Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Total Revenue	$ 155,845	$ 141,694	$ 134,787	$ 163,498	$ 224,492	$ 206,052	$ 145,548	$ 187,637	$ 595,824	[1]	$ 763,729	[1]	$ 558,134	[1]
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									0		0		0
Expenses:
Direct operating									424,365	[1]	603,275	[1]	455,899	[1]
Depreciation and amortization									123,924	[1]	158,388	[1]	112,897	[1]
General and administrative									65,467		75,608		81,394
Asset impairments									6,049	[1]	134,756	[1]	0	[1]
Total expenses									619,805		972,027		650,190
Loss from operations	(7,814)	9,023	(11,159)	(14,031)	(106,762)	(52,102)	(27,950)	(21,484)	(23,981)		(208,298)		(92,056)
Interest income (expense), net	(13,590)	(12,699)	(12,836)	(12,739)	(12,499)	(10,951)	(12,941)	(11,149)	(51,864)	[1]	(47,540)	[1]	(37,827)	[1]
Other income (expenses), net									7,802	[1]	35,825	[1]	(3,991)	[1]
Income (loss) before income taxes									(68,043)		(220,013)		(133,874)
Provision for income taxes									14,918	[1]	2,040	[1]	4,810	[1]
Net loss	(25,969)	(6,302)	(27,466)	(23,224)	(111,741)	(42,105)	(39,436)	(28,771)	(82,961)	[1]	(222,053)	[1]	(138,684)	[1]
Guarantor Parent Company
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Total Revenue									0		518		328
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									(74,575)		(216,304)		(120,228)
Expenses:
Direct operating									101		25,398		(2,000)
Depreciation and amortization									1,293		6,564		4,908
General and administrative									2,532		(982)		5,893
Asset impairments									0		0
Total expenses									3,926		30,980		8,801
Loss from operations									(78,501)		(246,766)		(128,701)
Interest income (expense), net									(10,187)		(8,176)		(6,033)
Other income (expenses), net									5,727		32,889		(9,043)
Income (loss) before income taxes									(82,961)		(222,053)		(143,777)
Provision for income taxes									0		0		(5,093)
Net loss									(82,961)		(222,053)		(138,684)
Issuer Subsidiary
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Total Revenue									0		0		0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									0		0		0
Expenses:
Direct operating									0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization									0		0		0
General and administrative									0		0		1,565
Asset impairments									0		0
Total expenses									0		0		1,565
Loss from operations									0		0		(1,565)
Interest income (expense), net									(40,632)		(39,323)		(33,494)
Other income (expenses), net									0		(1,121)		208
Income (loss) before income taxes									(40,632)		(40,444)		(34,851)
Provision for income taxes									0		0		14
Net loss									(40,632)		(40,444)		(34,865)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Total Revenue									270,738		414,837		236,697
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									1,263		(4,758)		(46,478)
Expenses:
Direct operating									129,900		216,813		134,458
Depreciation and amortization									114,087		126,071		98,900
General and administrative									38,524		39,789		21,314
Asset impairments									495		132,376
Total expenses									283,006		515,049		254,672
Loss from operations									(11,005)		(104,970)		(64,453)
Interest income (expense), net									1,285		607		188
Other income (expenses), net									1,712		6,322		1,852
Income (loss) before income taxes									(8,008)		(98,041)		(62,413)
Provision for income taxes									8,478		2,037		145
Net loss									(16,486)		(100,078)		(62,558)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Total Revenue									450,349		433,840		374,214
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									(17,298)		(58,177)		(17,221)
Expenses:
Direct operating									416,480		441,400		376,546
Depreciation and amortization									8,722		25,753		9,089
General and administrative									27,559		41,754		52,622
Asset impairments									5,554		2,380
Total expenses									458,315		511,287		438,257
Loss from operations									(25,264)		(135,624)		(81,264)
Interest income (expense), net									(2,330)		(648)		1,512
Other income (expenses), net									363		(2,265)		2,992
Income (loss) before income taxes									(27,231)		(138,537)		(76,760)
Provision for income taxes									6,440		3		9,744
Net loss									(33,671)		(138,540)		(86,504)
Eliminations
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Total Revenue									(125,263)		(85,466)		(53,105)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									90,610		279,239		183,927
Expenses:
Direct operating									(122,116)		(80,336)		(53,105)
Depreciation and amortization									(178)		0		0
General and administrative									(3,148)		(4,953)		0
Asset impairments									0		0
Total expenses									(125,442)		(85,289)		(53,105)
Loss from operations									90,789		279,062		183,927
Interest income (expense), net									0		0		0
Other income (expenses), net									0		0		0
Income (loss) before income taxes									90,789		279,062		183,927
Provision for income taxes									0		0		0
Net loss									$ 90,789		$ 279,062		$ 183,927

[1] During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company re-assessed its operating segments and concluded that its multi-client data library business is a separate operating segment. Accordingly, prior periods have been restated.