Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Deficit - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	6% Convertible Notes Due 2023	Series A Preferred Stock	Series F Warrants	Series B Preferred Stock	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 F Warrants	Additional Paid-In Capital Series B Preferred Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital Series C Warrants	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock	SAExploration Stockholders' Equity Deficit	SAExploration Stockholders' Equity Deficit 6% Convertible Notes Due 2023	SAExploration Stockholders' Equity Deficit Series A Preferred Stock	SAExploration Stockholders' Equity Deficit Series F Warrants	SAExploration Stockholders' Equity Deficit Series B Preferred Stock	SAExploration Stockholders' Equity Deficit Series C Warrants	Non-controlling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adoption of ASU 2016-16 | ASU 2016-16	$ 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	(59,560)												(60,465)			(60,465)						905
Other comprehensive income	2,047													2,047		2,047
Equity-based compensation cost	10,131						10,131									10,131
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
Warrants issued in debt exchange/extinguishment of long-term debt						$ 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	(1,250)																					(1,250)
Ending 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	(22,613)												(25,186)			(25,186)						2,573
Other comprehensive income	123													123		123
Equity-based compensation cost	(67)						(67)									(67)
Issuance of common stock	578						578									578
Purchase of treasury stock	(366)														(366)	(366)
Warrants issued in debt exchange/extinguishment of long-term debt				$ 6,896						$ 6,896									$ 6,896
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	(3,000)																					(3,000)
Ending balances at Dec. 31, 2019	$ (35,813)						$ 240,068						$ (274,535)	$ (2,912)	$ (2,232)	$ (39,611)						$ 3,798