| Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance [Table Text Block] | Pay vs. Performance The table below provides additional information relating to the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and other Named Executive Officers, respectively, in accordance with Regulation S-K Item 402(v), for each of the years indicated. In determining “compensation actually paid” (“CAP”) to our executives, we are required to make various adjustments to amounts that have previously been reported in the Summary Compensation Table (“SCT”), reflecting the different methods prescribed by the SEC for reporting the compensation of our Named Executive Officers in the Summary Compensation Table above and in the Pay vs. Performance Table below. Compensation amounts shown for our Other NEOs (as defined below) are reported as averages for each of the fiscal years indicated. CEO Pay (1) Other NEO Pay (1) Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based On: (4) Other Performance Measures (5) Year Summary Compensation Table Total for CEO (2) Compensation "Actually Paid" to CEO (3) Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-CEO Named Executive Officers (2) Average Compensation “Actually Paid” to non-CEO Named Executive Officers (3) Total Shareholder Return Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Net Adjusted EBITDA 2022 $ 5,754,808 $ 7,946,721 $ 1,436,391 $ 1,809,599 $ 117.30 $ 107.11 $ 25,941 $ 232,638 2021 $ 6,516,179 $ 7,323,619 $ 1,731,592 $ 1,867,194 $ 75.86 $ 67.34 $ (49,307) $ 210,601 2020 $ 5,251,749 $ 3,900,173 $ 1,785,614 $ 1,339,770 $ 53.32 $ 56.62 $ (496,751) $ 184,287 | | |
| Company Selected Measure Name | Adjusted EBITDA | | |
| Named Executive Officers, Footnote [Text Block] | Our Chief Executive Officer for each of the fiscal years indicated was Mr. Roderick A. Larson. Our Named Executive Officers in each of the fiscal years indicated included: (i) Messrs. Alan R. Curtis, David K. Lawrence, Eric A. Silva, Martin J. McDonald and Earl F. Childress in 2022, (ii) Messrs. Curtis, Lawrence, Silva and Martin in 2021; and (iii) Messrs. Curtis, Lawrence and Silva, as well as Mr. Charles W. Davison, Jr., our former Chief Operating Officer, in 2020 (collectively referred to herein as the “Other NEOs”). (2) Reflects the amount reported in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table above for the Chief Executive Officer and the average of the amounts reported in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table for the Other NEOs for each of the fiscal years indicated. | | |
| Peer Group Issuers, Footnote [Text Block] | The values disclosed in the “Total Shareholder Return” column represent the value of an investment of $100 in each of (i) our common stock and (ii) the PHLX Oil Service Sector Index (the “OSX”) as of December 31, 2019, measured over each of the periods ending on December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022. It is assumed that dividends, if any, are reinvested. The OSX is the published industry or line-of-business index that we selected for purposes of Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. | | |
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | $ 5,754,808 | $ 6,516,179 | $ 5,251,749 |
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | $ 7,946,721 | 7,323,619 | 3,900,173 |
| Adjustment To PEO Compensation, Footnote [Text Block] | Such amounts are calculated by deducting the amounts reported in the “Stock Awards” column of the Summary Compensation Table from the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table for the Chief Executive Officer, and by deducting the average of the amounts reported in the “Stock Awards” column of the Summary Compensation Table from the average of the amounts reported in the “Total” Column of the Summary Compensation Table for the Other NEOs, in each case, in the fiscal years indicated and making certain adjustments as set forth below: Amounts Deducted from and Added to Total Compensation for the CEO to Determine Compensation “Actually Paid” Year Summary Compensation Table Total Stock Awards as Reported in Summary Compensation Table (A) Other Adjustments Total Compensation “Actually Paid” (F) Fair Value as of Year End of Awards Granted During Year that Remain Outstanding as of Year End (B) Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted in Prior Year that Remain Outstanding as of Year End (C) Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Awards Granted During Year that Vest During Year (D) Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted in Prior Year that Vest During Year (E) 2022 $ 5,754,808 $ (1,473,176) $ 1,822,196 $ 1,607,307 $ — $ 235,586 $ 7,946,721 2021 $ 6,516,179 $ (1,795,488) $ 1,720,930 $ 642,324 $ — $ 239,674 $ 7,323,619 2020 $ 5,251,749 $ (1,104,042) $ 857,980 $ (1,012,673) $ — $ (92,841) $ 3,900,173 | | |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Total Compensation Amount | $ 1,436,391 | 1,731,592 | 1,785,614 |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount | $ 1,809,599 | 1,867,194 | 1,339,770 |
| Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote [Text Block] | Amounts Deducted from and Added to Total Compensation for the Other NEOs to Determine Compensation “Actually Paid” Year Summary Compensation Table Total Stock Awards as Reported in Summary Compensation Table (A) Other Adjustments Total Compensation “Actually Paid” (F) Fair Value as of Year End of Awards Granted During Year that Remain Outstanding as of Year End (B) Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted in Prior Year that Remain Outstanding as of Year End (C) Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Awards Granted During Year that Vest During Year (D) Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted in Prior Year that Vest During Year (E) 2022 $ 1,436,391 $ (281,491) $ 322,942 $ 267,434 $ 21,443 $ 42,878 $ 1,809,599 2021 $ 1,731,592 $ (374,016) $ 328,691 $ 107,637 $ 29,293 $ 43,996 $ 1,867,194 2020 $ 1,785,614 $ (308,527) $ 224,910 $ (281,426) $ 15,415 $ (96,216) $ 1,339,770 (A) Reflects either (i) the grant date fair value, with respect to the Chief Executive Officer, or (ii) the average grant date fair value, with respect to the Other NEOs, as reported in the “Stock Awards” column of the Summary Compensation Table. (B) Reflects either (i) the fair value, with respect to the Chief Executive Officer, or (ii) the average of the fair value, with respect to the Other NEOs, as of the end of the covered fiscal year of any awards granted to the applicable individuals during the covered fiscal year that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the covered fiscal year. (C) Reflects either (i) the amount, with respect to the Chief Executive Officer, or (ii) the average amount, with respect to the Other NEOs, equal to the change in fair value as of the end of the covered fiscal year (from the end of the prior fiscal year) of any portion of any awards granted in a prior fiscal year that remained outstanding and unvested as of the end of the covered fiscal year. (D) Reflects the average fair value, with respect to the Other NEOs, as of the vesting date of the portion of awards granted during the covered fiscal year that vested during the covered fiscal year. Our Chief Executive Officer did not receive any awards that were granted and that vested (in whole or a portion thereof) in the same fiscal year. (E) Reflects either (i) the amount, with respect to the Chief Executive Officer, or (ii) the average amount, with respect to the Other NEOs, equal to the change in fair value as of the vesting date (from the end of the prior fiscal year) of the portion of any awards granted in a prior fiscal year that vested during the covered fiscal year. | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return [Text Block] | | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Net Income [Text Block] | | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Company Selected Measure [Text Block] | | | |
| Tabular List [Table Text Block] | 2022 Key Performance Measures The following table contains an unranked list of the most important financial performance measures used by the Company to link executive “compensation actually paid” in 2022, calculated in accordance with the SEC’s regulations, to the Company’s performance in fiscal year 2022, as such measures are defined for purposes of our 2022 cash bonus program and 2022 performance unit awards. The role of each of these performance measures in the compensation of our named executive officers and a description of how each measure is calculated are discussed under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above. Key Performance Measures Adjusted EBITDA Free Cash Flow Relative Total Shareholder Return | | |
| Total Shareholder Return Amount | $ 117.30 | 75.86 | 53.32 |
| Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Amount | 107.11 | 67.34 | 56.62 |
| Net Income (Loss) | $ 25,941,000 | $ (49,307,000) | $ (496,751,000) |
| Company Selected Measure Amount | 232,638,000 | 210,601,000 | 184,287,000 |
| PEO Name | Mr. Roderick A. Larson | | |
| Additional 402(v) Disclosure [Text Block] | 2022 Pay vs. Performance Graphical DisclosureThe following charts illustrate the relationship between CAP over the three-year period ended December 31, 2022, and trends in our Relative Total Shareholder Return, net income and Adjusted EBITDA over the same period. Further, the chart entitled “CAP vs. Total Shareholder Return” shows the relationship between our TSR and that of the OSX over the same period, as described in note (4) to the Pay vs. Performance Table above. | | |
| Measure [Axis]: 2 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Measure Name | Free Cash Flow | | |
| Measure [Axis]: 3 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Measure Name | Relative Total Shareholder Return | | |
| PEO [Member] | OII Stock Awards | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | $ (1,473,176) | $ (1,795,488) | $ (1,104,042) |
| PEO [Member] | Year End Fair Value of Equity Awards | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 1,822,196 | 1,720,930 | 857,980 |
| PEO [Member] | Year Over Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Outstanding and Unvested | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 1,607,307 | 642,324 | (1,012,673) |
| PEO [Member] | Vesting Date Fair Value of Equity Awards | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PEO [Member] | Year Over Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Vesting During Year | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 235,586 | 239,674 | (92,841) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | OII Stock Awards | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (281,491) | (374,016) | (308,527) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Year End Fair Value of Equity Awards | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 322,942 | 328,691 | 224,910 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Year Over Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Outstanding and Unvested | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 267,434 | 107,637 | (281,426) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Vesting Date Fair Value of Equity Awards | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 21,443 | 29,293 | 15,415 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Year Over Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Vesting During Year | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | $ 42,878 | $ 43,996 | $ (96,216) |
