Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Revenues	$ 192,441	$ 288,796	$ 415,383	$ 532,524
Cost of Goods and Services Sold [Abstract]
Depreciation, amortization, and accretion	29,842	31,817	59,302	62,445
Impairment and other charges	8,977	2,311	14,348	2,457
Insurance recoveries associated with damaged equipment	591	0	591	0
Total cost of revenues	172,120	240,430	355,645	447,948
Gross profit	20,321	48,366	59,738	84,576
General and administrative expense	34,014	36,295	64,551	70,572
Interest expense, net	17,586	18,529	35,442	36,908
Fair Value Adjustment Of Warrants, Income Statement	11	(1,520)	(327)	(1,113)
Preferred, Fair Value Adjustment	0	146	0	1,309
Other (income) expense, net	3,839	627	4,278	(324)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	(35,129)	(5,711)	(44,206)	(22,776)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	2,001	2,490	3,155	4,099
Income (loss) before taxes	(37,130)	(8,201)	(47,361)	(26,875)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	163	(345)	18	(771)
Net income (loss)	(36,967)	(8,546)	(47,343)	(27,646)
(Income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	15,712	1,633	24,537	9,895
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (21,255)	$ (6,913)	$ (22,806)	$ (17,751)
Basic net income per common share:
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic and Diluted Share	$ (0.17)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.13)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share	0.00	0.00	0.00	(0.01)
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (0.17)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.14)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	125,886	125,612	125,736	125,646
Diluted net income per common share:
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share	$ (0.17)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.13)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share	0.00	0.00	0.00	(0.01)
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (0.17)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.14)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	125,886	125,612	125,736	125,646
Product [Member]
Revenues	$ 98,173	$ 135,350	$ 183,206	$ 227,131
Cost of Goods and Services Sold [Abstract]
Cost of product sales	75,004	108,253	133,971	182,841
Service [Member]
Revenues	94,268	153,446	232,177	305,393
Cost of Goods and Services Sold [Abstract]
Cost of product sales	$ 58,888	$ 98,049	$ 148,615	$ 200,205