Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Reconciliation of net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 17,105	$ (9,626)
Depreciation and amortization	106,924	99,712
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	7,912
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)	213	(394)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	1,514	1,518
Amortization of debt premium	0	(56)
Amortization of stock-based compensation	519	400
Amortization of favorable facility lease	214	219
Increase (decrease) in allowance for doubtful accounts	(298)	6
Non-cash other income	(208)	(98)
Non-cash revenue	(6,175)	(7,897)
Gain on sale of marketable securities	(230)	(2,467)
Decrease (increase) in receivables	7,642	(17,485)
Decrease in other assets	621	15
Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue	(3,207)	9,545
Decrease in accounts payable and other liabilities	(5,832)	(16,920)
Net cash provided by operating activities	118,802	64,384
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(148,854)	(102,712)
Cash paid to acquire property, equipment and other	(1,276)	(1,221)
Net proceeds from sale of marketable securities	230	2,467
Cash from sale of property, equipment and other	90	35
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	(11)	(752)
Repayment from Seitel Holdings, Inc.	0	50
Net cash used in investing activities	(149,821)	(102,133)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on notes payable	(49)	(44)
Repayment of 9.75% Senior Notes	0	(131,094)
Repayment of 11.75% Senior Notes	0	(2,000)
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	(150)	(122)
Borrowings on line of credit	0	737
Payments on line of credit	0	(737)
Contributed capital	0	125,000
Costs of debt and equity transactions	0	(6,333)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(199)	(14,593)
Effect of exchange rate changes	(857)	978
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(32,075)	(51,364)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	74,894	89,971
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	42,819	38,607
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest	27,018	37,913
Income taxes, net of refunds received	2,608	8,096
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Additions to seismic data library	3,115	10,119
Capital lease obligations incurred	$ 95	$ 0