Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net income	$ 4,467	$ 8,106
Depreciation and amortization	67,629	57,167
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	1,504
Deferred income tax provision	3,047	2,681
Foreign currency exchange losses	443	1,818
Amortization of deferred financing costs	532	739
Amortization of stock-based compensation	304	498
Decrease in allowance for doubtful accounts	(337)	0
Non-cash other loss	14	0
Non-cash revenue	(238)	(766)
Decrease in receivables	1,290	25,637
Increase in other assets	(21)	(3,744)
Decrease in deferred revenue	(15,809)	(6,787)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other liabilities	1,114	(12,579)
Net cash provided by operating activities	62,435	74,274
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(49,606)	(77,931)
Cash paid to acquire property, equipment and other	(1,157)	(602)
Cash from sale of property, equipment and other	0	59
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	(7)	(251)
Net cash used in investing activities	(50,770)	(78,725)
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	(29)
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	(123)	(124)
Costs of debt transactions	0	(6,842)
Net cash used in financing activities	(123)	(31,995)
Effect of exchange rate changes	122	(262)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	11,664	(36,708)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	31,353	61,891
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	43,017	25,183
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest	12,022	18,331
Income taxes, net of refunds received	(3,989)	6,149
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Additions to seismic data library	$ 177	$ 2,977