Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Deficit (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock	Total SAExploration Stockholders' Deficit	Non-controlling Interest
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	(14,531)		(17,104)			(17,104)	2,573
Other comprehensive income (loss)	600			600		600
Issuance of common stock	578	578				578
Purchase of treasury stock	(366)				(366)	(366)
Equity-based compensation cost	2,344	2,344				2,344
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(2,250)						(2,250)
Ending balances at Sep. 30, 2019	(30,989)	235,583	(266,453)	(2,435)	(2,232)	(35,537)	4,548
Beginning balances at Jun. 30, 2019	(18,189)	235,638	(253,468)	(3,425)	(2,232)	(23,487)	5,298
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(12,985)		(12,985)			(12,985)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	990			990		990
Equity-based compensation cost	(55)	(55)				(55)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(750)						(750)
Ending balances at Sep. 30, 2019	(30,989)	235,583	(266,453)	(2,435)	(2,232)	(35,537)	4,548
Beginning balances at Dec. 31, 2019	(35,813)	240,068	(274,535)	(2,912)	(2,232)	(39,611)	3,798
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(24,353)		(26,960)			(26,960)	2,607
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,703			2,703		2,703
Equity-based compensation cost	(391)	(391)				(391)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(5,985)						(5,985)
Ending balances at Sep. 30, 2020	(63,839)	239,677	(301,495)	(209)	(2,232)	(64,259)	420
Beginning balances at Jun. 30, 2020	(33,245)	240,366	(271,480)	(322)	(2,232)	(33,668)	423
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(30,015)		(30,015)			(30,015)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	113			113		113
Equity-based compensation cost	(689)	(689)				(689)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(3)						(3)
Ending balances at Sep. 30, 2020	$ (63,839)	$ 239,677	$ (301,495)	$ (209)	$ (2,232)	$ (64,259)	$ 420