Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue from services	$ 15,003	$ 22,452	$ 69,009	$ 122,180
Type of Revenue [Extensible List]	us-gaap:ServiceMember	us-gaap:ServiceMember	us-gaap:ServiceMember	us-gaap:ServiceMember
Cost of services	$ 16,085	$ 18,172	$ 61,800	$ 87,575
Type of Cost, Good or Service [Extensible List]	us-gaap:ServiceMember	us-gaap:ServiceMember	us-gaap:ServiceMember	us-gaap:ServiceMember
Depreciation and amortization	$ 2,951	$ 2,809	$ 7,667	$ 9,007
Gross (loss) profit	(4,033)	1,471	(458)	25,598
Selling, general and administrative expenses	14,858	6,005	46,998	18,880
Operating (loss) income	(18,891)	(4,534)	(47,456)	6,718
Other (expense) income, net:
Interest expense, net	(4,738)	(7,496)	(10,225)	(24,415)
Costs incurred on debt restructuring		(208)		(208)
Foreign exchange (loss) gain, net	(331)	341	(2,510)	(695)
Other income (expense), net	27	2	181	(83)
Total other expense, net	(5,042)	(7,361)	(12,554)	(25,401)
Loss before income taxes	(23,933)	(11,895)	(60,010)	(18,683)
Income taxes	1,364	1,950	107	4,175
Net loss	(25,297)	(13,845)	(60,117)	(22,858)
Less: net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	10	(75)	904	1,972
Net loss attributable to SAExploration	$ (25,307)	$ (13,770)	$ (61,021)	$ (24,830)
Basic and diluted loss per common share	$ (27.80)	$ (29.30)	$ (141.82)	$ (52.94)
Weighted average common shares outstanding (basic and diluted):	1,120	470	804	469