Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	6% Convertible Notes Due 2023	Series A Preferred Stock	Series B Preferred Stock	Series C Warrants	Total SAExploration Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)	Total SAExploration Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) 6% Convertible Notes Due 2023	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	Additional Paid-In Capital	Additional Paid-In Capital 6% Convertible Notes Due 2023	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)					$ 133,742					(133,306)	$ (5,082)	$ (113)	$ 4,570
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(60,117)					(61,021)										(61,021)			904
Other comprehensive income	2,005					2,005											2,005
Equity-based compensation cost	9,114					9,114					9,114
Purchase of treasury stock	(1,753)					(1,753)												(1,753)
Common stock issued in debt exchange	472					472					472
Discount on preferred stock issued in debt exchange			$ 61,971	$ (10,791)				$ 61,971	$ (10,791)				$ 61,971	$ (10,791)
Accretion of discount on preferred stock			(61,971)	10,791				(61,971)	10,791				(61,971)	10,791
Accretion of Series A preferred stock to redemption value			21,376					21,376					21,376
Dividend on Series A preferred stock			(1,614)					(1,614)					(1,614)
Conversion of preferred stock			(15,427)	(22,981)				(15,427)	(22,981)				(15,427)	(22,981)
Common stock and warrants issued in conversion of preferred stock			$ 54,045	22,981				$ 54,045	22,981				$ 54,045	22,981
Series B preferred stock issued in debt exchange				$ 10,791					$ 10,791					$ 10,791
Series C warrants issued in debt exchange					$ 4,810					$ 4,810					$ 4,810
Stock issuance costs	(1,026)					(1,026)					(1,026)
Conversion option related to 6% convertible notes due 2023, net of allocated costs		$ 15,361					$ 15,361					$ 15,361
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	(500)																		(500)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	$ 37,642					$ 32,668					$ 231,644					$ (194,033)	$ (3,077)	$ (1,866)	$ 4,974