Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 204,412	$ 65,360
Restricted cash	8,780	360
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,849 in 2011 and $2,590 in 2010	141,537	161,864
Inventories	99,985	104,305
Derivative assets	0	2,436
Deferred tax assets	39,330	29,685
Oil and gas properties held for sale	3,743	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	30,714	50,928
Total current assets	528,501	414,938
Property, plant, and equipment:
Land and building	76,937	79,368
Machinery and equipment	530,408	482,677
Automobiles and trucks	46,950	43,492
Chemical plants	158,065	176,853
Oil and gas producing assets (successful efforts method)	0	761,449
Construction in progress	25,316	15,677
Total property, plant, and equipment	837,676	1,559,516
Less accumulated depreciation and depletion	(308,375)	(819,646)
Net property, plant, and equipment	529,301	739,870
Other assets:
Goodwill	99,132	99,005
Patents, trademarks, and other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $22,572 in 2011 and $21,499 in 2010	11,872	13,024
Deferred tax assets	258	899
Other assets	34,246	31,892
Total other assets	145,508	144,820
Total assets	1,203,310	1,299,628
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	46,382	51,830
Accrued liabilities	80,975	87,529
Decommissioning and other asset retirement obligations, current	105,008	72,265
Derivative liabilities	0	5,208
Total current liabilities	232,365	216,832
Long-term debt, net	305,000	305,035
Deferred income taxes	48,537	46,789
Decommissioning and other asset retirement obligations, net	34,827	200,550
Other liabilities	13,493	14,099
Total long-term and other liabilities	401,857	566,473
Equity:
Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 79,673,374 shares issued at December 31, 2011 and 77,825,398 shares issued at December 31, 2010	797	778
Additional paid-in capital	220,144	203,044
Treasury stock, at cost; 2,249,959 shares held at December 31, 2011 and 1,533,653 shares held at December 31, 2010	(14,841)	(8,382)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,877)	1,107
Retained earnings	323,923	319,776
Total TETRA stockholders' equity	527,146	516,323
Noncontrolling interest	41,942	0
Total equity	569,088	516,323
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,203,310	$ 1,299,628