Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue from services	$ 255,234	$ 98,670
Type of Revenue [Extensible List]	us-gaap:ServiceMember	us-gaap:ServiceMember
Cost of services	$ 197,651	$ 87,601
Type of Cost, Good or Service [Extensible List]	us-gaap:ServiceMember	us-gaap:ServiceMember
Depreciation and amortization	$ 13,028	$ 12,207
Gross profit (loss)	44,555	(1,138)
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	44,936	41,225
Misappropriation of funds	328	1,080
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	(5,420)	288
Total operating expenses	39,844	42,593
Operating income (loss)	4,711	(43,731)
Other (expense) income, net:
Interest expense, net	(14,660)	(13,858)
Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt	(6,976)	53
Foreign exchange loss, net	(436)	(3,417)
Other income, net	2,935	1,326
Total other expense, net	(19,137)	(15,949)
Loss before income taxes	(14,426)	(59,680)
Income taxes	8,187	(120)
Net loss	(22,613)	(59,560)
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	2,573	905
Net loss attributable to SAExploration	$ (25,186)	$ (60,465)
Basic and diluted loss per common share	$ (3.17)	$ (32.91)
Weighted average common shares outstanding (basic and diluted)	7,951	3,448