Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 36,006	$ 44,647
Restricted cash	2,562	3,060
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,718 at June 30, 2012 and $2,757 at December 31, 2011	109,494	160,736
Deferred costs	9,798	13,941
Prepaid expenses	11,165	12,747
Other current assets	3,286	3,269
Total current assets	172,311	238,400
Property and equipment, net	186,718	212,636
Multi-client data library, net	28,110	41,512
Deferred financing costs, net	11,684	12,987
Restricted cash	3,083
Other assets, net	8,940	8,637
Total assets	410,846	514,172
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	3,332	4,543
Accounts payable	42,877	79,300
Accrued liabilities	77,582	79,836
Deferred revenue	18,865	32,675
Income taxes payable	17,946	18,969
Total current liabilities	160,602	215,323
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current portion	350,168	350,183
Deferred income taxes	10,068	8,062
Derivative liabilities	201	5,778
Mandatorily redeemable preferred stock	57,935	53,210
Other liabilities	1,122	1,122
Total liabilities	580,096	633,678
Commitments and contingencies
Mezzanine equity:
Preferred stock, Series B-1 Senior Convertible, $10.00 par value; 2,500,000 shares authorized, 368,782 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2012 and 351,444 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2011	88,194	83,313
Stockholders' deficit:
Common stock, $.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 19,708,494 shares issued and 19,048,326 shares outstanding at June 30, 2012 and 19,289,489 shares issued and 18,990,290 shares outstanding at December 31, 2011	197	193
Additional paid-in capital	224,471	228,410
Accumulated deficit	(482,132)	(431,442)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	20	20
Total stockholders' deficit	(257,444)	(202,819)
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and stockholders' deficit	$ 410,846	$ 514,172