Industry Segments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	$ 79,027	$ 61,597	$ 229,915	$ 204,608
Services and rentals	175,276	172,389	454,048	445,083
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	254,303	233,986	683,963	649,691
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	18,702	13,076	17,518	33,268
Assets	1,201,552	1,278,394	1,201,552	1,278,394	1,261,818
Fluids Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	73,957	56,485	217,859	190,756
Services and rentals	25,658	18,735	75,982	53,517
Intersegment revenues	0	1	40	128
Total revenues	99,615	75,221	293,881	244,401
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	20,851	8,460	55,703	33,884
Assets	383,999	367,925	383,999	367,925
Production Testing [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	0	0	0	0
Services and rentals	47,380	56,033	149,420	144,645
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	47,380	56,033	149,420	144,645
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	2,807	11,114	13,422	27,961
Assets	328,461	343,916	328,461	343,916
Compressco [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,484	1,518	3,913	3,737
Services and rentals	28,283	27,413	84,660	73,134
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	29,767	28,931	88,573	76,871
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	5,447	6,356	13,833	14,511
Assets	234,194	217,915	234,194	217,915
Production Enhancement Division Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Services and rentals	(292)	(624)	(865)	(624)
Total revenues	(292)	(624)	(865)	(624)
Total Production Enhancement Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,484	1,518	3,913	3,737
Services and rentals	75,371	82,822	233,215	217,155
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	76,855	84,340	237,128	220,892
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	8,254	17,470
Assets	562,655	561,831	562,655	561,831
Offshore Services [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	2,237	2,289	3,950	5,166
Services and rentals	84,198	76,513	184,589	199,407
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	86,435	78,802	188,539	204,573
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	20,579	12,108	25,064	22,839
Assets	205,343	243,724	205,343	243,724
Maritech [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,349	1,305	4,193	4,949
Services and rentals	0	0	0	150
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	1,349	1,305	4,193	5,099
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	(15,428)	(9,231)	(44,079)	(19,938)
Assets	22,087	50,486	22,087	50,486
Offshore Division Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Services and rentals	(9,951)	(5,764)	(39,738)	(25,479)
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	(9,951)	(5,764)	(39,738)	(25,479)
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	3,586	3,594	8,143	10,115
Services and rentals	74,247	70,749	144,851	174,078
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	77,833	74,343	152,994	184,193
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	5,151	2,877
Assets	227,430	294,210	227,430	294,210
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Intersegment revenues	0	(1)	(40)	(128)
Total revenues	0	(1)	(40)	(128)
Corporate Overhead [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Services and rentals	0	83	0	333
Total revenues	0	83	0	333
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	(15,554)	(15,731)	(46,425)	(45,989)
Assets	$ 27,468	$ 54,428	$ 27,468	$ 54,428