Supplemental Guarantors Consolidating Condensed Financial Information (Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Parent [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Parent [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Consolidating Eliminations [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consolidating Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 111,166	$ 117,766	$ (18,542)	$ (26,451)	$ 102,136	$ 88,019	$ 27,572	$ 56,198	$ 0	$ 0
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(111,812)	(148,854)	0	0	(89,278)	(75,100)	(22,534)	(73,754)	0	0
Cash paid to acquire property, equipment and other	(695)	(1,276)	0	0	(457)	(1,194)	(238)	(82)	0	0
Net proceeds from sale of marketable securities	0	230		0		230		0		0
Cash from sale of property, equipment and other	59	90	0	0	59	90	0	0	0	0
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	(253)	(11)	0	0	(253)	(11)	0	0	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(112,701)	(149,821)	0	0	(89,929)	(75,985)	(22,772)	(73,836)	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	(29)	(49)	(29)	(49)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	(186)	(150)	0	0	(23)	(6)	(163)	(144)	0	0
Costs of debt transactions	(6,915)	0	(6,915)		0		0		0
Intercompany transfers	0	0	50,486	26,500	(51,336)	(32,650)	850	6,150	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(32,130)	(199)	18,542	26,451	(51,359)	(32,656)	687	6,006	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes	(186)	179	0	0	0	(4)	(186)	183	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(33,851)	(32,075)	0	0	(39,152)	(20,626)	5,301	(11,449)	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	$ 28,040	$ 42,819	$ 0	$ 0	$ 21,381	$ 40,986	$ 6,659	$ 1,833	$ 0	$ 0