Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Revenues	$ 256,851	$ 183,677	$ 716,304	$ 523,017
Cost of Goods and Services Sold [Abstract]
Depreciation, amortization, and accretion	29,460	25,942	84,880	78,250
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	2,940	0	2,940	0
Insurance Recoveries	0	2,352	0	2,352
Total cost of revenues	215,521	141,026	599,190	431,177
Gross profit	41,330	42,651	117,114	91,840
General and administrative expense	34,446	29,685	98,866	85,896
Interest expense, net	18,894	14,654	52,246	42,749
Fair Value Adjustment Of Warrants, Income Statement	(179)	(47)	22	(11,568)
Preferred, Fair Value Adjustment	498	(1,137)	1,344	(4,340)
Litigation Settlement, Amount	0	0	0	(12,816)
Other (income) expense, net	619	(425)	7,203	811
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	(12,948)	(79)	(42,567)	(8,892)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(96)	778	3,474	4,176
Income (loss) before taxes	(12,852)	(857)	(46,041)	(13,068)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	796	(481)	(40,931)	(14,141)
Net income (loss)	(12,056)	(1,338)	(86,972)	(27,209)
(Income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	5,120	4,483	20,423	16,900
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (6,936)	$ 3,145	$ (66,549)	$ (10,309)
Basic net income per common share:
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic and Diluted Share	$ (0.06)	$ 0.03	$ (0.21)	$ 0.03
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share	0.00	0.00	(0.33)	(0.12)
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (0.06)	$ 0.03	$ (0.54)	$ (0.09)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	125,689	114,563	123,557	114,375
Diluted net income per common share:
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share	$ (0.06)	$ 0.03	$ (0.21)	$ 0.03
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share	0.00	0.00	(0.33)	(0.12)
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (0.06)	$ 0.03	$ (0.54)	$ (0.09)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	125,689	114,569	123,557	114,375
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business			$ 33,813
Product [Member]
Revenues	$ 102,070	$ 72,566	285,136	$ 226,724
Cost of Goods and Services Sold [Abstract]
Cost of product sales	81,817	49,999	228,146	161,348
Service [Member]
Revenues	154,781	111,111	431,168	296,293
Cost of Goods and Services Sold [Abstract]
Cost of product sales	$ 101,304	$ 67,437	$ 283,224	$ 193,931