Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 2,100	$ 1,147
Reconciliation of net income to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and accretion	19,671	17,333
Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes	(204)	(1,200)
Equity-based compensation expense	1,854	2,355
Provision for doubtful accounts	224	90
Gain on sale of assets	(61)	(3,967)
Other non-cash charges and credits	7,388	778
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of assets acquired:
Accounts receivable	7,234	(16,232)
Inventories	2,444	(3,226)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,426	1,772
Trade accounts payable and accrued expenses	(4,362)	4,659
Decommissioning liabilities, net	(25,658)	(15,724)
Other	(8)	599
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	15,048	(11,616)
Investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(26,412)	(25,764)
Acquisition of businesses, net	0	(64,528)
Proceeds on sale of property, plant, and equipment	490	12,336
Other investing activities	187	3,688
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(25,735)	(74,268)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	4,250	1,952
Payments of long-term debt	(38,189)	0
Excess tax benefit from equity compensation	0	178
Compressco Partners' distributions	(1,191)	(1,065)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	795	469
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(34,335)	1,534
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(443)	1,337
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(45,465)	(83,013)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	74,048	204,412
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	28,583	121,399
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid	439	0
Income taxes paid	$ 1,995	$ 2,862