Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 1) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 Years	Dec. 31, 2010 Years	Dec. 31, 2009
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)
Compressco Partners' cash	$ 17,500,000
Allowances for Doubtful Accounts [Table]
At beginning of period	2,590,000	5,007,000	3,198,000
Activity in the period:
Provision for doubtful accounts	973,000	(1,000)	3,393,000
Account chargeoffs	(1,714,000)	(2,416,000)	(1,584,000)
At end of period	1,849,000	2,590,000	5,007,000
Inventories Detail [Table]
Finished goods	71,247,000	75,874,000
Raw materials	5,653,000	5,103,000
Parts and supplies	22,216,000	22,457,000
Work in progress	869,000	871,000
Inventories	99,985,000	104,305,000
Depreciation and depletion expense	87,700,000	139,700,000	137,800,000
Interest capitalized	1,200,000	1,100,000	6,800,000
Fair value of acquired intangible assets	1,400,000	600,000
Acquired intangible assets, useful lives (minimum)	3.0	3.0
Acquired intangible assets, useful lives (maximum)	6.0	6.0
Acquired intangible assets, weighted average useful lives	5.6	5.3
Amortization expense of patents, trademarks, and other intangible assets	2,800,000	2,800,000	3,600,000
Future amortization expense, 2012	2,400,000
Future amortization expense, 2013	2,100,000
Future amortization expense, 2014	1,000,000
Future amortization expense, 2015	900,000
Future amortization expense, 2016	$ 800,000
Buildings [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life (minimum)	15.0
Estimated useful life (maximum)	40.0
Barges and vessels [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life (minimum)	5.0
Estimated useful life (maximum)	30.0
Machinery and equipment [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life (minimum)	2.0
Estimated useful life (maximum)	20.0
Automobiles and trucks [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life (minimum)	4.0
Estimated useful life (maximum)	4.0
Chemical plants [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life (minimum)	15.0
Estimated useful life (maximum)	30.0