Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Series A Preferred Stock	Series B Preferred Stock	Series C Warrants	Total SAExploration Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)	Total SAExploration Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) Series A Preferred Stock	Total SAExploration Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) Series B Preferred Stock	Total SAExploration Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) Series C Warrants	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Additional Paid-In Capital Series A Preferred Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital Series B Preferred Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital Series C Warrants	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock	Non-controlling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adoption of ASU 2016-16 | ASU 2016-16	$ 294				$ 294									$ 294
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	(189)				(4,759)				$ 1	$ 133,741				(133,306)	$ (5,082)	$ (113)	$ 4,570
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(34,820)				(35,714)									(35,714)			894
Other comprehensive income	1,813				1,813										1,813
Equity-based compensation expense	2,641				2,641					2,641
Purchase of treasury stock	(175)				(175)											(175)
Common stock issued in debt exchange	472				472					472
Discount on Series A preferred stock issued in debt exchange		$ 61,971				$ 61,971					$ 61,971
Accretion of discount on Series A preferred stock		(56,635)				(56,635)					(56,635)
Accretion of Series A preferred stock to redemption value		21,376				21,376					21,376
Dividend on Series A preferred stock		$ (1,119)				$ (1,119)					$ (1,119)
Series B preferred stock issued in debt exchange			$ 10,791				$ 10,791					$ 10,791
Conversion of Series B preferred stock			$ (10,791)				$ (10,791)					$ (10,791)
Common stock and Series D warrants issued in conversion of Series B preferred stock	10,791				10,791				1	10,790
Series C warrants issued in debt exchange				$ 4,810				$ 4,810					$ 4,810
Stock issuance costs	(1,026)				(1,026)					(1,026)
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2018	$ 10,204				$ 4,740				$ 2	$ 177,021				$ (168,726)	$ (3,269)	$ (288)	$ 5,464