Long-Term Debt and Other Borrowings (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 368,625	$ 305,035
Less current portion	(35,665)	(35)
Long-term debt, net	332,960	305,000
Bank revolving line of credit facility [Member]
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Maturity date	Jun. 26, 2015
Total debt	57,160	0
Senior Notes Series 2006-A [Member]
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Senior Note interest rate	5.90%
Maturity date	Apr. 30, 2016
Total debt	90,000	90,000
Senior Notes Series 2008-A [Member]
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Senior Note interest rate	6.30%
Maturity date	Apr. 30, 2013
Total debt	35,000	35,000
Senior Notes Series 2008-B [Member]
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Senior Note interest rate	6.56%
Maturity date	Apr. 30, 2015
Total debt	90,000	90,000
Senior Notes Series 2010-A [Member]
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Senior Note interest rate	5.09%
Maturity date	Dec. 15, 2017
Total debt	65,000	65,000
Senior Notes Series 2010-B [Member]
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Senior Note interest rate	5.67%
Maturity date	Dec. 15, 2020
Total debt	25,000	25,000
European bank credit facility [Member]
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Total debt	0	0
Compressco Partners' bank credit facility [Member]
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Maturity date	Jun. 24, 2015
Total debt	5,800	0
Other long-term debt [Member]
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 665	$ 35