Industry Segments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	$ 71,538	$ 67,229
Services and rentals	137,021	113,567
Total revenues	208,559	180,796
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	3,211	1,752
Assets	1,200,037	1,219,246	1,261,818
Fluids Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	69,161	61,532
Services and rentals	24,831	17,776
Intersegment revenues	48	25
Total revenues	94,040	79,333
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	17,005	11,465
Assets	391,229	382,321
Production Testing [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	0	0
Services and rentals	54,607	38,283
Total revenues	54,607	38,283
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	6,298	5,677
Assets	321,788	215,026
Compressco [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,088	1,162
Services and rentals	29,737	21,520
Total revenues	30,825	22,682
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	5,225	3,510
Assets	231,840	206,932
Production Enhancement Division Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Services and rentals	(280)	0
Total revenues	(280)	0
Total Production Enhancement Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,088	1,162
Services and rentals	84,064	59,803
Total revenues	85,152	60,965
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	11,523	9,187
Assets	553,628	421,958
Offshore Services [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	129	1,995
Services and rentals	37,520	43,100
Total revenues	37,649	45,095
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	(5,203)	(1,033)
Assets	180,505	208,108
Maritech [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,160	2,540
Services and rentals	0	75
Total revenues	1,160	2,615
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	(4,908)	(2,081)
Assets	63,992	60,711
Offshore Division Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Services and rentals	(9,394)	(7,312)
Total revenues	(9,394)	(7,312)
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	0	0
Assets	0	0
Total Offshore Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,289	4,535
Services and rentals	28,126	35,863
Total revenues	29,415	40,398
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	(10,111)	(3,114)
Assets	244,497	268,819
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Intersegment revenues	(48)	(25)
Total revenues	(48)	(25)
Corporate Overhead [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Services and rentals	0	125
Total revenues	0	125
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	(15,206)	(15,786)
Assets	$ 10,683	$ 146,148