GENERAL - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 27, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment		1
6% Convertible Notes Due 2023
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Debt stated interest rate percentage		6.00%	6.00%
Debt, maturity year		2023	2023
Aggregate principal amount		$ 60,000	$ 60,000
Restructuring Support Agreement
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Plan of reorganization, date filed		Aug. 27, 2020
Bankruptcy proceedings, Court where petition was filed		United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (the “Bankruptcy Court”)
Percentage of outstanding new common stock to be issued to parties backstopping the rights offering	2.50%
Amount payable for outstanding new common stock to be issued to parties backstopping the rights offering	$ 900
Bankruptcy proceedings, description of proceedings		In connection with the Chapter 11 filing, we entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement (as amended, the “RSA”) with lenders of 100% of the principal amount outstanding under our credit facility, lenders of approximately 82.4% of the principal amount outstanding under our senior loan facility and holders of 100% of our 6.0% Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2023 (the “2023 Notes”) (such lenders and holders referred to herein as the “Supporting Parties”) and a Backstop Commitment Agreement (as amended, the “BCA”) with the Supporting Parties (the “Backstop Parties”). On November 1, 2020, we entered into an Amendment to the RSA with certain of the Supporting Parties party thereto and an Amendment to the BCA with certain of the Backstop Parties party thereto. As amended, the RSA contemplates the restructuring (the “Restructuring”) of the Debtors pursuant to the Plan, which contemplates (i) the entry into a new first lien exit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $15.0 million with lenders under our existing credit facility and senior loan facility; (ii) the conversion of the existing credit facility into a new second lien exit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $20.5 million with the existing lenders; (iii) the elimination of $89.0 million of principal plus accrued interest with respect to our existing senior loan facility and 2023 Notes; and (iv) a rights offering (the “Rights Offering”) pursuant to which all eligible holders of loans under our existing credit facility and senior loan facility will be offered the opportunity to purchase loans to be advanced under the new first lien exit facility and shares of new common stock to be issued by reorganized SAEX for an aggregate purchase price of $15.0 million that will represent 95% of the outstanding new common stock to be issued by reorganized SAEX. Pursuant to the BCA, the Rights Offering will be backstopped by certain Backstop Parties who will receive a backstop commitment premium payable in new common stock that will represent 2.5% of the outstanding new common stock to be issued by reorganized SAEX as consideration for backstopping the Rights Offering or, if the BCA is terminated in certain circumstances, payable in the amount of approximately $0.9 million in cash. The new common stock to be issued by reorganized SAEX will be subject to further dilution by new common stock to be issued by reorganized SAEX in connection with a management incentive plan. The Plan also provides that holders of general unsecured claims and holders of our existing common stock and warrants to purchase our existing common stock will not receive any distribution in respect of such claims or common stock and warrants, respectively.
Restructuring Support Agreement | Senior Loan Facility
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of outstanding principal amount	82.40%
Restructuring Support Agreement | 6% Convertible Notes Due 2023
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of outstanding principal amount	100.00%
Debt stated interest rate percentage	6.00%
Debt, maturity year	2023
Restructuring Support Agreement | Senior Loan Facility and 2023 Notes
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Debt instrument elimination of principal plus accrued interest amount	$ 89,000
Restructuring Support Agreement | Credit Facility
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of outstanding principal amount	100.00%
Restructuring Support Agreement | First Lien Exit Facility
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount	$ 15,000
Aggregate purchase price of common stock	$ 15,000
Percentage of outstanding new common stock to be issued to lenders	95.00%
Restructuring Support Agreement | Second Lien Exit Facility
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount	$ 20,500