Supplemental Guarantors Consolidating Condensed Financial Information (Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 Parent [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Parent [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Consolidating Eliminations [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Consolidating Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 35,412	$ 45,082	$ (17,861)	$ (13,179)	$ 42,050	$ 27,843	$ 11,223	$ 30,418	$ 0	$ 0
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(40,132)	(56,420)	0	0	(27,629)	(19,645)	(12,503)	(36,775)	0	0
Cash paid to acquire property, equipment and other	(336)	(250)	0	0	(192)	(201)	(144)	(49)	0	0
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	(246)	(4)	0	0	(246)	(4)	0	0	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(40,714)	(56,674)	0	0	(28,067)	(19,850)	(12,647)	(36,824)	0	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of 9½% Senior Notes	250,000	0	250,000		0		0		0
Repayment of 9.75% Senior Notes	(275,000)	0	(275,000)		0		0		0
Principal payments on notes payable	(17)	(16)	(17)	(16)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	(62)	(42)	0	0	(8)	0	(54)	(42)	0	0
Intercompany Transfer, Financing Activities	0	0	48,700	13,195	(49,200)	(13,195)	500	0	0	0
Costs of debt transactions	(5,822)	0	(5,822)		0		0		0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(30,901)	(58)	17,861	13,179	(49,208)	(13,195)	446	(42)	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes	(144)	171	0	0	0	0	(144)	171	0	0
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(36,347)	(11,479)	0	0	(35,225)	(5,202)	(1,122)	(6,277)	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	61,891	74,894	0	0	60,533	61,612	1,358	13,282	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 25,544	$ 63,415	$ 0	$ 0	$ 25,308	$ 56,410	$ 236	$ 7,005	$ 0	$ 0