Condensed Consolidated Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 513,527	$ 437,100	$ 649,503	$ 546,465
Accounts receivable, net	163,486	152,233
Unbilled revenue	33,528	33,840
Income taxes receivable	158	14,201
Other current assets	63,421	82,733
Current assets of discontinued operations		84,000
Total current assets	774,120	804,107
Property and equipment, net	1,426,367	1,485,875
Equity investments in unconsolidated affiliates	162,839	167,599
Goodwill, net	61,750	62,935
Other assets, net	49,673	49,837
Non-current assets of discontinued operations		816,227
Total assets	2,474,749	3,386,580
Accounts payable	91,836	92,398
Accrued liabilities	100,091	161,514
Current maturities of long-term debt	5,247	16,607
Current liabilities of discontinued operations		182,527
Total current liabilities	197,174	453,046
Long-term debt	543,341	1,002,621
Deferred tax liabilities	288,596	359,237
Other long-term liabilities	19,838	5,025
Non-current liabilities of discontinued operations		147,237
Total liabilities	1,048,949	1,967,166
Total equity	1,425,800	1,419,414
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,474,749	3,386,580
Helix [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	446,636	381,599	584,113	495,484
Accounts receivable, net	65,060	39,203
Unbilled revenue	13,212	13,959
Income taxes receivable	8,164	24,611
Other current assets	41,951	54,588
Total current assets	575,023	513,960
Intercompany	45,778	(154,756)
Property and equipment, net	221,325	208,190
Equity investments in affiliates	957,181	1,762,359
Other assets, net	49,490	47,355
Due from subsidiaries/parent	336,287	294,461
Total assets	2,185,084	2,671,569
Accounts payable	43,321	45,784
Accrued liabilities	69,373	117,902
Current maturities of long-term debt		11,487
Total current liabilities	112,694	175,173
Long-term debt	445,828	902,453
Deferred tax liabilities	169,751	168,688
Other long-term liabilities	4,612	1,453
Total liabilities	732,885	1,247,767
Total equity	1,452,199	1,423,802
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,185,084	2,671,569
Guarantors [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	3,082	4,436	2,775	2,434
Accounts receivable, net	42,017	37,378
Unbilled revenue	212	875
Other current assets	4,142	16,418
Current assets of discontinued operations		84,000
Total current assets	49,453	143,107
Intercompany	189,357	352,210
Property and equipment, net	216,672	351,746
Equity investments in affiliates	48,253	53,461
Goodwill, net	45,107	45,107
Other assets, net	130	130
Due from subsidiaries/parent		485,096
Non-current assets of discontinued operations		816,227
Total assets	548,972	2,247,084
Accounts payable	22,205	17,229
Accrued liabilities	13,481	26,019
Income tax payable	28,508	26,618
Current liabilities of discontinued operations		182,527
Total current liabilities	64,194	252,393
Deferred tax liabilities	10,507	86,925
Other long-term liabilities	14,779	3,086
Due to parent	52,582
Non-current liabilities of discontinued operations		147,237
Total liabilities	142,062	489,641
Total equity	406,910	1,757,443
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	548,972	2,247,084
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	63,809	51,065	62,615	48,547
Accounts receivable, net	56,409	75,652
Unbilled revenue	20,104	19,006
Income taxes receivable	4,662	306
Other current assets	17,285	11,696
Total current assets	162,269	157,725
Intercompany	(144,141)	(125,889)
Property and equipment, net	995,526	930,556
Equity investments in unconsolidated affiliates	162,839	167,599
Goodwill, net	16,643	17,828
Other assets, net	25,537	34,848
Total assets	1,218,673	1,182,667
Accounts payable	26,310	29,385
Accrued liabilities	17,237	17,593
Current maturities of long-term debt	5,247	5,120
Total current liabilities	48,794	52,098
Long-term debt	97,513	100,168
Deferred tax liabilities	110,449	109,171
Other long-term liabilities	447	486
Due to parent	361,772	323,049
Total liabilities	618,975	584,972
Total equity	599,698	597,695
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,218,673	1,182,667
Consolidating Entries [Member]
Income taxes receivable	(12,668)	(10,716)
Other current assets	43	31
Total current assets	(12,625)	(10,685)
Intercompany	(90,994)	(71,565)
Property and equipment, net	(7,156)	(4,617)
Equity investments in affiliates	(1,005,434)	(1,815,820)
Other assets, net	(25,484)	(32,496)
Due from subsidiaries/parent	(336,287)	(779,557)
Total assets	(1,477,980)	(2,714,740)
Income tax payable	(28,508)	(26,618)
Total current liabilities	(28,508)	(26,618)
Deferred tax liabilities	(2,111)	(5,547)
Due to parent	(414,354)	(323,049)
Total liabilities	(444,973)	(355,214)
Total equity	(1,033,007)	(2,359,526)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (1,477,980)	$ (2,714,740)