Industry Segments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	$ 67,229	$ 106,523
Services and rentals	113,567	116,022
Total revenues	180,796	222,545
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	1,752	(4,041)
Assets	1,219,246	1,231,334	1,203,310
Fluids Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	61,532	59,504
Services and rentals	17,776	17,826
Intersegment revenues	25	14
Total revenues	79,333	77,344
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	11,465	7,249
Assets	382,321	361,755
Offshore Services [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,995	935
Services and rentals	43,100	50,780
Total revenues	45,095	51,715
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	(1,033)	(4,376)
Assets	208,108	159,806
Maritech [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	2,540	43,594
Services and rentals	75	428
Total revenues	2,615	44,022
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	(2,081)	(4,520)
Assets	60,711	266,388
Offshore Division Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	0	0
Services and rentals	(7,312)	(5,616)
Total revenues	(7,312)	(5,616)
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	0	159
Assets	0	(1,643)
Total Offshore Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	4,535	44,529
Services and rentals	35,863	45,592
Total revenues	40,398	90,121
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	(3,114)	(8,737)
Assets	268,819	424,551
Production Testing [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	0	0
Services and rentals	38,283	33,210
Total revenues	38,283	33,210
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	5,677	9,083
Assets	215,026	102,216
Compressco [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,162	2,490
Services and rentals	21,520	19,394
Total revenues	22,682	21,884
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	3,510	4,005
Assets	206,932	193,464
Total Production Enhancement Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,162	2,490
Services and rentals	59,803	52,604
Total revenues	60,965	55,094
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	9,187	13,088
Assets	421,958	295,680
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Intersegment revenues	(25)	(14)
Total revenues	(25)	(14)
Corporate Overhead [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Services and rentals	125	0
Total revenues	125	0
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	(15,786)	(15,641)
Assets	$ 146,148	$ 149,348