Earnings Per Share (Information Necessary To Calculate Earnings (Loss) Per Share Of Common Stock ) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Earnings Per Share
Net income (loss) attributable to Global Industries, Ltd.	$ (27,192)	$ 1,406	$ (61,118)	$ (19,952)
Less earnings attributable to shareholders of non-vested restricted stock	0	(15)	0	0
Earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders	(27,192)	1,391	(61,118)	(19,952)
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding-basic	114,289	113,831	114,230	113,595
Basic earnings (loss) per common share	$ (0.24)	$ 0.01	$ (0.54)	$ (0.18)
Earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders-basic	(27,192)	1,391	(61,118)	(19,952)
Adjustment to earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders for redistribution to shareholders of non-vested restricted stock	0	0	0	0
Adjusted earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders-diluted	$ (27,192)	$ 1,391	$ (61,118)	$ (19,952)
Stock options	0	20	0	0
Performance units	0	275	0	0
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding-diluted	114,289	114,126	114,230	113,595
Diluted net income (loss) per common share	$ (0.24)	$ 0.01	$ (0.54)	$ (0.18)

Adjustment to portion of undistributed earnings (loss) allocated to shareholders of non-vested restricted stock under the two-class method of calculating diluted earnings per share.

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Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Performance Units

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

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Net income after adjustments for dividends on preferred stock (declared in the period) and/or cumulative preferred stock (accumulated for the period).

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Net Income or Loss Available to Common Stockholders plus adjustments resulting from the assumption that dilutive convertible securities were converted, options or warrants were exercised, or that other shares were issued upon the satisfaction of certain conditions.

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The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.

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Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

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