Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues:
Product sales	$ 329,489	$ 419,926	$ 350,005
Services and rentals	515,786	452,752	528,872
Total revenues	845,275	872,678	878,877
Cost of revenues:
Cost of product sales	306,953	302,675	237,911
Cost of services and rentals	337,235	291,948	310,943
Gain on insurance recoveries	0	(2,541)	(45,391)
Depreciation, depletion, amortization, and accretion	94,839	148,022	149,326
Impairments of long-lived assets	15,738	88,867	12,991
Total cost of revenues	754,765	828,971	665,780
Gross profit	90,510	43,707	213,097
General and administrative expense	113,273	100,132	100,832
Interest expense, net	16,439	17,304	12,790
Gain (loss) on sales of assets	58,674	(89)	7,333
Other income (expense), net	(13,239)	25	(1,438)
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	6,233	(73,793)	105,370
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	751	(30,468)	36,563
Income (loss) before discontinued operations	5,482	(43,325)	68,807
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(64)	(393)	(426)
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	0	423
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(64)	(393)	(3)
Net income (loss)	5,418	(43,718)	68,804
Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,271)	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 4,147	$ (43,718)	$ 68,804
Basic net income (loss) per common share:
Income (loss) before discontinued operations attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.05	$ (0.57)	$ 0.92
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.05	$ (0.58)	$ 0.92
Average shares outstanding	76,616	75,539	75,045
Diluted net income (loss) per common share:
Income (loss) before discontinued operations attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.05	$ (0.57)	$ 0.91
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.05	$ (0.58)	$ 0.91
Average diluted shares outstanding	77,991	75,539	75,722