Industry Segments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	$ 79,350	$ 75,782	$ 150,888	$ 143,011
Services and rentals	141,751	159,127	278,772	272,694
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	221,101	234,909	429,660	415,705
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	(4,395)	18,440	(1,184)	20,192
Assets	1,171,552	1,198,770	1,171,552	1,198,770	1,261,818
Fluids Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	74,741	72,739	143,902	134,271
Services and rentals	25,493	17,006	50,324	34,782
Intersegment revenues	(8)	102	40	127
Total revenues	100,226	89,847	194,266	169,180
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	17,847	13,959	34,852	25,424
Assets	389,580	354,680	389,580	354,680
Production Testing [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	0	0	0	0
Services and rentals	47,433	50,329	102,040	88,612
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	47,433	50,329	102,040	88,612
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	4,317	11,170	10,615	16,847
Assets	320,801	266,991	320,801	266,991
Compressco [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,341	1,057	2,429	2,219
Services and rentals	26,640	24,201	56,377	45,721
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	27,981	25,258	58,806	47,940
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	3,161	4,645	8,386	8,155
Assets	233,288	211,276	233,288	211,276
Production Enhancement Division Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Services and rentals	(293)	0	(573)	0
Total revenues	(293)	0	(573)	0
Total Production Enhancement Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,341	1,057	2,429	2,219
Services and rentals	73,780	74,530	157,844	134,333
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	75,121	75,587	160,273	136,552
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	7,478	15,815	19,001	25,002
Assets	554,089	478,267	554,089	478,267
Offshore Services [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,584	882	1,713	2,877
Services and rentals	62,871	79,794	100,391	122,894
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	64,455	80,676	102,104	125,771
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	9,688	11,764	4,485	10,731
Assets	181,752	225,722	181,752	225,722
Maritech [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,684	1,104	2,844	3,644
Services and rentals	0	75	0	150
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	1,684	1,179	2,844	3,794
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	(23,743)	(8,626)	(28,651)	(10,707)
Assets	25,640	48,939	25,640	48,939
Offshore Division Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Services and rentals	(20,393)	(12,403)	(29,787)	(19,715)
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	(20,393)	(12,403)	(29,787)	(19,715)
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	0	0	0	0
Assets	0	0	0	0
Total Offshore Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	3,268	1,986	4,557	6,521
Services and rentals	42,478	67,466	70,604	103,329
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	45,746	69,452	75,161	109,850
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	(14,055)	3,138	(24,166)	24
Assets	207,392	274,661	207,392	274,661
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Intersegment revenues	8	(102)	(40)	(127)
Total revenues	8	(102)	(40)	(127)
Corporate Overhead [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Services and rentals	0	125	0	250
Total revenues	0	125	0	250
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	(15,665)	(14,472)	(30,871)	(30,258)
Assets	$ 20,491	$ 91,162	$ 20,491	$ 91,162