Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue from services	$ 89,537	$ 16,883	$ 182,592	$ 54,006
Type of Revenue [Extensible List]	us-gaap:ServiceMember	us-gaap:ServiceMember	us-gaap:ServiceMember	us-gaap:ServiceMember
Cost of services	$ 74,922	$ 19,710	$ 145,047	$ 45,715
Type of Cost, Good or Service [Extensible List]	us-gaap:ServiceMember	us-gaap:ServiceMember	us-gaap:ServiceMember	us-gaap:ServiceMember
Depreciation and amortization	$ 3,613	$ 2,295	$ 6,475	$ 4,716
Gross profit (loss)	11,002	(5,122)	31,070	3,575
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	10,821	8,366	20,108	14,052
Misappropriation of funds	121	128	273	361
Total operating expenses	10,942	8,494	20,381	14,413
Operating income (loss)	60	(13,616)	10,689	(10,838)
Other (expense) income, net:
Interest expense, net	(3,632)	(2,346)	(7,129)	(5,487)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net	373	(2,005)	500	(2,179)
Other income, net	784	92	913	237
Total other expense, net	(2,475)	(4,259)	(5,716)	(7,429)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(2,415)	(17,875)	4,973	(18,267)
Income taxes	2,853	(34)	6,519	(35)
Net loss	(5,268)	(17,841)	(1,546)	(18,232)
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,164	59	2,573	894
Net loss attributable to SAExploration	$ (6,432)	$ (17,900)	$ (4,119)	$ (19,126)
Loss per common share (basic and diluted)	$ (0.81)	$ (9.72)	$ (0.53)	$ (46.26)
Weighted average common shares outstanding (basic and diluted)	7,919	1,865	7,761	1,433