Credit Facility, Percent of Present and Future Assets and Equity Used as Guarantee

No definition available.

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- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Terms, Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Minimum

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Terms, Minimum Excess Availability

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	seitel_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage price of original principal amount of debt at which debt can be redeemed by the issuer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 470

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph e

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentage
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of principal amount of debt redeemed.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
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Debt (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
Debt (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	May 25, 2011	Jun. 30, 2014 Seitel Canada [Member]	May 25, 2011 Canadian Lender [Member]	Mar. 20, 2013 Senior Notes [Member] 9½% Senior Notes [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period One [Member] Senior Notes [Member] 9½% Senior Notes [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Two [Member] Senior Notes [Member] 9½% Senior Notes [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Federal Funds Rate [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Three-Month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Prime Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount of senior notes					$ 250,000,000
Interest rate of senior notes					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