Supplemental Guarantors Consolidating Condensed Financial Information (Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Parent [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Parent [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consolidating Eliminations [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Consolidating Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 118,802	$ 64,384	$ (26,451)	$ (38,639)	$ 88,015	$ 78,628	$ 57,238	$ 24,395	$ 0	$ 0
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(148,854)	(102,712)	0	0	(75,100)	(57,493)	(73,754)	(45,219)	0	0
Cash paid to acquire property, equipment and other	(1,276)	(1,221)	0	0	(1,194)	(1,055)	(82)	(166)	0	0
Net proceeds from sale of marketable securities	230	2,467	0	0	230	2,467	0	0	0	0
Cash from sale of property, equipment and other	90	35	0	0	90	34	0	1	0	0
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	(11)	(752)	0	0	(11)	(752)	0	0	0	0
Repayment from Seitel Holdings, Inc.	0	50		0		50		0		0
Net cash used in investing activities	(149,821)	(102,133)	0	0	(75,985)	(56,749)	(73,836)	(45,384)	0	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on notes payable	(49)	(44)	(49)	(44)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Repayment of 9.75% Senior Notes	0	(131,094)		(131,094)		0		0		0
Repayment of 11.75% Senior Notes	0	(2,000)		(2,000)		0		0		0
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	(150)	(122)	0	0	(6)	0	(144)	(122)	0	0
Borrowings on line of credit	0	737		0		0		737		0
Payments on line of credit	0	(737)		0		0		(737)		0
Contributed capital	0	125,000		125,000		0		0		0
Costs of debt and equity transactions	0	(6,333)		(6,263)		0		(70)		0
Intercompany transfers	0	0	26,500	53,040	(32,650)	(65,040)	6,150	12,000	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(199)	(14,593)	26,451	38,639	(32,656)	(65,040)	6,006	11,808	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes	(857)	978	0	0	0	0	(857)	978	0	0
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(32,075)	(51,364)	0	0	(20,626)	(43,161)	(11,449)	(8,203)	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	74,894	89,971	0	0	61,612	75,068	13,282	14,903	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 42,819	$ 38,607	$ 0	$ 0	$ 40,986	$ 31,907	$ 1,833	$ 6,700	$ 0	$ 0