Nature of Business	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Nature of Business [Abstract]
Nature of Business	1. Nature of Business *Organization* Hercules Offshore, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its majority owned subsidiaries (the “Company”) provide shallow-water drilling and marine services to the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry globally through its Domestic Offshore, International Offshore, Inland, Domestic Liftboats and International Liftboats segments (See Note 17). At December 31, 2011, the Company owned a fleet of 44 jackup rigs, 17 barge rigs, two submersible rigs, one platform rig, and 59 liftboat vessels and operated an additional five liftboat vessels owned by a third party. The Company’s diverse fleet is capable of providing services such as oil and gas exploration and development drilling, well service, platform inspection, maintenance, and decommissioning operations in several key shallow-water provinces around the world. In February 2011, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement with Seahawk Drilling, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries (“Seahawk”), pursuant to which Seahawk agreed to sell the Company 20 jackup rigs and related assets, accounts receivable, accounts payable and certain contractual rights (“Seahawk Transaction”). On April 27, 2011, the Company completed the Seahawk Transaction (See Note 6). *Recast of Financial Information for Discontinued Operations* In May 2011, the Company completed the sale of substantially all of Delta Towing’s assets and certain liabilities (See Note 7). Accordingly, the results of operations of the Delta Towing assets are presented as discontinued operations. *Investigations* On April 4, 2011, the Company received a subpoena issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) requesting the delivery of certain documents to the SEC in connection with its investigation into possible violations of the securities laws, including possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) in certain international jurisdictions where the Company conducts operations. The Company was also notified by the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) on April 5, 2011, that certain of the Company’s activities are under review by the DOJ. The Company, through the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, has engaged an outside law firm with significant experience in FCPA-related matters to conduct an internal review, and intends to continue to cooperate with the SEC and DOJ in their investigations. At this time, it is not possible to predict the outcome of the investigations, the expenses the Company will incur associated with these matters, or the impact on the price of the Company’s common stock or other securities as a result of these investigations.

Nature of Business

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

1. Nature of Business

Organization

Hercules Offshore, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its majority owned subsidiaries (the “Company”) provide shallow-water drilling and marine services to the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry globally through its Domestic Offshore, International Offshore, Inland, Domestic Liftboats and International Liftboats segments (See Note 17). At December 31, 2011, the Company owned a fleet of 44 jackup rigs, 17 barge rigs, two submersible rigs, one platform rig, and 59 liftboat vessels and operated an additional five liftboat vessels owned by a third party. The Company’s diverse fleet is capable of providing services such as oil and gas exploration and development drilling, well service, platform inspection, maintenance, and decommissioning operations in several key shallow-water provinces around the world.

In February 2011, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement with Seahawk Drilling, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries (“Seahawk”), pursuant to which Seahawk agreed to sell the Company 20 jackup rigs and related assets, accounts receivable, accounts payable and certain contractual rights (“Seahawk Transaction”). On April 27, 2011, the Company completed the Seahawk Transaction (See Note 6).

Recast of Financial Information for Discontinued Operations

In May 2011, the Company completed the sale of substantially all of Delta Towing’s assets and certain liabilities (See Note 7). Accordingly, the results of operations of the Delta Towing assets are presented as discontinued operations.

Investigations

On April 4, 2011, the Company received a subpoena issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) requesting the delivery of certain documents to the SEC in connection with its investigation into possible violations of the securities laws, including possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) in certain international jurisdictions where the Company conducts operations. The Company was also notified by the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) on April 5, 2011, that certain of the Company’s activities are under review by the DOJ.

The Company, through the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, has engaged an outside law firm with significant experience in FCPA-related matters to conduct an internal review, and intends to continue to cooperate with the SEC and DOJ in their investigations. At this time, it is not possible to predict the outcome of the investigations, the expenses the Company will incur associated with these matters, or the impact on the price of the Company’s common stock or other securities as a result of these investigations.