Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$ (64,727)	$ (25,154)	$ (127,518)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (other than multi-client library)	21,975	26,527	27,656
Amortization of multi-client data library	33,335	35,784	64,374
Stock-based compensation expense	3,267	5,486	8,707
Accrual for (reduction of) loss contingency related to legal proceedings	(1,168)	(101,978)	(69,557)
Equity in losses of investments	0	0	49,485
Gain on sale of Source product line	0	0	(6,522)
Gain on sale of cost method investments	0	0	(5,463)
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	0	0	23,284
Impairment of multi-client data library	0	399	100,100
Loss on bond exchange	2,182	0	0
Write-down of excess and obsolete inventory	429	151	6,952
Write-down of receivables from INOVA Geophysical	0	0	5,510
Deferred income taxes	(1,181)	7,444	(437)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	20,426	69,491	41,943
Unbilled receivables	6,543	1,630	26,762
Inventories	2,312	2,251	(13,892)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and accrued royalties	(5,085)	(30,264)	(4,771)
Deferred revenue	(2,759)	(1,571)	(8,382)
Other assets and liabilities	(13,978)	(6,720)	11,549
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	1,571	(16,524)	129,780
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investment in multi-client data library	(14,884)	(45,558)	(67,785)
Purchase of property, plant, equipment and seismic rental equipment	(1,488)	(19,241)	(8,264)
Repayment of (net advances to) by INOVA Geophysical	0	0	1,000
Net investment in and advances to OceanGeo B.V. prior to its consolidation	0	0	(3,074)
Net proceeds from sale of Source product line	0	0	14,394
Proceeds from sale of cost method investments	2,698	0	14,051
Other investing activities	30	1,263	928
Net cash used in investing activities	(13,644)	(63,536)	(48,750)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under revolving line of credit	15,000	0	15,000
Payments under revolving line of credit	(5,000)	0	(50,000)
Payments on notes payable and long-term debt	(8,634)	(7,452)	(12,998)
Cost associated with issuance of debt	(6,744)	(145)	(2,194)
Acquisition of non-controlling interest	0	0	(6,000)
Repurchase of common stock	(964)	(1,989)	0
Payments to repurchase bonds	(15,000)	0	0
Other financing activities	(252)	73	218
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(21,594)	(9,513)	(55,974)
Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	1,386	898	496
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(32,281)	(88,675)	25,552
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	84,933	173,608	148,056
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 52,652	$ 84,933	$ 173,608