Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Litigation We are named defendants in several lawsuits and respondents in certain governmental proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. While the outcome of lawsuits or other proceedings against us cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not consider it reasonably possible that a loss resulting from such lawsuits or other proceedings in excess of any amounts accrued has been incurred that is expected to have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity. On March 18, 2011, we filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Union County, Arkansas, asserting claims of professional negligence, breach of contract and other claims against the engineering firm we hired for engineering design, equipment, procurement, advisory, testing and startup services for our El Dorado, Arkansas chemical production facility. The engineering firm disputed our claims and promptly filed a motion to compel the matter to arbitration. After a lengthy procedural dispute in Arkansas state court, arbitration proceedings were initiated on November 15, 2013. Ultimately, on December 16, 2016, the arbitration panel ruled in our favor, declared us as the prevailing party, and awarded us a total net amount of $12.8 million. We received full payment of the $12.8 million final award on January 5, 2017, and this amount was credited to earnings during the first quarter of 2017. Environmental One of our subsidiaries, TETRA Micronutrients, Inc. (TMI), previously owned and operated a production facility located in Fairbury, Nebraska. TMI is subject to an Administrative Order on Consent issued to American Microtrace, Inc. (n/k/a/ TETRA Micronutrients, Inc.) in the proceeding styled In the Matter of American Microtrace Corporation, EPA I.D. No. NED00610550, Respondent, Docket No. VII-98-H-0016, dated September 25, 1998 (the "Consent Order"), with regard to the Fairbury facility. TMI is liable for ongoing environmental monitoring at the Fairbury facility under the Consent Order; however, the current owner of the Fairbury facility is responsible for costs associated with the closure of that facility. While the outcome cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not consider it reasonably possible that a loss in excess of any amounts accrued has been incurred or is expected to have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity. Product Purchase Obligations In the normal course of our Completion Fluids & Products Division operations, we enter into supply agreements with certain manufacturers of various raw materials and finished products. Some of these agreements have terms and conditions that specify a minimum or maximum level of purchases over the term of the agreement. Other agreements require us to purchase the entire output of the raw material or finished product produced by the manufacturer. Our purchase obligations under these agreements apply only with regard to raw materials and finished products that meet specifications set forth in the agreements. We recognize a liability for the purchase of such products at the time we receive them. As of December 31, 2018, the aggregate amount of the fixed and determinable portion of the purchase obligation pursuant to our Completion Fluids & Products Division’s supply agreements was approximately $104.0 million, including $9.5 million during 2019, $9.5 million during 2020, $9.5 million during 2021, $9.5 million during 2022, $9.5 million during 2023, and $56.5 million thereafter, extending through 2029. Amounts purchased under these agreements for each of the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, was $18.0 million, $16.1 million, and $13.3 million, respectively. Contingencies of Discontinued Operations During 2011, in connection with the sale of a significant majority of Maritech's oil and gas producing properties, the buyers of the properties assumed the associated decommissioning liabilities pursuant to the purchase and sale agreements. To the extent that a buyer of these properties fails to perform the abandonment and decommissioning work required, a previous owner, including Maritech, may be required to perform the abandonment and decommissioning obligation. As the former parent company of Maritech, we also may be responsible for performing these abandonment and decommissioning obligations. In March 2018, we closed the Maritech Asset Purchase Agreement with Orinoco that provided for the purchase by Orinoco of the Maritech Properties. Also in March 2018, we finalized the Maritech Equity Purchase Agreement with Orinoco that provided for the purchase by Orinoco of the Maritech Equity Interests. As discussed in Note E - "Acquisitions and Dispositions," pursuant to the Bonding Agreement, Orinoco is required to replace, within 90 days following the closing, the initial bonds delivered at closing with non-revocable performance bonds, meeting certain requirements, in the aggregate sum of $47.0 million. Orinoco has not delivered such replacement bonds and we are seeking to enforce the terms of the Bonding Agreement. The non-revocable performance bonds delivered at the closing remain in effect. As a result of these transactions, we have effectively exited the businesses of our Offshore Services and Maritech segments and Orinoco assumed all of Maritech's remaining abandonment and decommissioning obligations.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Litigation

We are named defendants in several lawsuits and respondents in certain governmental proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. While the outcome of lawsuits or other proceedings against us cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not consider it reasonably possible that a loss resulting from such lawsuits or other proceedings in excess of any amounts accrued has been incurred that is expected to have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

On March 18, 2011, we filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Union County, Arkansas, asserting claims of professional negligence, breach of contract and other claims against the engineering firm we hired for engineering design, equipment, procurement, advisory, testing and startup services for our El Dorado, Arkansas chemical production facility. The engineering firm disputed our claims and promptly filed a motion to compel the matter to arbitration. After a lengthy procedural dispute in Arkansas state court, arbitration proceedings were initiated on November 15, 2013. Ultimately, on December 16, 2016, the arbitration panel ruled in our favor, declared us as the prevailing party, and awarded us a total net amount of $12.8 million. We received full payment of the $12.8 million final award on January 5, 2017, and this amount was credited to earnings during the first quarter of 2017.

Environmental

One of our subsidiaries, TETRA Micronutrients, Inc. (TMI), previously owned and operated a production facility located in Fairbury, Nebraska. TMI is subject to an Administrative Order on Consent issued to American Microtrace, Inc. (n/k/a/ TETRA Micronutrients, Inc.) in the proceeding styled In the Matter of American Microtrace Corporation, EPA I.D. No. NED00610550, Respondent, Docket No. VII-98-H-0016, dated September 25, 1998 (the "Consent Order"), with regard to the Fairbury facility. TMI is liable for ongoing environmental monitoring at the Fairbury facility under the Consent Order; however, the current owner of the Fairbury facility is responsible for costs associated with the closure of that facility. While the outcome cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not consider it reasonably possible that a loss in excess of any amounts accrued has been incurred or is expected to have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

Product Purchase Obligations

In the normal course of our Completion Fluids & Products Division operations, we enter into supply agreements with certain manufacturers of various raw materials and finished products. Some of these agreements have terms and conditions that specify a minimum or maximum level of purchases over the term of the agreement. Other agreements require us to purchase the entire output of the raw material or finished product produced by the manufacturer. Our purchase obligations under these agreements apply only with regard to raw materials and finished products that meet specifications set forth in the agreements. We recognize a liability for the purchase of such products at the time we receive them. As of December 31, 2018, the aggregate amount of the fixed and determinable portion of the purchase obligation pursuant to our Completion Fluids & Products Division’s supply agreements was approximately $104.0 million, including $9.5 million during 2019, $9.5 million during 2020, $9.5 million during 2021, $9.5 million during 2022, $9.5 million during 2023, and $56.5 million thereafter, extending through 2029. Amounts purchased under these agreements for each of the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, was $18.0 million, $16.1 million, and $13.3 million, respectively.

Contingencies of Discontinued Operations

During 2011, in connection with the sale of a significant majority of Maritech's oil and gas producing properties, the buyers of the properties assumed the associated decommissioning liabilities pursuant to the purchase and sale agreements. To the extent that a buyer of these properties fails to perform the abandonment and decommissioning work required, a previous owner, including Maritech, may be required to perform the abandonment and decommissioning obligation. As the former parent company of Maritech, we also may be responsible for performing these abandonment and decommissioning obligations. In March 2018, we closed the Maritech Asset Purchase Agreement with Orinoco that provided for the purchase by Orinoco of the Maritech Properties. Also in March 2018, we finalized the Maritech Equity Purchase Agreement with Orinoco that provided for the purchase by Orinoco of the Maritech Equity Interests. As discussed in Note E - "Acquisitions and Dispositions," pursuant to the Bonding Agreement, Orinoco is required to replace, within 90 days following the closing, the initial bonds delivered at closing with non-revocable performance bonds, meeting certain requirements, in the aggregate sum of $47.0 million. Orinoco has not delivered such replacement bonds and we are seeking to enforce the terms of the Bonding Agreement. The non-revocable performance bonds delivered at the closing remain in effect. As a result of these transactions, we have effectively exited the businesses of our Offshore Services and Maritech segments and Orinoco assumed all of Maritech's remaining abandonment and decommissioning obligations.