Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net income	$ 1,892	$ 1,738
Depreciation and amortization	37,858	29,338
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	1,504
Deferred income tax provision	631	523
Foreign currency exchange losses	1,274	647
Amortization of deferred financing costs	262	502
Amortization of stock-based compensation	178	226
Decrease in allowance for doubtful accounts	(224)	0
Non-cash other loss	14	0
Non-cash revenue	(177)	(635)
Decrease (increase) in receivables	(8,265)	17,520
Decrease (increase) in other assets	(785)	287
Decrease in deferred revenue	(9,732)	(1,146)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other liabilities	7,140	(15,092)
Net cash provided by operating activities	30,066	35,412
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(27,071)	(40,132)
Cash paid to acquire property, equipment and other	(983)	(336)
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	(3)	(246)
Net cash used in investing activities	(28,057)	(40,714)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of 9½% Senior Notes	0	250,000
Repayment of 9.75% Senior Notes	0	(275,000)
Principal payments on notes payable	0	(17)
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	(61)	(62)
Costs of debt transactions	0	(5,822)
Net cash used in financing activities	(61)	(30,901)
Effect of exchange rate changes	(155)	(144)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,793	(36,347)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	31,353	61,891
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	33,146	25,544
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest	71	18,253
Income taxes, net of refunds received	714	3,770
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Additions to seismic data library	$ 177	$ 2,716