Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 49,212	$ 204,412
Restricted cash	5,562	8,780
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $1,776 in 2012 and $1,849 in 2011	183,841	141,537
Inventories	98,236	99,985
Deferred tax asset	28,968	39,330
Oil and gas properties held for sale	34	3,743
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	24,832	30,714
Total current assets	390,685	528,501
Property, plant, and equipment:
Land and building	79,253	76,937
Machinery and equipment	573,486	530,408
Automobiles and trucks	52,021	46,950
Chemical plants	158,234	158,065
Construction in progress	43,956	25,316
Total property, plant, and equipment	906,950	837,676
Less accumulated depreciation	(327,729)	(308,375)
Net property, plant, and equipment	579,221	529,301
Other assets:
Goodwill	150,966	99,132
Patents, trademarks and other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $24,568 in 2012 and $22,572 in 2011	37,205	11,872
Deferred tax assets	74	258
Other assets	40,619	34,246
Total other assets	228,864	145,508
Total assets	1,198,770	1,203,310
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	56,748	46,382
Accrued liabilities	83,091	80,940
Current portion of long-term debt	35,035	35
Decommissioning and other asset retirement obligations, net	75,537	105,008
Total current liabilities	250,411	232,365
Long-term debt, net	270,000	305,000
Deferred income taxes	42,516	48,537
Decommissioning and other asset retirement obligations, net	37,601	34,827
Other liabilities	16,119	13,493
Total long-term liabilities	366,236	401,857
Equity:
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 80,324,075, shares issued at June 30, 2012, and 79,673,374 shares issued at December 31, 2011	803	797
Additional paid-in capital	224,664	220,144
Treasury stock, at cost; 2,290,282 shares held at June 30, 2012, and 2,249,959 shares held at December 31, 2011	(14,954)	(14,841)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(5,897)	(2,877)
Retained earnings	336,178	323,923
Total TETRA stockholders' equity	540,794	527,146
Noncontrolling interests	41,329	41,942
Total equity	582,123	569,088
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,198,770	$ 1,203,310