Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss	$ (56,992)	$ (110,312)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	88,626	126,351
Asset impairments		40,000
Bad debt expense		1,853
Loss on prepayment of debt, amortization of deferred financing costs, and accretion of debt discount	4,355	4,789
Stock-based compensation	1,500	1,987
(Gain) loss on disposal, exchange and sale of assets	2,060	(4,824)
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities	(5,270)	(31,381)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash, net of investing portion	(224)	270
Accounts receivable	25,119	4,328
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(2,450)	(3,789)
Deferred costs	4,206	1,789
Accounts payable	(43,308)	13,322
Deferred revenue	(11,421)	622
Accrued liabilities and other liabilities	18,190	14,579
Net cash provided by operating activities	24,391	59,584
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Investment in multi-client data library, net	(37,189)	(63,888)
Purchases and acquisition of property and equipment	(10,790)	(14,031)
Purchases of other assets	(569)	(1,616)
Proceeds from sale/disposal of assets	15,895	7,588
Net cash used in investing activities	(32,653)	(71,947)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from issuance of debt		60,000
Net change in short-term debt	(2,072)	348
Payments on capital lease obligations and vendor financing	(2,874)	(1,807)
Payments on debt		(33,000)
Payments of debt issuance costs	(714)	(2,376)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(5,660)	23,165
Net increase (decrease) in cash	(13,922)	10,802
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	44,647	42,851
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period	30,725	53,653
Cash disclosures:
Interest paid	19,998	18,499
Income taxes paid	4,451	4,144
Non-cash disclosures:
Capitalized depreciation to multi-client data library	2,896	4,491
Purchases of property and equipment under capital lease obligations and vendor financings, net of down payments	2,430	6,743
Deferred financing costs paid in common stock		$ 3,980