Equity (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Changes in Equity [Line Items]
Stockholders' equity, beginning balance	$ 601,608	$ 593,440	$ 516,323	$ 576,494
Net income (loss)	1,954	170	29,908	19,157
Changes in commodity derivatives, net of taxes	0	(10,025)	2,663	(13,728)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of taxes	(9,132)	3,016	(3,419)	713
Comprehensive income (loss)	(7,178)	(6,839)	29,152	6,142
Exercise of common stock options	492	65	3,297	849
Issuance of Compressco Partners common units, net of offering costs	(629)	0	42,256
Distributions to public unitholders	(125)		(125)	0
Stock compensation expense	1,277	2,573	4,417	5,628
Purchases of treasury stock and other	(190)	70	(1,459)	(53)
Tax benefit upon exercise of stock options	(126)	25	1,268	274
Stockholders' equity, ending balance	595,129	589,334	595,129	589,334
Changes in Equity Detail (Parenthetical)
Changes in commodity derivatives, taxes	0	(5,938)	1,578	(8,132)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, taxes	1,825	734	1,055	(914)
TETRA
Changes in Equity [Line Items]
Stockholders' equity, beginning balance	558,628	593,440	516,323	576,494
Net income (loss)	1,387	170	29,246	19,157
Changes in commodity derivatives, net of taxes	0	(10,025)	2,663	(13,728)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of taxes	(9,132)	3,016	(3,419)	713
Comprehensive income (loss)	(7,745)	(6,839)	28,490	6,142
Exercise of common stock options	492	65	3,297	849
Issuance of Compressco Partners common units, net of offering costs	0	0	0
Distributions to public unitholders	0		0
Stock compensation expense	1,277	2,573	4,417	5,628
Purchases of treasury stock and other	(190)	70	(1,459)	(53)
Tax benefit upon exercise of stock options	(126)	25	1,268	274
Stockholders' equity, ending balance	552,336	589,334	552,336	589,334
Noncontrolling Interest
Changes in Equity [Line Items]
Stockholders' equity, beginning balance	42,980	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	567	0	662	0
Changes in commodity derivatives, net of taxes	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of taxes	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	567	0	662	0
Exercise of common stock options	0	0	0	0
Issuance of Compressco Partners common units, net of offering costs	(629)	0	42,256
Distributions to public unitholders	(125)		(125)
Stock compensation expense	0	0	0	0
Purchases of treasury stock and other	0	0	0	0
Tax benefit upon exercise of stock options	0	0	0	0
Stockholders' equity, ending balance	$ 42,793	$ 0	$ 42,793	$ 0