Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Aug. 04, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Carrying value of Senior Notes	$ 350,000,000	$ 350,000,000
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairments of long-lived assets	64,300,000	34,842,000	9,578,000		8,360,000
Impairment of heavy lift barge				7,700,000
Proceeds from sale of heavy lift barge		17,527,000	1,794,000		59,325,000
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Changes, Net [Abstract]
Percentage of consolidated net assets comprised of investment in CCLP	25.00%	25.00%
Publicly held ownership interest in CCLP prior to offering						17.70%
Publicly held ownership interest in CCLP	56.30%	56.30%
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0	0
Prior period reclassification of ad valorem tax expenses				1,500,000
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0	0
Reduction in decommissioning liabilities for work performed		63,300,000	119,600,000	87,400,000
Estimated future hurricane repair expenses	8,700,000	8,700,000
Insurance gains credited to earnings			7,600,000
Goodwill table (details)
Beginning balance		188,159,000	189,604,000	99,132,000
Goodwill adjustments		(68,125,000)	(1,445,000)
Goodwill acquired				90,472,000
Ending balance	293,941,000	293,941,000	188,159,000	189,604,000	99,132,000
Allowances for Doubtful Accounts [Table]
At beginning of period		1,349,000	1,085,000	1,849,000
Activity in the period:
Provision for doubtful accounts		856,000	374,000	(237,000)	(237,000)
Account chargeoffs		280,000	(110,000)	(527,000)
At end of period	2,485,000	2,485,000	1,349,000	1,085,000	1,849,000
Inventories Detail [Table]
Finished goods	62,188,000	62,188,000	73,515,000
Raw materials	5,005,000	5,005,000	3,894,000
Parts and supplies	51,229,000	51,229,000	22,668,000
Work in progress	70,722,000	70,722,000	715,000
Inventories	189,144,000	189,144,000	100,792,000
Depreciation expense		109,200,000	76,900,000	70,700,000
Interest capitalized		800,000	1,600,000	2,000,000
Amortization expense of patents, trademarks, and other intangible assets		9,300,000	5,000,000	4,500,000
Future amortization expense, 2014	13,600,000	13,600,000
Future amortization expense, 2015	12,800,000	12,800,000
Future amortization expense, 2016	10,400,000	10,400,000
Future amortization expense, 2017	8,600,000	8,600,000
Future amortization expense, 2018	8,400,000	8,400,000
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Fair value of intangible assets acquired		92,600,000		27,300,000
Minimum [Member] | Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Average useful life of finite-lived intangible asset		2 years
Minimum [Member] | Intangible Assets, Amortization Period [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Average useful life of finite-lived intangible asset		2 years		3 years
Maximum [Member] | Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Average useful life of finite-lived intangible asset		20 years
Maximum [Member] | Intangible Assets, Amortization Period [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Average useful life of finite-lived intangible asset		20 years		20 years
Weighted Average [Member] | Intangible Assets, Amortization Period [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Average useful life of finite-lived intangible asset		12 years 6 months		12 years 36 days
Building [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life		15 years
Building [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life		40 years
Barges and vessels [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life		5 years
Barges and vessels [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life		30 years
Machinery and equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life		2 years
Machinery and equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life		20 years
Automobiles and trucks [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life		3 years
Automobiles and trucks [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life		4 years
Chemical plants [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life		15 years
Chemical plants [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life		30 years
Compressors [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life		12 years
Compressors [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life		16 years
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	0	0
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	(174,000)	(174,000)
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0	0
Total	(174,000)	(174,000)
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	0	0
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	0	0
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0	0
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	0	0
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	(174,000)	(174,000)
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0	0
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	0	0
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	0	0
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0	0
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Other assets	0	0	0
Total	287,330,000	287,330,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Other assets	0	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Other assets	0	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Other assets	0	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Accumulated Other-than-Temporary Impairment [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Other assets	1,856,000	1,856,000	293,000
Total	99,137,000	99,137,000
Fluids Goodwill [Member]
Goodwill table (details)
Beginning balance		0	0	0
Goodwill adjustments		0	0
Goodwill acquired				0
Ending balance	6,636,000	6,636,000	0	0
Accumulated impairment losses	23,900,000	23,900,000
Production Testing Goodwill [Member]
Goodwill table (details)
Beginning balance		112,062,000	113,507,000	23,035,000
Goodwill adjustments		(64,189,000)	(1,445,000)
Goodwill acquired				90,472,000
Ending balance	53,682,000	53,682,000	112,062,000	113,507,000
Accumulated impairment losses	60,400,000	60,400,000
Residual purchase price to be allocated to goodwill	53,700,000	53,700,000
Compression Goodwill [Member]
Goodwill table (details)
Beginning balance		72,161,000	72,161,000	72,161,000
Goodwill adjustments		0	0
Goodwill acquired				0
Ending balance	233,623,000	233,623,000	72,161,000	72,161,000
Offshore Services Goodwill [Member]
Goodwill table (details)
Beginning balance		3,936,000	3,936,000	3,936,000
Goodwill adjustments		(3,936,000)	0
Goodwill acquired				0
Ending balance	0	0	3,936,000	3,936,000
Accumulated impairment losses	27,100,000	27,100,000
Maritech Goodwill [Member]
Goodwill table (details)
Beginning balance		0	0	0
Goodwill adjustments		0	0
Goodwill acquired				0
Ending balance	0	0	0	0
Fluids Division [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairments of long-lived assets		5,200,000
Fluids Division [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	1,225	1,225
Fluids Division [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	0	0
Fluids Division [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	0	0
Fluids Division [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	1,225	1,225
Fluids Division [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Accumulated Other-than-Temporary Impairment [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	5,201,000	5,201,000
Production Testing Division [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairments of long-lived assets		14,500,000
Production Testing Division [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	94,328,000	94,328,000
Intangible assets	34,941,000	34,941,000
Goodwill	53,681,000	53,681,000
Production Testing Division [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	0	0
Intangible assets	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Production Testing Division [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	0	0
Intangible assets	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Production Testing Division [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	94,328,000	94,328,000
Intangible assets	34,941,000	34,941,000
Goodwill	53,681,000	53,681,000
Production Testing Division [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Accumulated Other-than-Temporary Impairment [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	7,646,000	7,646,000
Intangible assets	6,831,000	6,831,000
Goodwill	60,359,000	60,359,000
Offshore Services [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairments of long-lived assets		13,700,000	9,300,000
Impairment of heavy lift barge			9,300,000
Proceeds from sale of heavy lift barge		3,000,000
Offshore Services [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	103,155,000	103,155,000	3,000,000
Goodwill	0	0
Offshore Services [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	0	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Offshore Services [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	0	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Offshore Services [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	103,155,000	103,155,000	3,000,000
Goodwill	0	0
Offshore Services [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Accumulated Other-than-Temporary Impairment [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	13,308,000	13,308,000	9,285,000
Goodwill	3,936,000	3,936,000
CSI Compressco Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fair value of Senior Notes	354,900,000	354,900,000
TETRA Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fair value of Senior Notes	310,700,000	310,700,000	318,400,000
Carrying value of Senior Notes	$ 305,000,000	$ 305,000,000	$ 305,000,000