Industry Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	8 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Aug. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Industry Segments
Aggregate percentage of sold reserves			95.00%
Industry Segments [Line Items]
Product sales	$ 53,225	$ 91,624		$ 265,038	$ 308,732
Services and rentals	148,209	120,294		394,055	350,697
Revenues	201,434	211,918		659,093	659,429
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	2,830	(204)		46,343	28,806
Assets	1,244,482	1,333,629		1,244,482	1,333,629	1,299,628
Corporate Overhead Footnote
General and administrative expense	8,314	7,860		26,964	25,629
Depreciation and amortization	752	724		2,166	2,227
Interest expense	4,219	4,346		12,713	12,625
Other general corporate (income) expense	351	1,069		14,910	120
Total	13,636	13,999		56,753	40,601
Fluids Division Member
Industry Segments [Line Items]
Product sales	46,680	41,818		174,614	155,672
Services and rentals	18,709	16,036		56,900	47,740
Intersegment revenues	26	8		74	40
Revenues	65,415	57,862		231,588	203,452
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	5,127	1,716		23,921	18,093
Assets	375,070	379,605		375,070	379,605
Offshore Services Member
Industry Segments [Line Items]
Product sales	1,348	831		3,475	1,978
Services and rentals	87,187	87,248		224,027	222,696
Intersegment revenues		742		3	946
Revenues	88,535	88,821		227,505	225,620
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	13,466	18,323		22,667	30,151
Assets	239,601	173,913		239,601	173,913
Maritech Member
Industry Segments [Line Items]
Product sales	1,871	48,068		78,620	143,862
Services and rentals	74	515		729	1,655
Intersegment revenues					35
Revenues	1,945	48,583		79,349	145,552
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	(15,605)	(14,260)		18,398	(4,573)
Assets	51,040	334,554		51,040	334,554
Offshore Eliminations Member
Industry Segments [Line Items]
Services and rentals	(16,619)	(27,996)		(50,656)	(51,292)
Revenues	(16,619)	(27,996)		(50,656)	(51,292)
Income before taxes and discontinued operations		(52)		1,747	520
Assets	(55)	(1,725)		(55)	(1,725)
Offshore Division Member
Industry Segments [Line Items]
Product sales	3,219	48,899		82,095	145,840
Services and rentals	70,642	59,767		174,100	173,059
Intersegment revenues		742		3	981
Revenues	73,861	109,408		256,198	319,880
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	(2,139)	4,011		42,812	26,098
Assets	290,586	506,742		290,586	506,742
Production Testing Member
Industry Segments [Line Items]
Product sales					3,610
Services and rentals	37,060	25,293		102,008	72,227
Intersegment revenues		24		1	28
Revenues	37,060	25,317		102,009	75,865
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	9,603	4,034		24,674	11,049
Assets	112,636	104,344		112,636	104,344
Compressco Member
Industry Segments [Line Items]
Product sales	3,326	907		8,329	3,610
Services and rentals	21,674	19,198		60,881	57,671
Revenues	25,000	20,105		69,210	61,281
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	3,875	4,034		11,689	14,167
Assets	215,363	194,374		215,363	194,374
Production Enhancement Division Member
Industry Segments [Line Items]
Product sales	3,326	907		8,329	7,220
Services and rentals	58,734	44,491		162,889	129,898
Intersegment revenues		24		1	28
Revenues	62,060	45,422		171,219	137,146
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	13,478	8,068		36,363	25,216
Assets	327,999	298,718		327,999	298,718
Intersegment Eliminations Member
Industry Segments [Line Items]
Intersegment revenues	(26)	(774)		(78)	(1,049)
Revenues	(26)	(774)		(78)	(1,049)
Corporate Overhead Member
Industry Segments [Line Items]
Services and rentals	124			166
Revenues	124			166
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	(13,636)	(13,999)		(56,753)	(40,601)
Assets	$ 250,827	$ 148,564		$ 250,827	$ 148,564

The aggregate amount of proved reserves sold to third parties.

Name:	tti_Aggregatepercentagesoldreserves
Namespace Prefix:	tti
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net portion of depreciation, depletion, amortization, and accretion recognized during an accounting period not attributable to operating segments.

+ Details

Name:	tti_Corporatedepreciationdepletionamortizationandaccretion
Namespace Prefix:	tti
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The portion of expenses of managing and administering the affairs of an entity, including affiliates of the reporting entity, which are not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line not attributable to operating segments.

+ Details

Name:	tti_Corporategeneralandadministrativeexpense
Namespace Prefix:	tti
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest that was charged against earnings not attributable to operating segments during the period.

+ Details

Name:	tti_Corporateinterestexpense
Namespace Prefix:	tti
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net portion of other nonoperating income and expense not attributable to operating segments.

+ Details

Name:	tti_Corporateothernonoperatingincomeexpense
Namespace Prefix:	tti
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	tti_Corporateoverheadfootnoteabstract
Namespace Prefix:	tti
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income (expense) before income (loss) from discontinued operations, income taxes, extraordinary items, and cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles.

+ Details

Name:	tti_Pretaxincomelossbeforediscontinuedoperations
Namespace Prefix:	tti
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total amount of corporate expenses during the period.

+ Details

Name:	tti_Totalcorporateoverheadperiod
Namespace Prefix:	tti
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts (CON)

-Number 6

-Paragraph 25

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 18

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 12

-Article 7

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Assets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ReconciliationOfRevenueFromSegmentsToConsolidatedAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate revenue during the period from services rendered in the normal course of business, after deducting allowances and discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity. Must be disclosed if the amount (a) is included in the measure of segment profit or loss reviewed by the chief operating decision maker or (b) is otherwise regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker, even if not included in that measure of segment profit or loss

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 27

-Subparagraph b

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationIntersegmentRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration