LOSS PER COMMON SHARE - Computation of Basic and Diluted Loss Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Earnings Per Share Diluted [Line Items]
Net loss attributable to SAExploration	$ (25,307)	$ (13,770)	$ (61,021)	$ (24,830)
Allocation of earnings to participating securities	0		0
Loss available to common stockholders of SAExploration	$ (31,138)		$ (114,021)
Weighted average common shares outstanding (basic and diluted)	1,120	470	804	469
Loss per share available to common stockholders of SAExploration (basic and diluted)	$ (27.80)	$ (29.30)	$ (141.82)	$ (52.94)
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from diluted loss available to common stockholders of SAExploration	6,001	26	6,001	26
Series A and B Preferred Stocks
Earnings Per Share Diluted [Line Items]
Amortization of discount on Series A and Series B preferred stock	$ (5,336)		$ (72,762)
Series A Preferred Stock
Earnings Per Share Diluted [Line Items]
Accretion of Series A preferred stock to redemption value	0		21,376
Dividends	$ (495)		$ (1,614)

Temporary equity accretion of discount.

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Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

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The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share in instances when basic and diluted earnings per share are the same amount and reported as a single line item on the face of the financial statements. Basic earnings per share is the amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per share includes the amount of net income or loss for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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Amount, after deduction of tax, noncontrolling interests, dividends on preferred stock and participating securities; of income (loss) available to common shareholders.

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Amount, after deduction of tax, noncontrolling interests, dividends on preferred stock and participating securities, and addition from assumption of issuance of common shares for dilutive potential common shares; of income (loss) available to common shareholders.

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Value of accretion of temporary equity during the period due to unpaid dividends.

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Value of accretion of temporary equity to its redemption value during the period.

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Amount of undistributed earnings (loss) allocated to participating securities for the basic earnings (loss) per share or per unit calculation under the two-class method.

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Average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS).

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