Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Information Details [Table]
Revenues	$ 227,644	$ 216,364	$ 208,369	$ 168,001	$ 173,222	$ 176,553	$ 175,660	$ 169,329	$ 820,378	$ 694,764	$ 1,130,145
Gross profit (loss)	15,164	43,507	26,888	14,265	1,781	28,753	16,272	4,611	99,824	51,417	189,236
Net income (loss)	(34,974)	(1,338)	(14,619)	(11,252)	(38,410)	(24,028)	(29,224)	(147,731)	(62,183)	(239,393)	(209,467)
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (28,739)	$ 3,145	$ (10,991)	$ (2,463)	$ (31,554)	$ (15,009)	$ (26,574)	$ (88,325)		(161,462)	(126,183)
Net income (loss) per share before discontinued operations attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (0.25)	$ 0.03	$ (0.10)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.33)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.32)	$ (1.11)
Net income (loss) per diluted share before discontinued operations attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (0.25)	$ 0.03	$ (0.10)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.33)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.32)	$ (1.11)
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	$ 14,900				$ 7,502			$ 10,700	14,876	18,172	44,158
Accumulated impairment losses	$ 124,400								124,400
Goodwill impairment									$ 0	$ 106,205	$ 177,006