Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Rental expenses					$ 367,302,000	$ 298,380,000	$ 417,549,000
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Restricted Assets, net	$ 95,000,000				95,000,000
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Payments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation					803,000	1,679,000	1,051,000
Impairments of long-lived assets	$ 14,900,000	$ 7,502,000	$ 10,700,000		$ 14,876,000	18,172,000	44,158,000
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%
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Cash Settled Stock Appreciation Rights SARS	$ (97,000)				$ (97,000)
Fair value, year to date impairment losses				$ 5,700,000	14,876,000	124,377,000
Impairments of long-lived assets	14,900,000	7,502,000	10,700,000		14,876,000	18,172,000	44,158,000
Asset Retirement Obligation, Cash Paid to Settle					565,000	4,040,000	10,305,000
Impairment of goodwill					0	106,205,000	177,006,000
Cumulative adjustment to equity based compensation expense							6,700,000
Equity-based compensation expense					5,000,000	9,500,000	13,900,000
Foreign currency exchange gains and losses					(1,600,000)	900,000	(1,700,000)
Goodwill table (details)
Beginning balance			112,900,000		6,636,000	112,900,000	293,900,000
Goodwill adjustments					0	(106,300,000)	(180,900,000)
Ending balance	6,636,000	6,636,000		112,900,000	6,636,000	6,636,000	112,900,000
Impairment of goodwill					0	106,205,000	177,006,000
Accumulated impairment losses	124,400,000				124,400,000
Allowances for Doubtful Accounts [Table]
At beginning of period			7,847,000		6,291,000	7,847,000	2,485,000
Activity in the period:
Provision for doubtful accounts					1,428,000	2,436,000	5,387,000
Account chargeoffs					(5,965,000)	(3,992,000)	(25,000)
At end of period	1,754,000	6,291,000		7,847,000	1,754,000	6,291,000	7,847,000
Inventories Detail [Table]
Finished goods	66,377,000	62,064,000			66,377,000	62,064,000
Raw materials	4,027,000	2,429,000			4,027,000	2,429,000
Parts and supplies	38,248,000	35,548,000			38,248,000	35,548,000
Work in progress	11,402,000	6,505,000			11,402,000	6,505,000
Inventories	120,054,000	106,546,000			120,054,000	106,546,000
Depreciation expense					107,900,000	120,300,000	138,200,000
Interest capitalized					1,600,000	500,000	400,000
Amortization expense of patents, trademarks, and other intangible assets					6,200,000	7,000,000	14,800,000
Future amortization expense, 2014	4,700,000				4,700,000
Future amortization expense, 2015	4,700,000				4,700,000
Future amortization expense, 2016	4,700,000				4,700,000
Future amortization expense, 2017	4,400,000				4,400,000
Future amortization expense, 2018	3,900,000				3,900,000
Fluids Division [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairments of long-lived assets		475,000		19,900,000
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Impairments of long-lived assets		475,000		19,900,000
Goodwill table (details)
Beginning balance			6,600,000		6,600,000	6,600,000	6,600,000
Goodwill adjustments					0	0	0
Ending balance	6,600,000	6,600,000		6,600,000	6,600,000	6,600,000	6,600,000
Accumulated impairment losses	23,800,000				23,800,000
Production Testing Division [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairments of long-lived assets		3,600,000	2,800,000	12,300,000
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Impairments of long-lived assets		3,600,000	2,800,000	12,300,000
Goodwill table (details)
Beginning balance			13,900,000		0	13,900,000	53,700,000
Goodwill adjustments					0	(13,900,000)	(39,800,000)
Ending balance	0	0		13,900,000	0	0	13,900,000
Accumulated impairment losses	111,800,000				111,800,000
CSI Compressco [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairments of long-lived assets		2,400,000	7,900,000	6,300,000
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Impairments of long-lived assets		2,400,000	7,900,000	6,300,000
Goodwill table (details)
Beginning balance			92,400,000		0	92,400,000	233,500,000
Goodwill adjustments					0	(92,400,000)	(141,100,000)
Ending balance	0	0		92,400,000	0	0	92,400,000
Accumulated impairment losses	231,800,000				231,800,000
Offshore Services [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairments of long-lived assets		1,078,000
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Impairments of long-lived assets		1,078,000
Goodwill table (details)
Beginning balance			0		0	0	0
Goodwill adjustments					0	0	0
Ending balance	0	0		0	0	0	0
Accumulated impairment losses	27,200,000				27,200,000
Maritech [Member]
Goodwill table (details)
Beginning balance			$ 0		0	0	0
Goodwill adjustments					0	0	0
Ending balance	0	0		$ 0	$ 0	0	0
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					20 years
Service Agreements [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Rental revenue					$ 60,514	55,909	143,601
Rental expenses					19,047	25,621	$ 66,528
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	(61,436,000)	(77,062,000)			(61,436,000)	(77,062,000)
Warranty, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	(13,202,000)	(18,503,000)			(13,202,000)	(18,503,000)
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	241,000	81,000			241,000	81,000
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	(378,000)	(371,000)			(378,000)	(371,000)
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	74,872,000	(95,855,000)			74,872,000	(95,855,000)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	0	0			0	0
Warranty, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	0	0			0	0
Cash Settled Stock Appreciation Rights SARS	0				0
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	0	0			0	0
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	0	0			0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	0	0			0	0
Warranty, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	0	0			0	0
Cash Settled Stock Appreciation Rights SARS	0				0
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	241,000	81,000			241,000	81,000
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	(378,000)	(371,000)			(378,000)	(371,000)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	(61,436,000)	(77,062,000)			(61,436,000)	(77,062,000)
Warranty, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	(13,202,000)	(18,503,000)			(13,202,000)	(18,503,000)
Cash Settled Stock Appreciation Rights SARS	(97,000)				(97,000)
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	0	0			0	0
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	0	0			0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	3,206,000	23,500,000			3,206,000	23,500,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Compression Goodwill [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Fair value, year to date impairment losses						92,334,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fluids Intangible Assets [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Fair value, year to date impairment losses						257,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Production Testing Goodwill [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Fair value, year to date impairment losses						13,871,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Compression Intangible Assets [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Fair value, year to date impairment losses						7,866,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Production Testing Intangible Assets [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Fair value, year to date impairment losses					14,552,000	2,804,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fluids Division [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		0				0
Intangible assets		0				0
Fair value, year to date impairment losses						218,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fluids Division [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		0				0
Intangible assets		0				0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fluids Division [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		0				0
Intangible assets		0				0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fluids Division [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		0				0
Intangible assets		0				0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Production Testing Division [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	0	0			0	0
Intangible assets	3,206,000	2,900,000			3,206,000	2,900,000
Goodwill, Fair Value Disclosure		0				0
Fair value, year to date impairment losses					324,000	3,592,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Production Testing Division [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	0	0			0	0
Intangible assets	0	0			0	0
Goodwill, Fair Value Disclosure		0				0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Production Testing Division [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	0	0			0	0
Intangible assets	0	0			0	0
Goodwill, Fair Value Disclosure		0				0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Production Testing Division [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	0	0			0	0
Intangible assets	0	2,900,000			0	2,900,000
Goodwill, Fair Value Disclosure		0				0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | CSI Compressco [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		0				0
Intangible assets		20,600,000				20,600,000
Goodwill, Fair Value Disclosure		0				0
Fair value, year to date impairment losses						2,357,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | CSI Compressco [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		0				0
Intangible assets		0				0
Goodwill, Fair Value Disclosure		0				0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | CSI Compressco [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		0				0
Intangible assets		0				0
Goodwill, Fair Value Disclosure		0				0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | CSI Compressco [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		0				0
Intangible assets		20,600,000				20,600,000
Goodwill, Fair Value Disclosure		0				0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Offshore Services [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		0				0
Fair value, year to date impairment losses						1,078,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Offshore Services [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		0				0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Offshore Services [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		0				0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Offshore Services [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		0				0
CSI Compressco Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fair value of Senior Notes	279,700,000	278,200,000			279,700,000	278,200,000
Carrying value of Senior Notes	295,900,000				295,900,000
TETRA Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fair value of Senior Notes	130,800,000	$ 133,900,000			130,800,000	$ 133,900,000
Carrying value of Senior Notes	$ 125,000,000				$ 125,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Average useful life of finite-lived intangible asset					2 years
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Average useful life of finite-lived intangible asset					20 years