Condensed Consolidated Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Net revenues	$ 336,234	$ 372,496	$ 1,091,555	$ 1,002,422
Cost of sales	250,477	250,201	750,863	702,853
Gross profit	85,757	122,295	340,692	299,569
Hedge ineffectiveness and non-hedge gain on commodity derivative contracts	(9,427)		(1,697)
Loss on sale of assets, net	(12,933)		(14,647)	(6)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(28,022)	(22,082)	(78,289)	(70,821)
Income (loss) from operations	35,375	100,213	246,059	228,742
Equity in earnings of investments	1,392	4,906	7,547	16,443
Net interest expense and other	(16,125)	(34,828)	(75,245)	(80,429)
Income before income taxes	20,642	70,291	178,361	164,756
Provision for income taxes	4,967	23,465	50,720	49,186
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	15,675	46,826	127,641	115,570
Less net income applicable to noncontrolling interests	(800)	(800)	(2,378)	(2,354)
Preferred stock dividends	(10)	(10)	(30)	(30)
Net income applicable to Helix common shareholders	14,865	46,016	125,233	113,186
Total comprehensive income (loss) applicable to Helix common shareholders	(1,266)	81,492	109,294	159,764
Helix [Member]
Net revenues	20,024	19,986	60,009	56,113
Cost of sales	22,668	15,698	65,373	47,414
Gross profit	(2,644)	4,288	(5,364)	8,699
Loss on sale of assets, net				(6)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(13,853)	(6,752)	(36,783)	(27,512)
Income (loss) from operations	(16,497)	(2,464)	(42,147)	(18,819)
Equity in earnings of investments	20,289	60,831	177,985	167,867
Net interest expense and other	(9,686)	(17,612)	(49,830)	(53,139)
Income before income taxes	(5,894)	40,755	86,008	95,909
Provision for income taxes	(15,268)	(5,266)	(33,696)	(17,229)
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	9,374	46,021	119,704	113,138
Preferred stock dividends	(10)	(10)	(30)	(30)
Net income applicable to Helix common shareholders	9,364	46,011	119,674	113,108
Total comprehensive income (loss) applicable to Helix common shareholders	9,196	46,467	119,180	114,026
Guarantors [Member]
Net revenues	219,661	266,447	760,229	756,344
Cost of sales	157,490	182,259	500,520	521,387
Gross profit	62,171	84,188	259,709	234,957
Hedge ineffectiveness and non-hedge gain on commodity derivative contracts	(9,427)		(1,697)
Loss on sale of assets, net	(12,933)		(14,647)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(8,426)	(9,551)	(27,222)	(29,502)
Income (loss) from operations	31,385	74,637	216,143	205,455
Equity in earnings of investments	12,729	7,277	19,024	5,809
Net interest expense and other	(6,927)	(8,016)	(21,211)	(18,615)
Income before income taxes	37,187	73,898	213,956	192,649
Provision for income taxes	14,469	24,419	73,492	66,479
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	22,718	49,479	140,464	126,170
Net income applicable to Helix common shareholders	22,718	49,479	140,464	126,170
Total comprehensive income (loss) applicable to Helix common shareholders	2,850	82,911	119,800	169,543
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Net revenues	118,896	109,780	340,428	260,582
Cost of sales	92,211	75,643	253,165	203,651
Gross profit	26,685	34,137	87,263	56,931
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(6,213)	(6,105)	(15,304)	(14,917)
Income (loss) from operations	20,472	28,032	71,959	42,014
Equity in earnings of investments	1,392	4,906	7,547	16,443
Net interest expense and other	488	(9,200)	(4,204)	(8,675)
Income before income taxes	22,352	23,738	75,302	49,782
Provision for income taxes	5,751	4,309	10,878	(95)
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	16,601	19,429	64,424	49,877
Net income applicable to Helix common shareholders	16,601	19,429	64,424	49,877
Total comprehensive income (loss) applicable to Helix common shareholders	20,507	21,018	69,646	52,175
Consolidating Entries [Member]
Net revenues	(22,347)	(23,717)	(69,111)	(70,617)
Cost of sales	(21,892)	(23,399)	(68,195)	(69,599)
Gross profit	(455)	(318)	(916)	(1,018)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	470	326	1,020	1,110
Income (loss) from operations	15	8	104	92
Equity in earnings of investments	(33,018)	(68,108)	(197,009)	(173,676)
Income before income taxes	(33,003)	(68,100)	(196,905)	(173,584)
Provision for income taxes	15	3	46	31
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	(33,018)	(68,103)	(196,951)	(173,615)
Less net income applicable to noncontrolling interests	(800)	(800)	(2,378)	(2,354)
Net income applicable to Helix common shareholders	(33,818)	(68,903)	(199,329)	(175,969)
Total comprehensive income (loss) applicable to Helix common shareholders	$ (33,819)	$ (68,904)	$ (199,332)	$ (175,980)