Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2022
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The consolidated balance sheet of Geospace Technologies Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) at September 30, 2021 was derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements at that date. The consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2022 and the consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 were prepared by the Company without audit. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows were made. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for a full year or of future operations. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America were omitted pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Company’s fiscal year ended September 30, 2021.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. The Company considers many factors in selecting appropriate operational and financial accounting policies and controls, and in developing the estimates and assumptions that are used in the preparation of these financial statements. The Company continually evaluates its estimates, including those related to bad debt reserves, collectability of rental revenue, inventory obsolescence reserves, self-insurance reserves, product warranty reserves, useful lives of long-lived assets, impairment of long-lived assets and intangible assets, contingent consideration and deferred income tax assets. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. While management believes current estimates are reasonable and appropriate, actual results may differ from these estimates under different conditions or assumptions.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original or remaining maturity at the time of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents. At June 30, 2022, the Company had restricted cash of $0.1 million on deposit with a bank which serves as collateral on employee issued credit cards. The Company had no restricted cash at September 30, 2021. At June 30, 2022, cash and cash equivalents included $2.6 million held by the Company’s foreign subsidiaries and branch offices, including $1.4 million held by its subsidiary in the Russian Federation. If the Company were to repatriate the cash held by its Russian subsidiary, it would be required to accrue and pay taxes on any amount repatriated.
Impairment of Long-lived Assets	Impairment of Long-lived Assets The Company's long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever an event or circumstance indicates that the carrying amount of an asset or group of assets may not be recoverable. The impairment review, if necessary, includes a comparison of the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) to be generated by an asset group with the associated carrying value of the related assets. If the carrying value of the asset group exceeds the expected future cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying value of the asset group exceeds its fair value. At March 31, 2022, in light of the Company’s losses from operations for the six months ended March 31, 2022 and for fiscal year 2021 and the current war between Russia and Ukraine, management reviewed the recoverability of the carrying value of certain asset groups based on future undiscounted cash flows and determined that their expected future cash flows exceeded their carrying value. No additional indicators of impairment were observed at June 30, 2022. As a result, no impairment charges have been necessary for the nine months ended June 30, 2022.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In December 2019, the FASB issued guidance on simplifying the accounting for income taxes. The guidance eliminates certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. This guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company adopted this guidance during the first quarter of fiscal year 2022. The adoption of this guidance did not have any impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued guidance surrounding credit losses for financial instruments that replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in generally accepted accounting principles. The new impairment model requires immediate recognition of estimated credit losses expected to occur for most financial assets and certain other financial instruments. For available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses, credit losses will be recognized as allowances rather than reductions in the amortized cost of the securities. As a small reporting company, the Company must adopt this standard no later than the first quarter of its fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, although early adoption is permitted. The standard’s provisions will be applied as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first effective reporting period. The Company intends to adopt this standard during the first quarter of its fiscal year ending September 30, 2024 and is continuing to evaluate the impact of this new guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2022

The consolidated balance sheet of Geospace Technologies Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) at September 30, 2021 was derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements at that date. The consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2022 and the consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 were prepared by the Company without audit. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows were made. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for a full year or of future operations.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America were omitted pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Company’s fiscal year ended September 30, 2021.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. The Company considers many factors in selecting appropriate operational and financial accounting policies and controls, and in developing the estimates and assumptions that are used in the preparation of these financial statements. The Company continually evaluates its estimates, including those related to bad debt reserves, collectability of rental revenue, inventory obsolescence reserves, self-insurance reserves, product warranty reserves, useful lives of long-lived assets, impairment of long-lived assets and intangible assets, contingent consideration and deferred income tax assets. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. While management believes current estimates are reasonable and appropriate, actual results may differ from these estimates under different conditions or assumptions.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original or remaining maturity at the time of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents. At June 30, 2022, the Company had restricted cash of $0.1 million on deposit with a bank which serves as collateral on employee issued credit cards. The Company had no restricted cash at September 30, 2021. At June 30, 2022, cash and cash equivalents included $2.6 million held by the Company’s foreign subsidiaries and branch offices, including $1.4 million held by its subsidiary in the Russian Federation. If the Company were to repatriate the cash held by its Russian subsidiary, it would be required to accrue and pay taxes on any amount repatriated.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

The Company's long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever an event or circumstance indicates that the carrying amount of an asset or group of assets may not be recoverable. The impairment review, if necessary, includes a comparison of the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) to be generated by an asset group with the associated carrying value of the related assets. If the carrying value of the asset group exceeds the expected future cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying value of the asset group exceeds its fair value. At March 31, 2022, in light of the Company’s losses from operations for the six months ended March 31, 2022 and for fiscal year 2021 and the current war between Russia and Ukraine, management reviewed the recoverability of the carrying value of certain asset groups based on future undiscounted cash flows and determined that their expected future cash flows exceeded their carrying value. No additional indicators of impairment were observed at June 30, 2022. As a result, no impairment charges have been necessary for the nine months ended June 30, 2022.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2019, the FASB issued guidance on simplifying the accounting for income taxes. The guidance eliminates certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. This guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company adopted this guidance during the first quarter of fiscal year 2022. The adoption of this guidance did not have any impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued guidance surrounding credit losses for financial instruments that replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in generally accepted accounting principles. The new impairment model requires immediate recognition of estimated credit losses expected to occur for most financial assets and certain other financial instruments. For available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses, credit losses will be recognized as allowances rather than reductions in the amortized cost of the securities. As a small reporting company, the Company must adopt this standard no later than the first quarter of its fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, although early adoption is permitted. The standard’s provisions will be applied as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first effective reporting period. The Company intends to adopt this standard during the first quarter of its fiscal year ending September 30, 2024 and is continuing to evaluate the impact of this new guidance on its consolidated financial statements.