Supplemental Schedules Supplemental Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 64,595,000	$ 55,659,000	$ 197,002,000
Investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(51,923,000)	(21,066,000)	(120,597,000)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment	862,000	3,354,000	7,135,000
Other investing activities	616,000	3,456,000	(1,525,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(48,093,000)	(14,256,000)	(114,987,000)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	384,550,000	458,580,000	535,896,000
Principal payments on long-term debt	(384,100,000)	(689,783,000)	(598,070,000)
CCLP distributions	(18,826,000)	(28,956,000)	(37,816,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of underwriters' discount	0	168,275,000	0
Proceeds from sale of common stock and exercise of stock options	0	68,000	303,000
Other	(2,157,000)	(6,073,000)	(3,750,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(21,336,000)	(32,633,000)	(104,488,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	1,122,000	(1,987,000)	(2,854,000)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(3,712,000)	6,783,000	(25,327,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	29,840,000	23,057,000	48,384,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	26,128,000	29,840,000	23,057,000
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by operating activities	40,283	14,861	100,932
Investing activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	0	0	0
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(27,863)	(2,931)	678
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment	982	1,325	2,146
Purchase of CSI Compressco's common units and additional general partner contribution	799	314	1,626
Other investing activities	0	(10,000)	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(26,082)	(11,292)	4,450
Financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	303,650	349,550	472,896
Principal payments on long-term debt	(309,200)	(516,900)	(575,070)
CCLP distributions	0	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of underwriters' discount	0	168,275	0
Proceeds from sale of common stock and exercise of stock options	0	0	0
Other	(3,000)	(4,000)	(4,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(8,147)	(3,569)	(105,613)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	6,054	0	(231)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0	231
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 6,054	$ 0	$ 0