Supplemental Guarantors Consolidating Condensed Financial Information - (Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 30,543	$ 72,636	$ 124,345
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(26,662)	(77,281)	(93,682)
Cash paid to acquire property and equipment	(304)	(432)	(1,961)
Cash from sale of property and equipment	18	0	0
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	(21)	(13)	(13)
Net cash used in investing activities	(26,969)	(77,726)	(95,656)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	(205)	(218)	(249)
Intercompany transfers	0	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(205)	(218)	(249)
Effect of exchange rate changes	(47)	(1,192)	(618)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	3,322	(6,500)	27,822
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	52,675	59,175	31,353
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	55,997	52,675	59,175
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	0	0	0
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	0	0	0
Cash paid to acquire property and equipment	0	0	0
Cash from sale of property and equipment	0
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	0	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	0	0	0
Intercompany transfers	0	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	0	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes	0	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0	0	0
Parent [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(24,625)	(24,717)	(25,125)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	0	0	0
Cash paid to acquire property and equipment	0	0	0
Cash from sale of property and equipment	0
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	0	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	0	0	0
Intercompany transfers	24,625	24,717	25,125
Net cash used in financing activities	24,625	24,717	25,125
Effect of exchange rate changes	0	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0	0	0
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	44,564	80,698	103,252
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(24,581)	(63,858)	(68,714)
Cash paid to acquire property and equipment	(274)	(422)	(1,705)
Cash from sale of property and equipment	17
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	(21)	(13)	(13)
Net cash used in investing activities	(24,859)	(64,293)	(70,432)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	0	(18)	(32)
Intercompany transfers	(22,926)	(13,717)	(9,125)
Net cash used in financing activities	(22,926)	(13,735)	(9,157)
Effect of exchange rate changes	0	(3)	3
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(3,221)	2,667	23,666
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	51,192	48,525	24,859
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	47,971	51,192	48,525
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	10,604	16,655	46,218
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(2,081)	(13,423)	(24,968)
Cash paid to acquire property and equipment	(30)	(10)	(256)
Cash from sale of property and equipment	1
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	0	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,110)	(13,433)	(25,224)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	(205)	(200)	(217)
Intercompany transfers	(1,699)	(11,000)	(16,000)
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,904)	(11,200)	(16,217)
Effect of exchange rate changes	(47)	(1,189)	(621)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	6,543	(9,167)	4,156
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,483	10,650	6,494
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 8,026	$ 1,483	$ 10,650