Statement of Cash Flow Information (Non-Cash Additions and Non-Cash Revenue) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Non-monetary Transaction
Non-monetary exchanges related to resale licensing and Solutions revenue	$ 9,313	$ 741	$ 1,656
Non-monetary exchanges from underwriting of new data acquisition	(2)	209	0
Completion of data in progress from prior non-monetary exchanges	0	0	2,429
Total non-cash additions to seismic data library	9,311	950	4,085
Non-cash revenue	6,928	1,071	2,486
Acquisition revenue on underwriting [Member]
Non-monetary Transaction
Non-cash revenue	168	38	87
Licensing revenue from specific data licenses and selections [Member]
Non-monetary Transaction
Non-cash revenue	6,747	1,033	2,399
Solutions revenue [Member]
Non-monetary Transaction
Non-cash revenue	$ 13	$ 0	$ 0