Subsequent Events - Additional Information (Details) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended			0 Months Ended					0 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012	Jul. 05, 2013 Discovery Offshore USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Discovery Offshore USD ($)	Jul. 05, 2013 Discovery Offshore NOK	Jun. 24, 2013 Discovery Offshore	Jun. 30, 2013 Discovery Offshore	Jul. 23, 2013 Discovery Triumph Discovery Offshore USD ($)	Jul. 08, 2013 Senior Notes 8.75% Percent Senior Notes USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Common Stock Purchased, Shares	159,678		158,628			6,200
Stock Value (NOK)						15
Payments to Acquire Additional Interest in Subsidiaries				$ 15,200,000	$ 4,100,000
Ownership percentage						96.00%	84.00%	86.00%
Debt Instrument, Issuance Date										Jul. 08, 2013
Debt Instrument, Face Amount										400,000,000
Debt instrument percentage rate										8.75%
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	$ 74,912,000	$ 47,478,000							$ 166,900,000