Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Revenues	$ 152,601	$ 245,947	$ 567,984	$ 778,471
Cost of Goods and Services Sold [Abstract]
Depreciation, amortization, and accretion	29,604	30,867	88,906	93,312
Impairment and other charges	97	849	14,445	3,306
Insurance recoveries associated with damaged equipment	52	1,042	643	1,392
Total cost of revenues	132,631	200,987	488,276	648,935
Gross profit	19,970	44,960	79,708	129,536
General and administrative expense	25,256	34,926	89,807	105,498
Interest expense, net	17,631	18,146	53,073	55,054
Fair Value Adjustment Of Warrants, Income Statement	0	78	(327)	(1,035)
Preferred, Fair Value Adjustment	0	0	0	1,309
Other (income) expense, net	(2,137)	(690)	2,141	(1,014)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	(20,780)	(7,500)	(64,986)	(30,276)
Provision for income taxes	645	1,579	3,800	5,678
Income (loss) before taxes	(21,425)	(9,079)	(68,786)	(35,954)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(173)	(9,130)	(155)	(9,901)
Net income (loss)	(21,598)	(18,209)	(68,941)	(45,855)
(Income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	8,296	2,378	32,833	12,273
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (13,302)	$ (15,831)	$ (36,108)	$ (33,582)
Basic net income per common share:
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic and Diluted Share	$ (0.10)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.29)	$ (0.19)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share	0	(0.07)	0	(0.08)
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (0.10)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.29)	$ (0.27)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	125,893	125,568	125,789	125,620
Diluted net income per common share:
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share	$ (0.10)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.29)	$ (0.19)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share	0	(0.07)	0	(0.08)
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (0.10)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.29)	$ (0.27)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	125,893	125,568	125,789	125,620
Product sales
Revenues	$ 68,810	$ 93,377	$ 252,016	$ 320,508
Cost of Goods and Services Sold [Abstract]
Cost of product sales	50,541	71,957	184,512	254,798
Services
Revenues	83,791	152,570	315,968	457,963
Cost of Goods and Services Sold [Abstract]
Cost of product sales	$ 52,441	$ 98,356	$ 201,056	$ 298,911