Industry Segments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	$ 76,752	$ 71,538
Services and rentals	136,105	137,021
Intersegment revenues	0	0
Total revenues	212,857	208,559
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	(10,683)	3,211
Assets	1,218,286	1,200,037	1,206,533
Fluids Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	73,420	69,161
Services and rentals	31,740	24,831
Intersegment revenues	(15)	48
Total revenues	105,145	94,040
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	18,477	17,005
Assets	433,401	391,229
Production Testing [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	0	0
Services and rentals	43,638	54,607
Intersegment revenues	0	0
Total revenues	43,638	54,607
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	(2,798)	6,298
Assets	334,628	321,788
Compressco [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,837	1,088
Services and rentals	27,927	29,737
Intersegment revenues	0	0
Total revenues	29,764	30,825
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	5,187	5,225
Assets	230,189	231,840
Production Enhancement Division Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Services and rentals	(624)	(280)
Total revenues	(624)	(280)
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	3	0
Total Production Enhancement Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,837	1,088
Services and rentals	70,941	84,064
Intersegment revenues	0	0
Total revenues	72,778	85,152
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	2,392	11,523
Assets	564,817	553,628
Offshore Services [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	119	129
Services and rentals	35,211	37,520
Intersegment revenues	0	0
Total revenues	35,330	37,649
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	(7,972)	(5,203)
Assets	169,321	180,505
Maritech [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,376	1,160
Services and rentals	0	0
Intersegment revenues	0	0
Total revenues	1,376	1,160
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	(6,539)	(4,908)
Assets	22,092	63,992
Offshore Division Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Services and rentals	(1,787)	(9,394)
Intersegment revenues	0	0
Total revenues	(1,787)	(9,394)
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	0	0
Assets	0	0
Total Offshore Division [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	1,495	1,289
Services and rentals	33,424	28,126
Intersegment revenues	0	0
Total revenues	34,919	29,415
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	(14,511)	(10,111)
Assets	191,413	244,497
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Intersegment revenues	15	(48)
Total revenues	15	(48)
Corporate Overhead [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations	(17,041)	(15,206)
Assets	$ 28,655	$ 10,683