Supplemental Guarantors Consolidating Condensed Financial Information (Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014 Parent [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Parent [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Consolidating Eliminations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Consolidating Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 62,435	$ 74,274	$ (12,268)	$ (18,349)	$ 43,860	$ 71,943	$ 30,843	$ 20,680	$ 0	$ 0
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(49,606)	(77,931)	0	0	(32,263)	(57,916)	(17,343)	(20,015)	0	0
Cash paid to acquire property, equipment and other	(1,157)	(602)	0	0	(1,065)	(383)	(92)	(219)	0	0
Cash from sale of property, equipment and other	0	59		0		59		0		0
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	(7)	(251)	0	0	(7)	(251)	0	0	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(50,770)	(78,725)	0	0	(33,335)	(58,491)	(17,435)	(20,234)	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	(29)		(29)		0		0		0
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	(123)	(124)	0	0	(16)	(15)	(107)	(109)	0	0
Costs of debt transactions	0	(6,842)		(6,842)		0		0		0
Intercompany transfers	0	0	12,268	50,220	3,732	(51,070)	(16,000)	850	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(123)	(31,995)	12,268	18,349	3,716	(51,085)	(16,107)	741	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes	122	(262)	0	0	3	1	119	(263)	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	11,664	(36,708)	0	0	14,244	(37,632)	(2,580)	924	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	$ 43,017	$ 25,183	$ 0	$ 0	$ 39,103	$ 22,901	$ 3,914	$ 2,282	$ 0	$ 0