2.4.0.82410401 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1false USDtruefalse$I2013Q1_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_hero_SeahawkMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001330849instant2013-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseSeahawkus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldihero_SeahawkMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberusdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false USDtruefalse$I2011Q2Apr26_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_hero_SeahawkMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001330849instant2011-04-27T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseSeahawkus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldihero_SeahawkMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberusdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$3false truefalseD2013Q1YTD_hero_TaxYearAxis_hero_EarliestTaxYearOpenForExaminationMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001330849duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseEarliest Tax Year Open For Examination [Member]hero_TaxYearAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldihero_EarliestTaxYearOpenForExaminationMemberhero_TaxYearAxisexplicitMember4false truefalseD2013Q1YTD_hero_TaxYearAxis_hero_EarliestTaxYearOpenForExaminationMember_us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis_country_TThttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001330849duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseEarliest Tax Year Open For Examination [Member]hero_TaxYearAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldihero_EarliestTaxYearOpenForExaminationMemberhero_TaxYearAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseTRINIDADus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicountry_TTus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisexplicitMember5false truefalseD2013Q1YTD_hero_TaxYearAxis_hero_LatestTaxYearOpenForExaminationMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001330849duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseLatest Tax Year Open For Examination [Member]hero_TaxYearAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldihero_LatestTaxYearOpenForExaminationMemberhero_TaxYearAxisexplicitMember6false truefalseD2013Q1YTD_hero_TaxYearAxis_hero_LatestTaxYearOpenForExaminationMember_us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis_country_TThttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001330849duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseLatest Tax Year Open For Examination [Member]hero_TaxYearAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldihero_LatestTaxYearOpenForExaminationMemberhero_TaxYearAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseTRINIDADus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicountry_TTus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisexplicitMember7false truefalseD2013Q1YTD_dei_LegalEntityAxis_hero_TodcoMember_hero_TaxYearAxis_hero_LatestTaxYearOpenForExaminationMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001330849duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseLatest Tax Year Open For Examination [Member]hero_TaxYearAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldihero_LatestTaxYearOpenForExaminationMemberhero_TaxYearAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseTODCOdei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldihero_TodcoMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMember1true 3us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItemsus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]2false 4us-gaap_OpenTaxYearus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse002006falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse002006falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse002012falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse002012falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse002004falsefalsefalsexbrli:gYearItemTypepositiveintegerTax year that remains open to examination under enacted tax laws, in CCYY format.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319 false0Open tax year3false 4us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwardsus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse186700000186.7USD$falsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe sum of domestic, foreign and state and local operating loss carryforwards, before tax effects, available to reduce future taxable income under enacted tax laws.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32559-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 48 -Subparagraph a -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. false2Net operating losses available4false 4us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmountus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1710000017.1falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of the tax credit carryforward, before tax effects, available to reduce future taxable income under enacted tax laws.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32559-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Carryforwards -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506874 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 48 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph a -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. false2Tax credit carryforward, amount5false 4us-gaap_TaxBasisOfInvestmentsCostForIncomeTaxPurposesus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse7000000070.0falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe aggregate cost of investments for Federal income tax purposes.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-13) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6955306&loc=d3e611282-123010 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6955306&loc=d3e611133-123010 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6955306&loc=d3e611225-123010 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 12 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph d -Article 12 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 12C -Paragraph 11 -Subparagraph d -Article 12 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 13 -Paragraph 7 -Subparagraph d -Article 12 false2Tax basis of assets acquired6false 4us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse3770000037.7falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount after allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b),(c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 43 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. false2Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance7false 4us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGrossus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse5690000056.9falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 43, 289 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Deferred Tax Asset -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6510090 false2Deferred tax assets, gross8false 4us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowanceus-gaap_truecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse1920000019.2USD$falsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of deferred tax assets for which it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 43-49 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph e -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. false2Deferred tax assets, valuation allowancefalseIncome Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)HundredThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.herculesoffshore.com/role/IncomeTaxesAdditionalInformationDetail78