Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Revenues	$ 245,947	$ 256,851	$ 778,471	$ 716,304
Cost of Goods and Services Sold [Abstract]
Depreciation, amortization, and accretion	30,867	29,460	93,312	84,880
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	849	2,940	3,306	2,940
Insurance recoveries	(1,042)	0	(1,392)	0
Total cost of revenues	200,987	215,521	648,935	599,190
Gross profit	44,960	41,330	129,536	117,114
General and administrative expense	34,926	34,446	105,498	98,866
Interest expense, net	18,146	18,894	55,054	52,246
Fair Value Adjustment Of Warrants, Income Statement	78	(179)	(1,035)	22
Preferred, Fair Value Adjustment	0	498	1,309	1,344
Other (income) expense, net	(690)	619	(1,014)	7,203
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	(7,500)	(12,948)	(30,276)	(42,567)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	1,579	(96)	5,678	3,474
Income (loss) before taxes	(9,079)	(12,852)	(35,954)	(46,041)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(9,130)	796	(9,901)	(40,931)
Net income (loss)	(18,209)	(12,056)	(45,855)	(86,972)
(Income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	2,378	5,120	12,273	20,423
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (15,831)	$ (6,936)	$ (33,582)	$ (66,549)
Basic net income per common share:
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic and Diluted Share	$ (0.06)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.19)	$ (0.21)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share	(0.07)	0.00	(0.08)	(0.33)
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (0.13)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.27)	$ (0.54)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	125,568	125,689	125,620	123,557
Diluted net income per common share:
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share	$ (0.06)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.19)	$ (0.21)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share	(0.07)	0.00	(0.08)	(0.33)
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (0.13)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.27)	$ (0.54)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	125,568	125,689	125,620	123,557
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business				$ 33,800
Product [Member]
Revenues	$ 93,377	$ 102,070	$ 320,508	285,136
Cost of Goods and Services Sold [Abstract]
Cost of product sales	71,957	81,817	254,798	228,146
Service [Member]
Revenues	152,570	154,781	457,963	431,168
Cost of Goods and Services Sold [Abstract]
Cost of product sales	$ 98,356	$ 101,304	$ 298,911	$ 283,224