Related Party Transactions (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	$ 256,000	$ 13,000	$ 755,000
Repayment from Seitel Holdings, Inc.	0	0	50,000
Due from Seitel Holdings, Inc.	1,130,000	874,000
Seitel Holdings, Inc. [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	256,000	13,000	755,000
Repayment from Seitel Holdings, Inc.			50,000
Due from Seitel Holdings, Inc.	1,100,000	900,000
Wandoo Energy LLC [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost method investment, ownership percentage	20.00%
Proceeds from cash dividends	76,000	552,000	67,000
Texoz E&P, Inc. [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Proceeds from licensing agreement			$ 335,000