Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Income Statement [Abstract]
Service revenues	$ 354,583	$ 265,586	$ 279,120
Product revenues	171,734	189,035	165,202
Total net revenues	526,317	454,621	444,322
Cost of services	219,324	177,956	183,931
Cost of products	91,192	103,220	94,658
Gross profit	215,801	173,445	165,733
Operating expenses:
Research, development and engineering	34,080	24,569	25,227
Marketing and sales	35,240	31,269	30,405
General, administrative, and other operating expense	71,954	50,812	57,254
Total operating expenses	141,274	106,650	112,886
Income (loss) from operations	74,527	66,795	52,847
Interest expense, net	(5,265)	(5,784)	(30,770)
Equity in (earnings) losses of INOVA Geophysical	297	(22,862)	(23,724)
Other income (expense)	17,124	(3,447)	(8,249)
Income (loss) before income taxes	86,683	34,702	(9,896)
Income tax expense	23,857	10,136	26,942
Net income (loss)	62,826	24,566	(36,838)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	489	208	0
Net income (loss) attributable to ION	63,315	24,774	(36,838)
Preferred stock dividends	1,352	1,352	1,936
Net income (loss) applicable to common shares	$ 61,963	$ 23,422	$ (38,774)
Net income per share:
Basic	$ 0.40	$ 0.15	$ (0.27)
Diluted	$ 0.39	$ 0.15	$ (0.27)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic	155,801	154,811	144,278
Diluted	162,765	156,090	144,278