Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues:
Product sales	$ 276,155	$ 329,489	$ 419,926
Services and rentals	604,676	515,786	452,752
Total revenues	880,831	845,275	872,678
Cost of revenues:
Cost of product sales	242,297	306,953	302,675
Cost of services and rentals	385,558	337,235	291,948
Gain on insurance recoveries	0	0	2,541
Depreciation, depletion, amortization, and accretion	75,747	94,839	148,022
Impairments of long-lived assets	8,360	15,738	88,867
Total cost of revenues	711,962	754,765	828,971
Gross profit	168,869	90,510	43,707
General and administrative expense	133,138	113,273	100,132
Interest expense, net	17,080	16,439	17,304
(Gain) loss on sales of assets	(4,916)	(58,674)	89
Other (income) expense, net	(4,616)	13,239	(25)
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	28,183	6,233	(73,793)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	9,429	751	(30,468)
Income (loss) before discontinued operations	18,754	5,482	(43,325)
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	3	(64)	(393)
Net income (loss)	18,757	5,418	(43,718)
Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,797)	(1,271)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 15,960	$ 4,147	$ (43,718)
Basic net income (loss) per common share:
Income (loss) before discontinued operations attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.21	$ 0.05	$ (0.57)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0	$ 0	$ (0.01)
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.21	$ 0.05	$ (0.58)
Average shares outstanding	77,293	76,616	75,539
Diluted net income (loss) per common share:
Income (loss) before discontinued operations attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.2	$ 0.05	$ (0.57)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0	$ 0	$ (0.01)
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.2	$ 0.05	$ (0.58)
Average diluted shares outstanding	77,963	77,991	75,539