Debt (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	May 25, 2011	Mar. 31, 2014 Seitel Canada [Member]	May 25, 2011 Canadian Lender [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Senior Notes [Member] 9½% Senior Notes [Member]	Mar. 20, 2013 Senior Notes [Member] 9½% Senior Notes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period One [Member] Senior Notes [Member] 9½% Senior Notes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Two [Member] Senior Notes [Member] 9½% Senior Notes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Federal Funds Rate [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Three-Month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Prime Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount of senior notes						$ 250,000,000
Interest rate of senior notes					9.50%	9.50%
Percentage of principal amount							35.00%
Call premium							109.50%	101.00%
Credit Facility
Maximum borrowing capacity		30,000,000		5,000,000
Percent of present and future assets and equity used as guarantee			65.00%
Basis spread on variable rate									3.50%	0.50%	1.00%	2.50%
Minimum excess availability	10,000,000
Fixed charge coverage ratio, minimum	1.0
Amount outstanding	0
Current borrowing capacity	$ 30,000,000