Supplemental Guarantors Consolidating Condensed Financial Information (Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 20,854	$ 4,754
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(16,101)	(12,869)
Cash paid to acquire property and equipment	(250)	(145)
Cash from sale of property and equipment	3	18
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	(8)	(16)
Net cash used in investing activities	(16,356)	(13,012)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	(112)	(100)
Intercompany transfers	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(112)	(100)
Effect of exchange rate changes	460	156
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	4,846	(8,202)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	55,997	52,675
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	60,843	44,473
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	0	0
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	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	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes	0	0
Net increase (decrease) 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	(12,220)	(12,262)
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	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	12,220	12,262
Net cash used in financing activities	12,220	12,262
Effect of exchange rate changes	0	0
Net increase (decrease) 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	17,498	15,018
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(9,491)	(11,947)
Cash paid to acquire property and equipment	(149)	(145)
Cash from sale of property and equipment	0	17
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	(8)	(16)
Net cash used in investing activities	(9,648)	(12,091)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	0	0
Intercompany transfers	(12,220)	(12,063)
Net cash used in financing activities	(12,220)	(12,063)
Effect of exchange rate changes	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(4,370)	(9,136)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	47,971	51,192
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	43,601	42,056
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	15,576	1,998
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(6,610)	(922)
Cash paid to acquire property and equipment	(101)	0
Cash from sale of property and equipment	3	1
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(6,708)	(921)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	(112)	(100)
Intercompany transfers	0	(199)
Net cash used in financing activities	(112)	(299)
Effect of exchange rate changes	460	156
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	9,216	934
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	8,026	1,483
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 17,242	$ 2,417