Summary of Company's Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 16,314	$ 17,678	$ 14,931	$ 13,137	$ 16,008	$ 19,751	$ 27,942	$ 21,166	$ 62,060	$ 84,867	$ 236,912
Income (loss) from operations	$ (14,816)	$ (12,015)	$ (13,987)	$ (14,692)	$ (21,667)	$ (12,451)	$ (8,549)	$ (9,888)	(55,510)	(52,555)	53,799
Depreciation, impairment, inventory obsolescence and stock-based compensation expenses									36,538	25,929	21,893
Interest income									376	427	123
Interest expense									26	229	471
Operating Segments | Seismic
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									33,792	60,565	214,946
Income (loss) from operations									(47,690)	(42,732)	65,159
Depreciation, impairment, inventory obsolescence and stock-based compensation expenses									34,945	23,696	19,925
Interest income									161	280	74
Operating Segments | Non-seismic
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									27,708	23,758	21,420
Income (loss) from operations									4,093	3,031	2,733
Depreciation, impairment, inventory obsolescence and stock-based compensation expenses									746	505	468
Interest income									3	7	5
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									560	544	546
Income (loss) from operations									(11,913)	(12,854)	(14,093)
Depreciation, impairment, inventory obsolescence and stock-based compensation expenses									1,847	1,728	1,500
Interest income									212	140	44
Interest expense									$ 26	$ 229	$ 471