Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 30,725	$ 44,647
Restricted cash	3,284	3,060
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,811 at September 30, 2012 and $2,757 at December 31, 2011	135,617	160,736
Deferred costs	9,735	13,941
Prepaid expenses	14,708	12,747
Other current assets	3,919	3,269
Total current assets	197,988	238,400
Property and equipment, net	167,362	212,636
Multi-client data library, net	30,718	41,512
Deferred financing costs, net	10,708	12,987
Other assets, net	8,937	8,637
Total assets	415,713	514,172
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	3,061	4,543
Accounts payable	35,992	79,300
Accrued liabilities	88,002	79,836
Deferred revenue	21,254	32,675
Income taxes payable	19,503	18,969
Total current liabilities	167,812	215,323
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current portion	349,646	350,183
Deferred income taxes	11,187	8,062
Derivative liabilities	537	5,778
Mandatorily redeemable preferred stock	60,488	53,210
Other liabilities	1,122	1,122
Total liabilities	590,792	633,678
Commitments and contingencies
Mezzanine equity:
Preferred stock, Series B-1 Senior Convertible, $10.00 par value; 2,500,000 shares authorized, 377,769 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012 and 351,444 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2011	90,726	83,313
Stockholders' deficit:
Common stock, $.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 19,703,479 shares issued and 19,048,326 shares outstanding at September 30, 2012 and 19,289,489 shares issued and 18,990,290 shares outstanding at December 31, 2011	197	193
Additional paid-in capital	222,412	228,410
Accumulated deficit	(488,434)	(431,442)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	20	20
Total stockholders' deficit	(265,805)	(202,819)
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and stockholders' deficit	$ 415,713	$ 514,172