Industry Segments (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	$ 68,209	$ 57,697	$ 57,697
Services and rentals	99,792	111,632	111,632
Intersegment revenues	0		0
Total revenues	168,001	169,329	169,329
Income (loss) before taxes	(11,162)	$ (149,140)	(149,140)
Assets	(1,299,493)		(1,437,304)	$ (1,315,540)
Fluids Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	52,262		42,331
Services and rentals	20,632		16,697
Intersegment revenues	1		85
Total revenues	72,895		59,113
Income (loss) before taxes	20,276		(358)
Assets	(326,255)		(347,324)
Production Testing Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	6,062		0
Services and rentals	14,894		18,794
Intersegment revenues	556		1,077
Total revenues	21,512		19,871
Income (loss) before taxes	(2,069)		(19,374)
Assets	(85,860)		(109,519)
Compression Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	9,654		15,161
Services and rentals	55,905		66,534
Intersegment revenues	0		0
Total revenues	65,559		81,695
Income (loss) before taxes	(14,333)		(104,700)
Assets	(803,874)		(873,435)
Offshore Services [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	0		116
Services and rentals	8,361		10,130
Intersegment revenues	0		0
Total revenues	8,361		10,246
Income (loss) before taxes	(6,335)		(7,708)
Assets	(105,645)		(109,603)
Maritech [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	231		89
Services and rentals	0		0
Intersegment revenues	0		0
Total revenues	231		89
Income (loss) before taxes	(663)		(620)
Assets	(3,494)		(18,452)
Offshore Division Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Services and rentals	0		(523)
Intersegment revenues	0		0
Total revenues	0		(523)
Income (loss) before taxes	0		0
Total Offshore Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	231		205
Services and rentals	8,361		9,607
Intersegment revenues	0		0
Total revenues	8,592		9,812
Income (loss) before taxes	(6,998)		(8,328)
Assets	(109,139)		(128,055)
Interdivision Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Intersegment revenues	(557)		(1,162)
Total revenues	(557)		(1,162)
Income (loss) before taxes	(166)		4
Corporate Overhead [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Income (loss) before taxes	(7,872)		(16,384)
Assets	$ (25,635)		$ (21,029)