Supplemental Guarantors Consolidating Condensed Financial Information (Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 14,134	$ 10,689
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(5,748)	(6,386)
Cash paid to acquire property and equipment	(136)	(75)
Cash from sale of property and equipment	0	14
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	(3)	(11)
Net cash used in investing activities	(5,887)	(6,458)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	(53)	(48)
Intercompany transfers	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(53)	(48)
Effect of exchange rate changes	60	177
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	8,254	4,360
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	55,997	52,675
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	64,251	57,035
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	0	(15)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	0	15
Cash paid to acquire property and equipment	0	0
Cash from sale of property and equipment		0
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	15
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	0	0
Intercompany transfers	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes	0	0
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0	0
Parent [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(215)	(194)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	0	0
Cash paid to acquire property and equipment	0	0
Cash from sale of property and equipment		0
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	0	0
Intercompany transfers	215	194
Net cash used in financing activities	215	194
Effect of exchange rate changes	0	0
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0	0
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	8,513	10,195
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(3,747)	(5,915)
Cash paid to acquire property and equipment	(98)	(75)
Cash from sale of property and equipment		14
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	(3)	(11)
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,848)	(5,987)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	0	0
Intercompany transfers	(215)	(194)
Net cash used in financing activities	(215)	(194)
Effect of exchange rate changes	0	0
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	4,450	4,014
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	47,971	51,192
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	52,421	55,206
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	5,836	703
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(2,001)	(486)
Cash paid to acquire property and equipment	(38)	0
Cash from sale of property and equipment		0
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,039)	(486)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	(53)	(48)
Intercompany transfers	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(53)	(48)
Effect of exchange rate changes	60	177
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	3,804	346
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	8,026	1,483
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 11,830	$ 1,829