Supplemental Guarantors Consolidating Condensed Financial Information - (Balance Sheet) (Details) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 CAD	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Parent [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Parent [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Parent [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Parent [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Consolidating Eliminations [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Consolidating Eliminations [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Consolidating Eliminations [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Consolidating Eliminations [Member] USD ($)
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 31,353		$ 61,891	$ 74,894	$ 89,971	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 24,859	$ 60,533	$ 61,612	$ 75,068	$ 6,494	$ 1,358	$ 13,282	$ 14,903	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Receivables
Trade, net	34,616		61,195			0	0			22,711	43,806			11,905	17,389			0	0
Notes and other, net	1,932		2,143			0	0			4	9			1,928	2,134			0	0
Due from Seitel Holdings, Inc.	1,130		874			0	0			1,130	874			0	0			0	0
Income tax refund	7,441	7,900	0			0				0				7,441				0
Intercompany receivables (payables)	0		0			15,416	75,688			14,719	(49,827)			(30,135)	(25,861)			0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	0		0			473,191	332,819			433,709	432,870			1,335	1,590			(908,235)	(767,279)
Net seismic data library	195,778		180,117			0	0			116,199	100,087			79,794	80,030			(215)	0
Net property and equipment	4,611		4,818			0	0			2,244	2,125			2,367	2,693			0	0
Prepaid expenses, deferred charges and other	9,844		10,774			6,841	2,644			2,581	5,122			422	3,008			0	0
Intangible assets, net	14,762		20,828			900	900			10,038	13,250			3,824	6,678			0	0
Goodwill	201,535		208,020	205,838		0	0			107,688	107,688			93,847	100,332			0	0
Deferred income tax asset	92,511		84			0	0			92,511	84			0	0			0	0
TOTAL ASSETS	595,513		550,744			496,348	412,051			828,393	716,621			179,222	189,351			(908,450)	(767,279)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	37,777		62,783			5,008	10,049			16,636	38,179			16,133	14,555			0	0
Income taxes payable	787		4,134			153	336			634	900			0	2,898			0	0
Senior Notes	250,000		275,000			250,000	275,000			0	0			0	0			0	0
Notes payable	0		29				29				0				0				0
Obligations under capital leases	2,676		3,113			0	0			50	81			2,626	3,032			0	0
Deferred revenue	41,739		52,857			0	0			38,748	45,320			2,991	7,537			0	0
Deferred income taxes	7,578		2,470			0	0			0	0			7,578	2,470			0	0
TOTAL LIABILITIES	340,557		400,386			255,161	285,414			56,068	84,480			29,328	30,492			0	0
STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
Common stock	0		0			0	0			0	0			0	0			0	0
Additional paid-in capital	399,641		398,772			399,641	398,772			0	0			0	0			0	0
Parent investment	0		0			0	0			764,752	764,752			156,924	156,918			(921,676)	(921,670)
Retained deficit	(158,454)		(272,135)			(158,454)	(272,135)			7,573	(132,611)			(20,796)	(21,780)			13,223	154,391
Accumulated other comprehensive income	13,769		23,721			0	0			0	0			13,766	23,721			3	0
TOTAL STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY	254,956		150,358			241,187	126,637			772,325	632,141			149,894	158,859			(908,450)	(767,279)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY	$ 595,513		$ 550,744			$ 496,348	$ 412,051			$ 828,393	$ 716,621			$ 179,222	$ 189,351			$ (908,450)	$ (767,279)