Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from unaffiliated clients	$ 276,135	$ 273,163	$ 806,600	$ 797,229
Inter-segment revenue	0	0	0	0
Segment operating income (loss)	89,120	84,596	256,081	245,502
Total assets (at end of period)	685,132	657,476	685,132	657,476	661,010
Capital expenditures	7,837	9,053	27,624	26,988
Depreciation and amortization	6,845	6,753	19,796	18,742
Reservoir Description [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from unaffiliated clients			387,225	386,000
Inter-segment revenue			10,266	2,131
Segment operating income (loss)			106,571	107,707
Capital expenditures			15,673	17,267
Depreciation and amortization			11,941	11,080
Production Enhancement [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from unaffiliated clients			343,434	337,141
Inter-segment revenue			54,097	2,468
Segment operating income (loss)			120,597	113,761
Capital expenditures			5,508	5,406
Depreciation and amortization			5,605	5,810
Reservoir Management [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from unaffiliated clients			75,941	74,088
Inter-segment revenue			2,189	1,124
Segment operating income (loss)			27,821	23,837
Capital expenditures			2,388	1,321
Depreciation and amortization			955	692
Operating Segment Corporate And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from unaffiliated clients			0	0
Inter-segment revenue			(66,552)	(5,723)
Segment operating income (loss)			1,092	197
Capital expenditures			4,055	2,994
Depreciation and amortization			1,295	1,160
Operating Segments [Member] | Reservoir Description [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from unaffiliated clients	131,380	131,533
Inter-segment revenue	4,734	656
Segment operating income (loss)	35,377	35,938
Total assets (at end of period)	317,741	320,505	317,741	320,505
Capital expenditures	4,577	5,414
Depreciation and amortization	4,158	3,856
Operating Segments [Member] | Production Enhancement [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from unaffiliated clients	122,161	119,511
Inter-segment revenue	52,916	791
Segment operating income (loss)	45,735	42,284
Total assets (at end of period)	277,320	261,970	277,320	261,970
Capital expenditures	2,678	1,467
Depreciation and amortization	1,830	2,196
Operating Segments [Member] | Reservoir Management [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from unaffiliated clients	22,594	22,119
Inter-segment revenue	1,422	301
Segment operating income (loss)	7,553	6,516
Total assets (at end of period)	33,646	37,005	33,646	37,005
Capital expenditures	2,021	285
Depreciation and amortization	350	312
Corporate & Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from unaffiliated clients	0	0
Inter-segment revenue	(59,072)	(1,748)
Segment operating income (loss)	455	(142)
Total assets (at end of period)	56,425	37,996	56,425	37,996
Capital expenditures	(1,439)	1,887
Depreciation and amortization	$ 507	$ 389