Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenues:
Product sales	$ 61,597	$ 53,225	$ 204,608	$ 265,038
Services and rentals	172,389	148,209	445,083	394,055
Total revenues	233,986	201,434	649,691	659,093
Cost of revenues:
Cost of product sales	54,996	56,738	168,002	216,442
Cost of services and rentals	107,875	92,802	288,517	254,251
Depreciation, depletion, amortization, and accretion	20,232	16,226	56,786	90,555
Total cost of revenues	183,103	165,766	513,305	561,248
Gross profit	50,883	35,668	136,386	97,845
General and administrative expense	34,210	27,506	96,567	84,274
Interest expense, net	4,258	4,085	12,493	12,361
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	129	525	(3,135)	(59,784)
Other (income) expense, net	(790)	722	(2,807)	14,651
Income before taxes and discontinued operations	13,076	2,830	33,268	46,343
Provision for income taxes	4,475	870	11,341	16,372
Income before discontinued operations	8,601	1,960	21,927	29,971
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	1	(6)	3	(63)
Net income	8,602	1,954	21,930	29,908
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(889)	(567)	(1,962)	(662)
Net income attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 7,713	$ 1,387	$ 19,968	$ 29,246
Basic net income per common share:
Income before discontinued operations attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.1	$ 0.02	$ 0.26	$ 0.38
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Net income attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.1	$ 0.02	$ 0.26	$ 0.38
Average shares outstanding	77,329	76,717	77,226	76,517
Diluted net income per common share:
Income before discontinued operations attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.1	$ 0.02	$ 0.25	$ 0.37
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Net income attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.1	$ 0.02	$ 0.25	$ 0.37
Average diluted shares outstanding	78,938	78,340	78,740	78,105