Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 846,112,000		$ 846,112,000		$ 844,961,000
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Revenues	316,319,000	$ 242,489,000	567,411,000	$ 455,346,000
Cost of revenue	102,307,000	$ 108,301,000	205,391,000	$ 208,239,000
Inventories Detail [Table]
Finished goods	54,502,000		54,502,000		62,188,000
Raw materials	3,318,000		3,318,000		5,005,000
Parts and supplies	53,282,000		53,282,000		51,229,000
Work in progress	70,840,000		70,840,000		70,935,000
Inventories	$ 181,942,000		$ 181,942,000		189,357,000
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding [Table]
Number of weighted average common shares outstanding	79,165,000	78,525,000	79,037,000	78,416,000
Assumed exercise of stock options	750,000	0	469,000	0
Average diluted shares outstanding	79,915,000	78,525,000	79,506,000	78,416,000
Antidilutive shares excluded from diluted shares outstanding	3,618,107		3,494,752
Foreign currency exchange gains and losses	$ (1,500,000)	$ (200,000)	$ (2,200,000)	$ (900,000)
Fair value of contingent purchase price liability	0		0
Service Agreements [Member]
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Revenues	38,242,000	5,995,000	91,017	13,511
Cost of revenue	22,812,000	$ 2,119,000	44,341	$ 4,046
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Contingent Consideration Classified as Equity, Fair Value Disclosure					0
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	128,000		128,000		0
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	(145,000)		(145,000)		(174,000)
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0		0
Total	(17,000)		(17,000)		(174,000)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Contingent Consideration Classified as Equity, Fair Value Disclosure					0
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	0		0		0
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	0		0		0
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Contingent Consideration Classified as Equity, Fair Value Disclosure					0
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	128,000		128,000		0
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	(145,000)		(145,000)		(174,000)
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Contingent Consideration Classified as Equity, Fair Value Disclosure					0
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	0		0		0
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	0		0		0
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0		0
CSI Compressco Senior Notes [Member]
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Fair value of Senior Notes	336,900,000		336,900,000		354,900,000
Carrying value of Senior Notes	350,000,000		350,000,000		350,000,000
TETRA Senior Notes [Member]
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Fair value of Senior Notes	194,200,000		194,200,000		310,700,000
Carrying value of Senior Notes	$ 265,000,000		$ 265,000,000		$ 305,000,000