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.

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)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Name:	us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Statement Of Cash Flow Information (Restricted Cash) (Details) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 CAD	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 CAD
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 \| $	$ 0.5		$ 0.5