Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Nov. 05, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 829,049,000		$ 829,049,000			$ 844,961,000
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Revenues	305,144,000	$ 306,371,000	872,555,000	$ 761,717,000
Cost of revenue	103,159,000	$ 135,870,000	308,550,000	$ 344,109,000
Inventories Detail [Table]
Finished goods	59,261,000		59,261,000			62,188,000
Raw materials	3,528,000		3,528,000			5,005,000
Parts and supplies	42,031,000		42,031,000			51,229,000
Work in progress	40,637,000		40,637,000			70,935,000
Inventories	$ 145,457,000		$ 145,457,000			189,357,000
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding [Table]
Number of weighted average common shares outstanding	79,219,000	78,683,000	79,098,000	78,506,000
Assumed exercise of stock options	573,000	0	357,000	0
Average diluted shares outstanding	79,792,000	78,683,000	79,455,000	78,506,000
Antidilutive shares excluded from diluted shares outstanding	3,752,879		3,581,111
Foreign currency exchange gains and losses	$ (500,000)	$ (600,000)	$ (2,700,000)	$ (1,500,000)
Fair value of contingent purchase price liability	0		0
Service Agreements [Member]
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Revenues	31,978,000	31,842,000	115,476	42,686
Cost of revenue	10,981,000	$ 15,692,000	53,417	$ 20,955
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	45,000		45,000			0
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	(213,000)		(213,000)			(174,000)
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0		0
Total	(168,000)		(168,000)			(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	45,000		45,000			0
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	(213,000)		(213,000)			(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
Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Long-term debt					$ 25,000,000
CSI Compressco Senior Notes [Member]
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Fair value of Senior Notes	287,000,000		287,000,000			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	242,600,000		242,600,000			310,700,000
Carrying value of Senior Notes	$ 265,000,000		$ 265,000,000			$ 305,000,000