Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Deficit (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Series A Preferred Stock	Series B Preferred Stock	Series C Warrants	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	Total SAExploration Stockholders’ Deficit	Total SAExploration Stockholders’ Deficit Series A Preferred Stock	Total SAExploration Stockholders’ Deficit Series B Preferred Stock	Total SAExploration Stockholders’ Deficit Series C Warrants	Non-controlling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adoption of ASU 2016-16 | ASU 2016-06	$ 294								$ 294			$ 294
Beginning balances at Dec. 31, 2017	(56,061)				$ 133,742				(189,178)	$ (5,082)	$ (113)	(60,631)				$ 4,570
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(18,232)								(19,126)			(19,126)				894
Foreign currency translation adjustment	1,813									1,813		1,813
Purchase of treasury stock	(175)										(175)	(175)
Equity-based compensation cost	2,641				2,641							2,641
Issuance of common stock 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		(56,635)	10,791			(56,635)	10,791						(56,635)	10,791
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 preferred stock			(22,981)				(22,981)							(22,981)
Common stock and warrants issued in conversion of preferred stock			$ 22,981				$ 22,981							$ 22,981
Series C warrants issued indebt exchange				$ 4,810				$ 4,810							$ 4,810
Stock issuance costs	(1,026)				(1,026)							(1,026)
Ending balances at Jun. 30, 2018	(29,080)				177,023				(208,010)	(3,269)	(288)	(34,544)				5,464
Beginning balances at Mar. 31, 2018	(13,825)				175,662				(190,110)	(4,494)	(288)	(19,230)				5,405
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(17,841)								(17,900)			(17,900)				59
Foreign currency translation adjustment	1,225									1,225		1,225
Equity-based compensation cost	1,588				1,588							1,588
Accretion of discount on preferred stock		(22,231)				(22,231)							(22,231)
Accretion of Series A preferred stock to redemption value		22,667				22,667							22,667
Dividend on Series A preferred stock		(663)				$ (663)							$ (663)
Ending balances at Jun. 30, 2018	(29,080)				177,023				(208,010)	(3,269)	(288)	(34,544)				5,464
Beginning balances at Dec. 31, 2018	(17,364)				232,661				(249,349)	(3,035)	(1,866)	(21,589)				4,225
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(1,546)								(4,119)			(4,119)				2,573
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(390)									(390)		(390)
Purchase of treasury stock	(366)										(366)	(366)
Equity-based compensation cost	2,399				2,399							2,399
Issuance of common stock in debt exchange	578				578							578
Accretion of Series A preferred stock to redemption value		0
Dividend on Series A preferred stock		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(1,500)															(1,500)
Ending balances at Jun. 30, 2019	(18,189)				235,638				(253,468)	(3,425)	(2,232)	(23,487)				5,298
Beginning balances at Mar. 31, 2019	(13,057)				234,039				(247,036)	(3,078)	(1,866)	(17,941)				4,884
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(5,268)								(6,432)			(6,432)				1,164
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(347)									(347)		(347)
Purchase of treasury stock	(366)										(366)	(366)
Equity-based compensation cost	1,599				1,599							1,599
Accretion of Series A preferred stock to redemption value		0
Dividend on Series A preferred stock		$ 0
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(750)															(750)
Ending balances at Jun. 30, 2019	$ (18,189)				$ 235,638				$ (253,468)	$ (3,425)	$ (2,232)	$ (23,487)				$ 5,298