Equity (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Stockholders' equity rollforward
Beginning balance for the period	$ 582,123	$ 601,608	$ 569,088	$ 516,323
Net income	8,602	1,954	21,930	29,908
Changes in commodity derivatives, net of taxes	0	0	0	2,663
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of taxes	5,074	(9,132)	2,054	(3,419)
Exercise of common stock options	61	492	819	3,297
Issuance of Compressco Partners common units, net of offering costs	0	(629)	0	42,256
Distributions to public unitholders	(1,094)	(125)	(3,369)	(125)
Equity-based compensation	3,140	1,277	7,393	4,417
Treasury stock and other	75	(190)	(131)	(1,459)
Tax benefit upon exercise of stock options
Ending balance	596,488	(126)	596,488	(126)
TETRA [Member]
Stockholders' equity rollforward
Beginning balance for the period	540,794	558,628	527,146	516,323
Net income	7,713	1,387	19,968	29,246
Changes in commodity derivatives, net of taxes	0	0	0	2,663
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of taxes	5,074	(9,132)	2,054	(3,419)
Exercise of common stock options	61	492	819	3,297
Issuance of Compressco Partners common units, net of offering costs	0	0	0	0
Distributions to public unitholders	0	0	0	0
Equity-based compensation	2,476	1,277	6,080	4,417
Treasury stock and other	1	(190)	(145)	(1,459)
Tax benefit upon exercise of stock options
Ending balance	(1,493)	(126)	(1,493)	(126)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Stockholders' equity rollforward
Beginning balance for the period	41,329	42,980	41,942	0
Net income	889	567	1,962	662
Changes in commodity derivatives, net of taxes	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of taxes	0	0	0	0
Exercise of common stock options	0	0	0	0
Issuance of Compressco Partners common units, net of offering costs	0	(629)	0	42,256
Distributions to public unitholders	(1,094)	(125)	(3,369)	(125)
Equity-based compensation	664	0	1,313	0
Treasury stock and other	74	0	14	0
Tax benefit upon exercise of stock options
Ending balance	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0