Supplemental Guarantors Consolidating Condensed Financial Information (Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 Parent [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Parent [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Consolidating Eliminations [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Consolidating Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 30,066	$ 35,412	$ (164)	$ (17,861)	$ 16,233	$ 42,050	$ 13,997	$ 11,223	$ 0	$ 0
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(27,071)	(40,132)	0	0	(13,713)	(27,629)	(13,358)	(12,503)	0	0
Cash paid to acquire property, equipment and other	(983)	(336)	0	0	(951)	(192)	(32)	(144)	0	0
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	(3)	(246)	0	0	(3)	(246)	0	0	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(28,057)	(40,714)	0	0	(14,667)	(28,067)	(13,390)	(12,647)	0	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of 9½% Senior Notes	0	250,000		250,000		0		0		0
Repayment of 9.75% Senior Notes	0	(275,000)		(275,000)		0		0		0
Principal payments on notes payable	0	(17)		(17)		0		0		0
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	(61)	(62)	0	0	(8)	(8)	(53)	(54)	0	0
Costs of debt transactions	0	(5,822)		(5,822)		0		0		0
Intercompany transfers	0	0	164	48,700	(164)	(49,200)	0	500	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(61)	(30,901)	164	17,861	(172)	(49,208)	(53)	446	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes	(155)	(144)	0	0	0	0	(155)	(144)	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,793	(36,347)	0	0	1,394	(35,225)	399	(1,122)	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	31,353	61,891	0	0	24,859	60,533	6,494	1,358	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 33,146	$ 25,544	$ 0	$ 0	$ 26,253	$ 25,308	$ 6,893	$ 236	$ 0	$ 0