Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 20,908	$ 204,412
Restricted cash	5,568	8,780
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $863 in 2012 and $1,849 in 2011	218,132	141,537
Inventories	102,049	99,985
Deferred tax asset	30,240	39,330
Oil and gas properties held for sale	19	3,743
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	27,253	30,714
Total current assets	404,169	528,501
Property, plant, and equipment:
Land and building	79,112	76,937
Machinery and equipment	607,103	530,408
Automobiles and trucks	55,579	46,950
Chemical plants	159,932	158,065
Construction in progress	47,566	25,316
Total property, plant, and equipment	949,292	837,676
Less accumulated depreciation	(344,444)	(308,375)
Net property, plant, and equipment	604,848	529,301
Other assets:
Goodwill	188,866	99,132
Patents, trademarks and other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $25,764 in 2012 and $22,572 in 2011	37,963	11,872
Deferred tax assets	71	258
Other assets	42,477	34,246
Total other assets	269,377	145,508
Total assets	1,278,394	1,203,310
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	64,503	46,382
Accrued liabilities	85,540	80,940
Current portion of long-term debt	35,665	35
Decommissioning and other asset retirement obligations, net	75,804	105,008
Total current liabilities	261,512	232,365
Long-term debt, net	332,960	305,000
Deferred income taxes	47,237	48,537
Decommissioning and other asset retirement obligations, net	23,702	34,827
Other liabilities	16,495	13,493
Total long-term liabilities	420,394	401,857
Equity:
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 80,390,787, shares issued at September 30, 2012, and 79,673,374 shares issued at December 31, 2011	803	797
Additional paid-in capital	225,713	220,144
Treasury stock, at cost; 2,314,250 shares held at September 30, 2012, and 2,249,959 shares held at December 31, 2011	(14,958)	(14,841)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(823)	(2,877)
Retained earnings	343,891	323,923
Total TETRA stockholders' equity	554,626	527,146
Noncontrolling interests	41,862	41,942
Total equity	596,488	569,088
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,278,394	$ 1,203,310