| Component: (Network and Table) | |
|---|---|
| Network | 100500 - Disclosure - Asset Retirement Obligations - Reconciliation of Asset Retirement Obligations Liability (Details) (http://www.wtoffshore.com/20161231/taxonomy/role/DisclosureAssetRetirementObligationsReconciliationOfAssetRetirementObligationsLiabilityDetails)  | 
| Table | (Implied) | 
| Reporting Entity [Axis] | 0001288403 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) | 
| Asset Retirement Obligations Roll Forward Analysis Roll Forward | Period [Axis] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
2016-01-01 - 2016-12-31  | 2015-01-01 - 2015-12-31  | 2014-01-01 - 2014-12-31  | |
Asset Retirement Obligations Roll Forward Analysis Roll Forward  | |||
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward]  | |||
Asset retirement obligations, beginning of period  | |||
Asset retirement obligation settlements  | (72,320,000)   | (32,555,000)   | (74,313,000)   | 
Accretion of discount  | 17,571,000    | 20,703,000    | 20,633,000    | 
Disposition of properties  | (  | ||
Liabilities assumed through acquisition  | |||
Liabilities incurred  | |||
Revisions of estimated liabilities  | |||
Asset retirement obligations, end of period  | 378,322,000    | 390,568,000    | |
Less current portion  | 78,264,000    | 84,335,000    | |
Long-term  | 256,174,000    | 293,987,000    | |