Cost Reduction Initiatives, Impairments, Restructurings and Other Charges - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	10 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 geographical_hubs location	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2016
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Percentage of headcount reduction as of period end						12.00%
Percentage of headcount reduction during period	10.00%	50.00%
Percentages salaries reduced during year			10.00%
Write-down of excess and obsolete inventory			$ 429	$ 151	$ 6,952
Write-down of certain receivables					8,200
Impairment of multi-client data library			$ 0	399	100,100
INOVA Geophysical [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Write-down of note receivable from OceanGeo					30,700
Charges related to excess and obsolete inventory and customer bad debts					3,500
Outstanding receivables due from INOVA	$ 5,500				$ 5,500
Severance charges [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges, incurred costs				$ 2,300
Systems [Member] | Towed Streamer [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of geographical hubs | geographical_hubs		2
Number of locations | location		2