Industry Segments (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	Dec. 31, 2011
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	$ 61,597	$ 53,225	$ 204,608	$ 265,038
Services and rentals	172,389	148,209	445,083	394,055
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	233,986	201,434	649,691	659,093
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	13,076	2,830	33,268	46,343
Assets	1,278,394	1,244,482	1,278,394	1,244,482	1,203,310
Fluids Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	56,485	46,680	190,756	174,614
Services and rentals	18,735	18,709	53,517	56,900
Intersegment revenues	1	26	128	74
Total revenues	75,221	65,415	244,401	231,588
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	8,460	5,127	33,884	23,921
Assets	367,925	375,070	367,925	375,070
Production Testing [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	0	0	0	0
Services and rentals	56,033	37,060	144,645	102,008
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	1
Total revenues	56,033	37,060	144,645	102,009
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	11,114	9,603	27,961	24,674
Assets	343,916	112,636	343,916	112,636
Compressco [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,518	3,326	3,737	8,329
Services and rentals	27,413	21,674	73,134	60,881
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	28,931	25,000	76,871	69,210
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	6,356	3,875	14,511	11,689
Assets	217,915	215,363	217,915	215,363
Production Enhancement Division Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Services and rentals	(624)	0	(624)	0
Total revenues	(624)	0	(624)	0
Total Production Enhancement Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,518	3,326	3,737	8,329
Services and rentals	82,822	58,734	217,155	162,889
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	1
Total revenues	84,340	62,060	220,892	171,219
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	17,470	13,478	42,472	36,363
Assets	561,831	327,999	561,831	327,999
Offshore Services [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	2,289	1,348	5,166	3,475
Services and rentals	76,513	87,187	199,407	224,027
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	3
Total revenues	78,802	88,535	204,573	227,505
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	12,108	13,466	22,839	22,667
Assets	243,724	239,601	243,724	239,601
Maritech [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,305	1,871	4,949	78,620
Services and rentals	0	74	150	729
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	1,305	1,945	5,099	79,349
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	(9,231)	(15,605)	(19,938)	18,398
Assets	50,486	51,040	50,486	51,040
Offshore Division Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Services and rentals	(5,764)	(16,619)	(25,479)	(50,656)
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	(5,764)	(16,619)	(25,479)	(50,656)
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	0	0	0	1,747
Assets	0	(55)	0	(55)
Total Offshore Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	3,594	3,219	10,115	82,095
Services and rentals	70,749	70,642	174,078	174,100
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	3
Total revenues	74,343	73,861	184,193	256,198
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	2,877	(2,139)	2,901	42,812
Assets	294,210	290,586	294,210	290,586
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Intersegment revenues	(1)	(26)	(128)	(78)
Total revenues	(1)	(26)	(128)	(78)
Corporate Overhead [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Services and rentals	83	124	333	166
Total revenues	83	124	333	166
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	(15,731)	(13,636)	(45,989)	(56,753)
Assets	$ 54,428	$ 250,827	$ 54,428	$ 250,827