,065)
Borrowings under debt agreements, net of debt discount		615,000
Proceeds from issuance of MPP	150,000
Repayments of MPP	(4,167)
Payments for early extinguishment of debt		(7,248)
Financing costs paid	(15,126)	(6,191)
Other financing	(1)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	130,706	359,496
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	25,388	(33,819)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period	31,385	103,085
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period	56,773	69,266
Eliminations [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization of non-cash compensation	1,882	2,916
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Increase (decrease) in liabilities	(3,458)	(2,916)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	(1,576)
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	1,576
Issuance of note receivable to affiliates		500,000
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	1,576	500,000
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Borrowings under debt agreements, net of debt discount		(500,000)
Other financing		(368)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities		$ (500,368)