Segment Information (Details)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 segment	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of business segments | segment	3		4
Summary of segment information
Revenues	$ 78,622,000	$ 66,674,000		$ 137,439,000	$ 144,047,000
Gross profit (loss)	31,765,000	11,108,000		27,688,000	(14,815,000)
Income (loss) from operations	11,864,000	(12,874,000)		(34,853,000)	(100,252,000)
Interest expense, net	(4,607,000)	(4,854,000)		(14,043,000)	(14,086,000)
Other income (expense), net	(2,027,000)	(346,000)		(3,624,000)	98,035,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	5,230,000	(18,074,000)		(52,520,000)	(16,303,000)
Operating segments [Member]
Summary of segment information
Revenues	78,622,000	66,674,000		137,439,000	144,047,000
Gross profit (loss)	$ 31,765,000	$ 11,108,000		$ 27,688,000	$ (14,815,000)
Gross margin	40.00%	17.00%		20.00%	(10.00%)
Operating segments [Member] | Devices And Optimization Software And Services [Member]
Summary of segment information
Revenues	$ 12,601,000	$ 14,029,000		$ 33,349,000	$ 50,053,000
Operating segments [Member] | E & P Technology & Services [Member]
Summary of segment information
Revenues	36,037,000	52,645,000		67,673,000	93,994,000
Gross profit (loss)	$ 12,888,000	$ 11,294,000		$ (418,000)	$ (6,954,000)
Gross margin	36.00%	21.00%		(1.00%)	(7.00%)
Income (loss) from operations	$ 7,259,000	$ 1,642,000		$ (16,867,000)	$ (37,401,000)
Operating segments [Member] | E & P Technology & Services [Member] | New Venture and Data Library [Member]
Summary of segment information
Revenues	29,903,000	41,952,000		48,335,000	60,263,000
Operating segments [Member] | E & P Technology & Services [Member] | New Venture [Member]
Summary of segment information
Revenues	8,393,000	26,650,000		16,278,000	35,315,000
Operating segments [Member] | E & P Technology & Services [Member] | Data Library [Member]
Summary of segment information
Revenues	21,510,000	15,302,000		32,057,000	24,948,000
Operating segments [Member] | E & P Technology & Services [Member] | Imaging Services [Member]
Summary of segment information
Revenues	6,134,000	10,693,000		19,338,000	33,731,000
Operating segments [Member] | E & P Operations Optimization [Member]
Summary of segment information
Gross profit (loss)	$ 6,866,000	$ 7,039,000		$ 16,647,000	$ 25,971,000
Gross margin	54.00%	50.00%		50.00%	52.00%
Income (loss) from operations	$ 3,682,000	$ 3,916,000		$ 7,162,000	$ 15,786,000
Operating segments [Member] | E & P Operations Optimization [Member] | Devices [Member]
Summary of segment information
Revenues	8,679,000	7,290,000		20,664,000	27,733,000
Operating segments [Member] | E & P Operations Optimization [Member] | Optimization Software and Services [Member]
Summary of segment information
Revenues	3,922,000	6,739,000		12,685,000	22,320,000
Operating segments [Member] | Ocean Bottom Services Segment [Member]
Summary of segment information
Revenues	29,984,000	0		36,417,000	0
Gross profit (loss)	$ 12,011,000	$ (7,225,000)		$ 11,459,000	$ (33,832,000)
Gross margin	40.00%	0.00%		31.00%	0.00%
Income (loss) from operations	$ 9,320,000	$ (10,287,000)		$ 2,053,000	$ (46,457,000)
Corporate and other [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Summary of segment information
Income (loss) from operations	$ (8,397,000)	$ (8,145,000)		$ (27,201,000)	$ (32,180,000)
INOVA Geophysical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Equity method investments value						$ 0