Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 38,754	$ 74,048
Restricted cash	9,067	5,571
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,349 in 2013 and $1,085 in 2012	180,659	176,352
Deferred tax asset	14,740	29,789
Inventories	100,792	103,041
Assets held for sale	5,541	12,009
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	24,386	34,299
Total current assets	373,939	435,109
Property, plant, and equipment:
Land and building	42,954	41,153
Machinery and equipment	682,836	589,725
Automobiles and trucks	57,588	57,708
Chemical plants	175,494	161,565
Construction in progress	14,170	40,452
Total property, plant, and equipment	973,042	890,603
Less accumulated depreciation	(400,426)	(337,889)
Net property, plant, and equipment	572,616	552,714
Other assets:
Goodwill	188,159	189,604
Patents, trademarks, and other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $31,956 in 2013 and $27,044 in 2012	31,980	36,735
Deferred tax assets	2,170	594
Other assets	37,669	47,062
Total other assets	259,978	273,995
Total assets	1,206,533	1,261,818
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	69,220	67,453
Accrued liabilities	65,017	73,254
Current portion of long-term debt	89	35,441
Decommissioning and other asset retirement obligations, current	38,700	80,667
Total current liabilities	173,026	256,815
Long-term debt, net	387,727	331,268
Deferred income taxes	17,651	41,910
Decommissioning and other asset retirement obligations, net	12,204	14,254
Other liabilities	18,427	24,263
Total long-term and other liabilities	436,009	411,695
Equity:
Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 81,333,631 shares issued at December 31, 2013 and 80,446,169 shares issued at December 31, 2012	813	804
Additional paid-in capital	234,360	226,954
Treasury stock, at cost; 2,478,084 shares held at December 31, 2013 and 2,334,137 shares held at December 31, 2012	(15,765)	(15,027)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,903)	(1,494)
Retained earnings	340,036	339,883
Total TETRA stockholders' equity	555,541	551,120
Noncontrolling interest	41,957	42,188
Total equity	597,498	593,308
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,206,533	$ 1,261,818