Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Reconciliation of net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net loss	$ (13,379)	$ (13,864)
Depreciation and amortization	22,263	15,101
Deferred income tax benefit	(612)	(1,445)
Foreign currency exchange losses (gains)	51	(173)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	310	318
Amortization of stock-based compensation	(2)	22
Gain on sale of property and equipment	0	(6)
Non-cash revenue	(289)	(1)
Decrease in receivables	780	6,734
Increase in other assets	(243)	(232)
Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue	2,188	(2,098)
Increase in accounts payable and other liabilities	3,067	6,333
Net cash provided by 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)
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
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest	34	116
Income taxes	309	0
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Additions to seismic data library	$ 250	$ 222