LEASES - Schedule of Operating and Finance Leases Presented on Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Assets:
Operating lease right-of-use assets	$ 5,505	$ 6,421
Finance lease assets	$ 0	$ 324
Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	us-gaap:PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	us-gaap:PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Total lease assets	$ 5,505	$ 6,745
Current:
Operating lease liabilities	1,517	2,576
Finance lease liabilities	$ 0	$ 350
Finance Lease, Liability, Current, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	saex:LongTermDebtAndFinanceLeasesCurrent	saex:LongTermDebtAndFinanceLeasesCurrent
Long-term - operating lease liabilities	$ 4,107	$ 3,980
Operating Lease, Liability, Noncurrent, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	us-gaap:OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	us-gaap:OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent
Finance Lease, Liability, Noncurrent, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	saex:LongTermDebtAndFinanceLeasesNoncurrent	saex:LongTermDebtAndFinanceLeasesNoncurrent
Total lease liabilities	$ 5,624	$ 6,906