CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement
Revenue from services	$ 205,564	$ 228,137
Cost of services	160,528	177,374
Gross profit	45,036	50,763
Selling, general and administrative expenses	29,253	34,542
Loss on disposal of property and equipment, net	4,542	632
Income from operations	11,241	15,589
Other (expense) income, net	(27,194)	(18,338)
Equity in income (losses) of investments	0	0
Loss before income taxes	(15,953)	(2,749)
Provision for income taxes	6,056	2,693
Net loss	(22,009)	(5,442)
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	3,021	4,433
Net income (loss) attributable to the Corporation	(25,030)	(9,875)
Comprehensive net income (loss)	(22,560)	(5,351)
Comprehensive net income (loss) attributable to the Corporation	(25,581)	(9,784)
Consolidating Adjustments
Income Statement
Revenue from services	0	0
Cost of services	0	0
Gross profit	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0
Loss on disposal of property and equipment, net	0	0
Income from operations	0	0
Other (expense) income, net	0	0
Equity in income (losses) of investments	(10,379)	19,453
Loss before income taxes	(10,379)	19,453
Provision for income taxes	0	0
Net loss	(10,379)	19,453
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to the Corporation	(10,379)	19,453
Comprehensive net income (loss)	(10,379)	19,453
Comprehensive net income (loss) attributable to the Corporation	(10,379)	19,453
SAExploration Holdings, Inc.
Income Statement
Revenue from services	0	0
Cost of services	0	0
Gross profit	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	3,862	1,545
Loss on disposal of property and equipment, net	0	0
Income from operations	(3,862)	(1,545)
Other (expense) income, net	(23,492)	(7,535)
Equity in income (losses) of investments	2,369	(777)
Loss before income taxes	(24,985)	(9,857)
Provision for income taxes	45	18
Net loss	(25,030)	(9,875)
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to the Corporation	(25,030)	(9,875)
Comprehensive net income (loss)	(25,030)	(9,875)
Comprehensive net income (loss) attributable to the Corporation	(25,030)	(9,875)
The Guarantors
Income Statement
Revenue from services	77,947	162,067
Cost of services	59,445	118,845
Gross profit	18,502	43,222
Selling, general and administrative expenses	11,378	13,756
Loss on disposal of property and equipment, net	4,830	729
Income from operations	2,294	28,737
Other (expense) income, net	(4,510)	(4,394)
Equity in income (losses) of investments	8,010	(18,676)
Loss before income taxes	5,794	5,667
Provision for income taxes	404	2,011
Net loss	5,390	3,656
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	3,021	4,433
Net income (loss) attributable to the Corporation	2,369	(777)
Comprehensive net income (loss)	5,390	3,656
Comprehensive net income (loss) attributable to the Corporation	2,369	(777)
Other Subsidiaries
Income Statement
Revenue from services	127,617	66,070
Cost of services	101,083	58,529
Gross profit	26,534	7,541
Selling, general and administrative expenses	14,013	19,241
Loss on disposal of property and equipment, net	(288)	(97)
Income from operations	12,809	(11,603)
Other (expense) income, net	808	(6,409)
Equity in income (losses) of investments	0	0
Loss before income taxes	13,617	(18,012)
Provision for income taxes	5,607	664
Net loss	8,010	(18,676)
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to the Corporation	8,010	(18,676)
Comprehensive net income (loss)	7,459	(18,585)
Comprehensive net income (loss) attributable to the Corporation	$ 7,459	$ (18,585)