Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 74,048	$ 204,412
Restricted cash	5,571	8,780
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,085 in 2012 and $1,849 in 2011	176,352	141,537
Deferred tax asset	29,789	39,330
Inventories	103,041	99,985
Assets held for sale	12,009	3,743
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	34,299	30,714
Total current assets	435,109	528,501
Property, plant, and equipment:
Land and building	41,153	76,937
Machinery and equipment	589,725	530,408
Automobiles and trucks	57,708	46,950
Chemical plants	161,565	158,065
Construction in progress	40,452	25,316
Total property, plant, and equipment	890,603	837,676
Less accumulated depreciation and depletion	(337,889)	(308,375)
Net property, plant, and equipment	552,714	529,301
Other assets:
Goodwill	189,604	99,132
Patents, trademarks, and other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $27,044 in 2012 and $22,572 in 2011	36,735	11,872
Deferred tax assets	594	258
Other assets	47,062	34,246
Total other assets	273,995	145,508
Total assets	1,261,818	1,203,310
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	67,453	46,382
Accrued liabilities	73,254	80,940
Current portion of long-term debt	35,441	35
Decommissioning and other asset retirement obligations, current	80,667	105,008
Total current liabilities	256,815	232,365
Long-term debt, net	331,268	305,000
Deferred income taxes	41,910	48,537
Decommissioning and other asset retirement obligations, net	14,254	34,827
Other liabilities	24,263	13,493
Total long-term and other liabilities	411,695	401,857
Equity:
Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 80,446,169 shares issued at December 31, 2012 and 79,673,374 shares issued at December 31, 2011	804	797
Additional paid-in capital	226,954	220,144
Treasury stock, at cost; 2,334,137 shares held at December 31, 2012 and 2,249,959 shares held at December 31, 2011	(15,027)	(14,841)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,494)	(2,877)
Retained earnings	339,883	323,923
Total TETRA stockholders' equity	551,120	527,146
Noncontrolling interest	42,188	41,942
Total equity	593,308	569,088
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,261,818	$ 1,203,310