Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Reconciliation of net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (109,990)	$ 9,678	$ 113,681
Depreciation and amortization	80,923	121,023	121,598
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	0	1,504
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)	79,712	9,273	(86,863)
Foreign currency exchange losses	1,650	1,974	2,222
Amortization of deferred financing costs	1,200	1,090	1,246
Amortization of stock-based compensation	328	536	869
Increase (decrease) in allowance for doubtful accounts	4	(337)	(300)
Non-cash other loss (income)	0	15	(377)
Non-cash revenue	(6,928)	(1,071)	(2,486)
Decrease (increase) in receivables	37,490	(12,199)	26,915
Decrease (increase) in other assets	692	(405)	586
Decrease in deferred revenue	(10,539)	(6,960)	(10,093)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other liabilities	(1,906)	1,728	(20,572)
Net cash provided by operating activities	72,636	124,345	147,930
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(77,281)	(93,682)	(144,557)
Cash paid to acquire property, equipment and other	(432)	(1,961)	(936)
Cash from sale of property, equipment and other	0	0	61
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	(13)	(13)	(256)
Net cash used in investing activities	(77,726)	(95,656)	(145,688)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of 9½% Senior Notes	0	0	250,000
Repayment of 9.75% Senior Notes	0	0	(275,000)
Principal payments on notes payable	0	0	(29)
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	(218)	(249)	(248)
Debt transaction costs	0	0	(7,050)
Net cash used in financing activities	(218)	(249)	(32,327)
Effect of exchange rate changes	(1,192)	(618)	(453)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(6,500)	27,822	(30,538)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	59,175	31,353	61,891
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	52,675	59,175	31,353
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest	24,230	24,132	32,008
Income taxes, net of refunds received	(665)	(4,937)	7,610
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Additions to seismic data library	$ 9,311	$ 950	$ 4,085