Supplemental Guarantors Consolidating Condensed Financial Information - (Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 40,354	$ 30,543	$ 72,636
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(26,170)	(26,662)	(77,281)
Cash paid to acquire property and equipment	(534)	(304)	(432)
Cash from sale of seismic data and property and equipment	182	18	0
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	(14)	(21)	(13)
Net cash used in investing activities	(26,536)	(26,969)	(77,726)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	(244)	(205)	(218)
Intercompany transfers	0	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(244)	(205)	(218)
Effect of exchange rate changes	1,010	(47)	(1,192)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	14,584	3,322	(6,500)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	55,997	52,675	59,175
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	70,581	55,997	52,675
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 seismic data and property and equipment	0	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	(24,355)	(24,625)	(24,717)
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 seismic data and property and equipment	0	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	24,355	24,625	24,717
Net cash used in financing activities	24,355	24,625	24,717
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	38,037	44,564	80,698
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(17,835)	(24,581)	(63,858)
Cash paid to acquire property and equipment	(423)	(274)	(422)
Cash from sale of seismic data and property and equipment	0	17
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	(14)	(21)	(13)
Net cash used in investing activities	(18,272)	(24,859)	(64,293)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	0	0	(18)
Intercompany transfers	(24,355)	(22,926)	(13,717)
Net cash used in financing activities	(24,355)	(22,926)	(13,735)
Effect of exchange rate changes	(1)	0	(3)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(4,591)	(3,221)	2,667
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	47,971	51,192	48,525
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	43,380	47,971	51,192
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	26,672	10,604	16,655
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in seismic data	(8,335)	(2,081)	(13,423)
Cash paid to acquire property and equipment	(111)	(30)	(10)
Cash from sale of seismic data and property and equipment	182	1
Advances to Seitel Holdings, Inc.	0	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(8,264)	(2,110)	(13,433)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	(244)	(205)	(200)
Intercompany transfers	0	(1,699)	(11,000)
Net cash used in financing activities	(244)	(1,904)	(11,200)
Effect of exchange rate changes	1,011	(47)	(1,189)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	19,175	6,543	(9,167)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	8,026	1,483	10,650
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 27,201	$ 8,026	$ 1,483