The amount of cash paid during the current period to foreign, federal, state, and local authorities as taxes on income.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

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- Definition

The amount of cash received during the period as refunds for the overpayment of taxes.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

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The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. This element is for unclassified presentations; for classified presentations there is a separate and distinct element.

+ 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 210.5-02.1)

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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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Statement Of Cash Flow Information (Restricted Cash) (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 CAD	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 CAD
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items
Income Taxes Paid	$ 0.3	$ 2.2
Income Tax Refunds	0.4	$ 5.9
Cash Posted As Security Against Company Issued Credit Cards for Seitel Canada [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items
Restricted cash \| CAD			CAD 125,000		CAD 125,000
Seismic Operations Bonds [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items
Restricted cash	$ 0.8			$ 0.8