Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues:
Product sales	$ 300,145	$ 276,155	$ 329,489
Services and rentals	609,253	604,676	515,786
Total revenues	909,398	880,831	845,275
Cost of revenues:
Cost of product sales	282,704	242,297	306,953
Cost of services and rentals	400,739	387,047	338,703
Depreciation, depletion, amortization, and accretion	80,985	75,747	94,839
Impairments of long-lived assets	9,578	8,360	15,738
Total cost of revenues	774,006	713,451	756,233
Gross profit	135,392	167,380	89,042
General and administrative expense	131,466	131,649	111,805
Interest expense, net	17,121	17,080	16,439
(Gain) loss on sales of assets	(5,776)	(4,916)	(58,674)
Other (income) expense, net	(7,291)	(4,616)	13,239
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	(128)	28,183	6,233
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(3,454)	9,429	751
Income (loss) before discontinued operations	3,326	18,754	5,482
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(1)	3	(64)
Net income (loss)	3,325	18,757	5,418
Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(3,172)	(2,797)	(1,271)
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 153	$ 15,960	$ 4,147
Basic net income (loss) per common share:
Income (loss) before discontinued operations attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.00	$ 0.21	$ 0.05
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.00	$ 0.21	$ 0.05
Average shares outstanding	77,954	77,293	76,616
Diluted net income (loss) per common share:
Income (loss) before discontinued operations attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.00	$ 0.20	$ 0.05
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.00	$ 0.20	$ 0.05
Average diluted shares outstanding	78,840	77,963	77,991