Condensed Consolidated Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 437,100		$ 546,463	$ 391,084
Accounts receivable, net	152,233		147,899
Unbilled revenue	33,840		37,375
Income taxes receivable	14,201	[1]
Other current assets	82,733		93,584
Current assets of discontinued operations	84,000		118,921
Total current assets	804,107		944,242
Property and equipment, net	1,485,875		1,459,669	1,452,842
Equity investments in unconsolidated affiliates	167,599		175,656
Goodwill, net	62,935		62,215	62,494	[2]
Other assets, net	49,837		35,166
Non-current assets of discontinued operations	816,227		905,399
Total assets	3,386,580		3,582,347	3,592,020
Accounts payable	92,398		73,919
Accrued liabilities	161,514		146,112
Income tax payable			1,293
Current maturities of long-term debt	16,607		7,877
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	182,527		166,975
Total current liabilities	453,046		396,176
Long-term debt	1,002,621		1,147,444
Deferred tax liabilities	359,237		417,610
Other long-term liabilities	5,025		9,368
Non-current liabilities of discontinued operations	147,237		161,208
Total liabilities	1,967,166		2,131,806
Convertible preferred stock			1,000
Total equity	1,419,414		1,449,541	1,285,644		1,427,462
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,386,580		3,582,347
Helix [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	381,599		495,484	376,434
Accounts receivable, net	39,203		79,290
Unbilled revenue	13,959		10,530
Income taxes receivable	24,611		80,388
Other current assets	54,588		68,627
Total current assets	513,960		734,319
Intercompany	(154,756)		(147,187)
Property and equipment, net	208,190		230,946
Equity investments in affiliates	1,762,359		1,952,392
Other assets, net	47,355		53,425
Due from subsidiaries/parent	294,461		64,655
Total assets	2,671,569		2,888,550
Accounts payable	45,784		39,280
Accrued liabilities	117,902		115,921
Current maturities of long-term debt	11,487		3,000
Total current liabilities	175,173		158,201
Long-term debt	902,453		1,042,155
Deferred tax liabilities	168,688		231,255
Other long-term liabilities	1,453		4,150
Total liabilities	1,247,767		1,435,761
Convertible preferred stock			1,000
Total equity	1,423,802		1,451,789
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,671,569		2,888,550
Guarantors [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	4,436		2,432	3,293
Accounts receivable, net	37,378		26,885
Unbilled revenue	875		155
Other current assets	16,418		20,624
Current assets of discontinued operations	84,000		118,921
Total current assets	143,107		169,017
Intercompany	352,210		315,821
Property and equipment, net	351,746		550,668
Equity investments in affiliates	53,461		37,239
Goodwill, net	45,107		45,107
Other assets, net	130		2,712
Due from subsidiaries/parent	485,096		430,496
Non-current assets of discontinued operations	816,227		905,399
Total assets	2,247,084		2,456,459
Accounts payable	17,229		9,626
Accrued liabilities	26,019		3,841
Income tax payable	26,618		97,692
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	182,527		166,975
Total current liabilities	252,393		278,134
Deferred tax liabilities	86,925		88,625
Other long-term liabilities	3,086		4,647
Non-current liabilities of discontinued operations	147,237		161,208
Total liabilities	489,641		532,614
Total equity	1,757,443		1,923,845
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,247,084		2,456,459
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	51,065		48,547	11,357
Accounts receivable, net	75,652		41,724
Unbilled revenue	19,006		26,690
Income taxes receivable	306
Other current assets	11,696		10,159
Total current assets	157,725		127,120
Intercompany	(125,889)		(102,826)
Property and equipment, net	930,556		682,899
Equity investments in unconsolidated affiliates	167,599		175,656
Goodwill, net	17,828		17,108
Other assets, net	34,848		16,809
Total assets	1,182,667		916,766
Accounts payable	29,385		25,013
Accrued liabilities	17,593		26,350
Income tax payable			217
Current maturities of long-term debt	5,120		10,377
Total current liabilities	52,098		61,957
Long-term debt	100,168		105,289
Deferred tax liabilities	109,171		103,552
Other long-term liabilities	486		571
Due to parent	323,049		98,285
Total liabilities	584,972		369,654
Total equity	597,695		547,112
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,182,667		916,766
Consolidating Entries [Member]
Income taxes receivable	(10,716)		(80,388)
Other current assets	31		(5,826)
Total current assets	(10,685)		(86,214)
Intercompany	(71,565)		(65,808)
Property and equipment, net	(4,617)		(4,844)
Equity investments in affiliates	(1,815,820)		(1,989,631)
Other assets, net	(32,496)		(37,780)
Due from subsidiaries/parent	(779,557)		(495,151)
Total assets	(2,714,740)		(2,679,428)
Income tax payable	(26,618)		(96,616)
Current maturities of long-term debt			(5,500)
Total current liabilities	(26,618)		(102,116)
Deferred tax liabilities	(5,547)		(5,822)
Due to parent	(323,049)		(98,285)
Total liabilities	(355,214)		(206,223)
Total equity	(2,359,526)		(2,473,205)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (2,714,740)		$ (2,679,428)

[1] Reflects the total amount of estimated tax receivable in excess of the estimated current income tax liability.

[2] In 2010, we fully impaired $16.7 million of goodwill associated with our Australian well intervention subsidiary (“WOSEA”) (see below).