Note 16 - Subsequent Events	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	16. Subsequent Events On April 30, 2012, the Company entered into a definitive share acquisition agreement (the “Agreement”) to acquire Sun Well Service, Inc. (“Sun Well”), an operating subsidiary of BNS Holding, Inc. (“BNS”). Steel Partners owns approximately 85% of BNS. Sun Well is a provider of premium well services to oil and gas exploration and production companies operating in the Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana. Sun Well will be included in the Company’s oilfield services reporting segment. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Company will acquire all of the capital stock of SWH, Inc., the parent company of Sun Well, for an acquisition price of $85 million less net debt (debt outstanding less cash), subject to certain adjustments. The acquisition price will be paid through the issuance of up to 2,200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (valued at $30 per share) and cash. The acquisition is contingent upon BNS stockholder approval, among other things, and is expected to close by the end of the June 30, 2012 quarter. As a result of the acquisition, Steel Partners will beneficially own slightly over 50% of the Company’s outstanding common stock. The Company and BNS each appointed a special committee of independent directors to consider and negotiate this transaction because of the interest of Steel Partners in each company.

Note 16 - Subsequent Events

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

16. Subsequent Events

On April 30, 2012, the Company entered into a definitive share acquisition agreement (the “Agreement”) to acquire Sun Well Service, Inc. (“Sun Well”), an operating subsidiary of BNS Holding, Inc. (“BNS”). Steel Partners owns approximately 85% of BNS. Sun Well is a provider of premium well services to oil and gas exploration and production companies operating in the Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana. Sun Well will be included in the Company’s oilfield services reporting segment.

Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Company will acquire all of the capital stock of SWH, Inc., the parent company of Sun Well, for an acquisition price of $85 million less net debt (debt outstanding less cash), subject to certain adjustments. The acquisition price will be paid through the issuance of up to 2,200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (valued at $30 per share) and cash. The acquisition is contingent upon BNS stockholder approval, among other things, and is expected to close by the end of the June 30, 2012 quarter.

As a result of the acquisition, Steel Partners will beneficially own slightly over 50% of the Company’s outstanding common stock.

The Company and BNS each appointed a special committee of independent directors to consider and negotiate this transaction because of the interest of Steel Partners in each company.