Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 28,676	$ 74,048
Restricted cash	9,068	5,571
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $856 in 2013 and $1,085 in 2012	196,143	176,352
Deferred tax asset	11,461	29,789
Inventories	92,325	103,041
Assets held for sale	14,603	12,009
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	19,770	34,299
Total current assets	372,046	435,109
Property, plant, and equipment:
Land and building	42,661	41,153
Machinery and equipment	653,053	589,725
Automobiles and trucks	58,917	57,708
Chemical plants	167,793	161,565
Construction in progress	30,232	40,452
Total property, plant, and equipment	952,656	890,603
Less accumulated depreciation	(385,678)	(337,889)
Net property, plant, and equipment	566,978	552,714
Other assets:
Goodwill	188,706	189,604
Patents, trademarks and other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $30,223 in 2013 and $27,044 in 2012	32,846	36,735
Deferred tax assets	3,842	594
Other assets	37,134	47,062
Total other assets	262,528	273,995
Total assets	1,201,552	1,261,818
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	75,369	67,453
Accrued liabilities	78,577	73,254
Current portion of long-term debt	0	35,441
Decommissioning and other asset retirement obligations, net	33,964	80,667
Total current liabilities	187,910	256,815
Long-term debt, net	352,898	331,268
Deferred income taxes	23,301	41,910
Decommissioning and other asset retirement obligations, net	11,339	14,254
Other liabilities	19,955	24,263
Total long-term liabilities	407,493	411,695
Equity:
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 81,215,135 shares issued at September 30, 2013, and 80,446,169 shares issued at December 31, 2012	812	804
Additional paid-in capital	232,023	226,954
Treasury stock, at cost; 2,434,482 shares held at September 30, 2013, and 2,334,137 shares held at December 31, 2012	(15,318)	(15,027)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,343)	(1,494)
Retained earnings	350,366	339,883
Total TETRA stockholders' equity	564,540	551,120
Noncontrolling interests	41,609	42,188
Total equity	606,149	593,308
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,201,552	$ 1,261,818