Summary Of Major Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary Of Major Accounting Policies	SUMMARY OF MAJOR ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation. We have prepared these unaudited consolidated financial statements pursuant to instructions for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, which we are required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These financial statements do not include all information and footnotes normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP"). These financial statements reflect all adjustments that we believe are necessary to present fairly our financial position at March 31, 2013 and our results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. Except as otherwise disclosed herein, all such adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of annual results. Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Oceaneering International, Inc. and our 50% or more owned and controlled subsidiaries. We also consolidate entities that are determined to be variable interest entities if we determine that we are the primary beneficiary; otherwise, we account for these entities using the equity method of accounting. We use the equity method to account for our investments in unconsolidated affiliated companies of which we own an equity interest of between 20% and 50% and as to which we have significant influence, but not control, over operations. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires that our management make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include demand deposits and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less from the date of the investment. Accounts Receivable – Allowances for Doubtful Accounts. We determine the need for allowances for doubtful accounts using the specific identification method. We do not generally require collateral from our customers. Inventory. Inventory is valued at lower of cost or market. We determine cost using the weighted-average method. Property and Equipment. We provide for depreciation of property and equipment on the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. We charge the costs of repair and maintenance of property and equipment to operations as incurred, while we capitalize the costs of improvements that extend asset lives or functionality. Upon the disposition of property and equipment, the related cost and accumulated depreciation accounts are relieved and any resulting gain or loss is included as an adjustment to cost of services and products. We capitalize interest on assets where the construction period is anticipated to be more than three months. We capitalized no interest in the three-month periods ended March 31, 2013 and 2012. We do not allocate general administrative costs to capital projects. Business Acquisitions. We account for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting, and we allocate the acquisition price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair market values at the date of acquisition. Goodwill and Intangible Assets. In our annual evaluation of goodwill for impairment, we first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, we determine it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is no less than its carrying amount, performing the two-step impairment test is unnecessary. However, if we conclude otherwise, then we are required to perform the first step of the two-step impairment test. We tested the goodwill attributable to each of our reporting units for impairment as of December 31, 2012 and concluded that there was no impairment. The only changes in our reporting units' goodwill during the periods presented are from business acquisitions and currency exchange rate changes. Intangible assets, primarily acquired in connection with business combinations, include trade names, intellectual property and customer relationships and are being amortized over their estimated useful lives. Subsequent Event. We had been paying a quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per share to our common shareholders since the second quarter of 2012. In April 2013, our Board of Directors increased our dividend to $0.22 per share, commencing with the dividend to be paid in June 2013. New Accounting Standards. In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an update to improve the reporting of amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The update amends the presentation of changes in accumulated other comprehensive income and requires an entity to report the change of each component of other comprehensive income either on the face of the income statement or as a separate disclosure in the notes. We adopted this update on January 1, 2013, as required.

SUMMARY OF MAJOR ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation. We have prepared these unaudited consolidated financial statements pursuant to instructions for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, which we are required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These financial statements do not include all information and footnotes normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States

("U.S. GAAP"). These financial statements reflect all adjustments that we believe are necessary to present fairly our financial position at March 31, 2013 and our results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. Except as otherwise disclosed herein, all such adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of annual results.

Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Oceaneering International, Inc. and our 50% or more owned and controlled subsidiaries. We also consolidate entities that are determined to be variable interest entities if we determine that we are the primary beneficiary; otherwise, we account for these entities using the equity method of accounting. We use the equity method to account for our investments in unconsolidated affiliated companies of which we own an equity interest of between 20% and 50% and as to which we have significant influence, but not control, over operations. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires that our management make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include demand deposits and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less from the date of the investment.

Accounts Receivable – Allowances for Doubtful Accounts. We determine the need for allowances for doubtful accounts using the specific identification method. We do not generally require collateral from our customers.

Inventory. Inventory is valued at lower of cost or market. We determine cost using the weighted-average method.

Property and Equipment. We provide for depreciation of property and equipment on the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. We charge the costs of repair and maintenance of property and equipment to operations as incurred, while we capitalize the costs of improvements that extend asset lives or functionality. Upon the disposition of property and equipment, the related cost and accumulated depreciation accounts are relieved and any resulting gain or loss is included as an adjustment to cost of services and products.

We capitalize interest on assets where the construction period is anticipated to be more than three months. We capitalized no interest in the three-month periods ended March 31, 2013 and 2012. We do not allocate general administrative costs to capital projects.

Business Acquisitions. We account for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting, and we allocate the acquisition price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair market values at the date of acquisition.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets. In our annual evaluation of goodwill for impairment, we first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, we determine it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is no less than its carrying amount, performing the two-step impairment test is unnecessary. However, if we conclude otherwise, then we are required to perform the first step of the two-step impairment test. We tested the goodwill attributable to each of our reporting units for impairment as of December 31, 2012 and concluded that there was no impairment. The only changes in our reporting units' goodwill during the periods presented are from business acquisitions and currency exchange rate changes.

Intangible assets, primarily acquired in connection with business combinations, include trade names, intellectual property and customer relationships and are being amortized over their estimated useful lives.

Subsequent Event. We had been paying a quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per share to our common shareholders since the second quarter of 2012. In April 2013, our Board of Directors increased our dividend to $0.22 per share, commencing with the dividend to be paid in June 2013.

New Accounting Standards. In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an update to improve the reporting of amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The update amends the presentation of changes in accumulated other comprehensive income and requires an entity to report the change of each component of other comprehensive income either on the face of the income statement or as a separate disclosure in the notes. We adopted this update on January 1, 2013, as required.