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

No definition available.

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- 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 before consideration of limitations to allow for the minimum excess availability requirement if the fixed charge coverage ration is below 1.00 to 1.00.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Terms, Minimum Excess Availability

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

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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 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: 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

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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 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

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

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- 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

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- Definition

Percentage of principal amount of debt redeemed.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

-Article 5

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- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- 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

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- 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

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

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Debt (Details)	9 Months Ended
Debt (Details)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 20, 2013 USD ($)	May. 25, 2011 USD ($)	May. 25, 2011 CAD
Credit Facility
Maximum borrowing capacity			$ 30,000,000
Minimum excess availability	$ 10,000,000
Fixed charge coverage ratio, minimum	1.0
Calculated borrowing base	$ 27,300,000
Current borrowing capacity	17,300,000
Amount outstanding	$ 0
Seitel Canada [Member]
Credit Facility
Percent of present and future assets and equity used as guarantee	65.00%
Canadian Lender [Member]
Credit Facility
Maximum borrowing capacity \| CAD				CAD 5,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] \| 9½% Senior Notes [Member]
9½% Senior Unsecured Notes
Face amount of senior notes		$ 250,000,000
Interest rate of senior notes		9.50%
Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period One [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 9½% Senior Notes [Member]
9½% Senior Unsecured Notes
Percentage of principal amount	35.00%
Call premium	109.50%
Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Two [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 9½% Senior Notes [Member]
9½% Senior Unsecured Notes
Call premium	101.00%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Credit Facility
Basis spread on variable rate	3.50%
Federal Funds Rate [Member]
Credit Facility
Basis spread on variable rate	0.50%
Three-Month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Credit Facility
Basis spread on variable rate	1.00%
Prime Rate [Member]
Credit Facility
Basis spread on variable rate	2.50%