Industry Segments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	$ 84,886us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	$ 76,752us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
Services and rentals	166,206us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNet	136,105us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNet
Intersegment revenues	0us-gaap_Revenues	0us-gaap_Revenues
Total revenues	251,092us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	212,857us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Income (loss) before taxes	(2,054)	(10,683)
Assets	2,028,875us-gaap_Assets	1,218,286us-gaap_Assets	2,067,836us-gaap_Assets
Fluids Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	64,994	73,420
Services and rentals	34,282	31,740
Intersegment revenues	10	(15)
Total revenues	99,286	105,145
Income (loss) before taxes	17,736	18,477
Assets	413,623	433,401
Production Testing Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	0	0
Services and rentals	35,909	43,014
Intersegment revenues	1,192	624
Total revenues	37,101	43,638
Income (loss) before taxes	39	(2,798)
Assets	216,952	334,628
Compression Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	18,151	1,837
Services and rentals	84,738	27,927
Intersegment revenues	0	0
Total revenues	102,889	29,764
Income (loss) before taxes	2,404	5,187
Assets	1,274,697	230,189
Offshore Services [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	235	119
Services and rentals	11,548	35,211
Intersegment revenues	0	0
Total revenues	11,783	35,330
Income (loss) before taxes	(8,648)	(7,972)
Assets	124,856	169,321
Maritech [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,506	1,376
Services and rentals	0	0
Intersegment revenues	0	0
Total revenues	1,506	1,376
Income (loss) before taxes	975	(6,539)
Assets	9,371	22,092
Offshore Division Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Services and rentals	(271)	(1,787)
Intersegment revenues	0	0
Total revenues	(271)	(1,787)
Income (loss) before taxes	0	0
Total Offshore Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,741	1,495
Services and rentals	11,277	33,424
Intersegment revenues	0	0
Total revenues	13,018	34,919
Income (loss) before taxes	(7,673)	(14,511)
Assets	134,227	191,413
Interdivision Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Intersegment revenues	(1,202)	(609)
Total revenues	(1,202)	(609)
Income (loss) before taxes	3	3
Corporate Overhead [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Services and rentals	0	0
Total revenues	0	0
Income (loss) before taxes		(17,041)
Assets	$ (10,624)	$ 28,655

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

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This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

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Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

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Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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Aggregate revenue during the period from services rendered in the normal course of business, after deducting allowances and discounts.

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