Basis of Presentation and Nature of Operations	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Nature of Operations	Basis of Presentation and Nature of Operations Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Basic Energy Services, Inc. and subsidiaries (“Basic” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. Certain information relating to our organization and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q in accordance with GAAP and financial statement requirements promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The notes to the consolidated financial statements (unaudited) should be read in conjunction with the notes to the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. In the opinion of management, all adjustments which are of a normal recurring nature considered necessary for a fair presentation have been made in the accompanying unaudited financial statements. Emergence from Chapter 11 In connection with the Company’s emergence from its bankruptcy cases (the "Chapter 11 Cases"), on December 23, 2016 (the "Effective Date"), the Company applied the provisions of fresh start accounting, pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 852, Reorganizations, to its consolidated financial statements. We elected to apply fresh start accounting effective December 31, 2016, to coincide with the timing of our normal December accounting period close. The implementation of the First Amended Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Basic Energy Services, Inc. and its Affiliated Debtors (as confirmed, the "Prepackaged Plan") and the application of fresh start accounting materially changed the carrying amounts and classifications reported in our consolidated financial statements and resulted in the Company becoming a new entity for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, our consolidated financial statements for periods prior to December 31, 2016 will not be comparable to our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2016 or for periods subsequent to December 31, 2016. References to “Successor” or “Successor Company” refer to the Company on or after December 31, 2016, after giving effect to the implementation of the Prepackaged Plan and the application of fresh start accounting. References to “Predecessor” or “Predecessor Company” refer to the Company prior to December 31, 2016. Additionally, references to periods on or after December 31, 2016 refer to the Successor and references to periods prior to December 31, 2016 refer to the Predecessor. Liquidity and Capital Resources As of September 30, 2017, our primary capital resources were utilization of capital leases and borrowings under our $100.0 million accounts receivable securitization facility (the “New ABL Facility”). As of September 30, 2017, we had $64.0 million in borrowings under the New ABL Facility. At September 30, 2017, we had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $43.2 million compared to $98.9 million as of December 31, 2016. An additional amount of $47.7 million is classified as restricted cash. We have utilized, and expect to utilize in the future, bank and capital lease financing and sales of equity to obtain capital resources. When appropriate, we will consider public or private debt and equity offerings and non-recourse transactions to meet our liquidity needs. On October 27, 2017, the Company entered into Amendment No. 1 (“Amendment No. 1”) to the New ABL Facility. Among other things, Amendment No. 1 (i) increased the aggregate commitments under the Credit Agreement from $100 million to $120 million, (ii) appointed CIT Bank, N.A. to serve as syndication agent and (iii) added new lenders and amended the commitment schedule to the Credit Agreement. Nature of Operations Basic provides a wide range of well site services to oil and natural gas drilling and producing companies, including completion and remedial services, water logistics, well servicing and contract drilling. These services are primarily provided using Basic’s fleet of equipment. Basic’s operations are concentrated in the major United States onshore oil and gas producing regions in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Wyoming, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, California, the Rocky Mountains and Appalachia. Principles of Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Basic and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Basic has no variable interest in any non-consolidated organization, entity, partnership or contract. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. Accounting Estimates and Assumptions Preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. Critical accounting estimates are those in which significant judgment is used, and the impact of any changes in estimates would have a significant effect on our consolidated financial statements. Actual results and outcomes may vary from management's estimates and assumptions. Examples of critical accounting estimates and assumptions include: •Assets lives used to determine depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and intangible assets; •Fair value of property and equipment and intangible assets; •Allowance for doubtful accounts; •Litigation and self-insured risk reserves; •Stock-based compensation; and •Potential outcome of income tax events that have been recognized on our consolidated financial statements or returns.

Basis of Presentation and Nature of Operations

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Basic Energy Services, Inc. and subsidiaries (“Basic” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. Certain information relating to our organization and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q in accordance with GAAP and financial statement requirements promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The notes to the consolidated financial statements (unaudited) should be read in conjunction with the notes to the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. In the opinion of management, all adjustments which are of a normal recurring nature considered necessary for a fair presentation have been made in the accompanying unaudited financial statements.

Emergence from Chapter 11

In connection with the Company’s emergence from its bankruptcy cases (the "Chapter 11 Cases"), on December 23, 2016 (the "Effective Date"), the Company applied the provisions of fresh start accounting, pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 852, Reorganizations, to its consolidated financial statements. We elected to apply fresh start accounting effective December 31, 2016, to coincide with the timing of our normal December accounting period close.

The implementation of the First Amended Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Basic Energy Services, Inc. and its Affiliated Debtors (as confirmed, the "Prepackaged Plan") and the application of fresh start accounting materially changed the carrying amounts and classifications reported in our consolidated financial statements and resulted in the Company becoming a new entity for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, our consolidated financial statements for periods prior to December 31, 2016 will not be comparable to our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2016 or for periods subsequent to December 31, 2016.

References to “Successor” or “Successor Company” refer to the Company on or after December 31, 2016, after giving effect to the implementation of the Prepackaged Plan and the application of fresh start accounting. References to “Predecessor” or “Predecessor Company” refer to the Company prior to December 31, 2016. Additionally, references to periods on or after December 31, 2016 refer to the Successor and references to periods prior to December 31, 2016 refer to the Predecessor.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of September 30, 2017, our primary capital resources were utilization of capital leases and borrowings under our $100.0 million accounts receivable securitization facility (the “New ABL Facility”). As of September 30, 2017, we had $64.0 million in borrowings under the New ABL Facility. At September 30, 2017, we had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $43.2 million compared to $98.9 million as of December 31, 2016. An additional amount of $47.7 million is classified as restricted cash. We have utilized, and expect to utilize in the future, bank and capital lease financing and sales of equity to obtain capital resources. When appropriate, we will consider public or private debt and equity offerings and non-recourse transactions to meet our liquidity needs.

On October 27, 2017, the Company entered into Amendment No. 1 (“Amendment No. 1”) to the New ABL Facility. Among other things, Amendment No. 1 (i) increased the aggregate commitments under the Credit Agreement from $100 million to $120 million, (ii) appointed CIT Bank, N.A. to serve as syndication agent and (iii) added new lenders and amended the commitment schedule to the Credit Agreement.

Nature of Operations

Basic provides a wide range of well site services to oil and natural gas drilling and producing companies, including completion and remedial services, water logistics, well servicing and contract drilling. These services are primarily provided using Basic’s fleet of equipment. Basic’s operations are concentrated in the major United States onshore oil and gas producing regions in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Wyoming, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, California, the Rocky Mountains and Appalachia.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Basic and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Basic has no variable interest in any non-consolidated organization, entity, partnership or contract. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Accounting Estimates and Assumptions

Preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. Critical accounting estimates are those in which significant judgment is used, and the impact of any changes in estimates would have a significant effect on our consolidated financial statements. Actual results and outcomes may vary from management's estimates and assumptions. Examples of critical accounting estimates and assumptions include:

•Assets lives used to determine depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and intangible assets;

•Fair value of property and equipment and intangible assets;

•Allowance for doubtful accounts;

•Litigation and self-insured risk reserves;

•Stock-based compensation; and

•Potential outcome of income tax events that have been recognized on our consolidated financial statements or returns.