Industry Segments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014 Fluids Division [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Fluids Division [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Fluids Division [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Fluids Division [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Production Testing [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Production Testing [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Production Testing [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Production Testing [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Production Testing [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Compressco [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Compressco [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Compressco [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Compressco [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Production Enhancement Division Eliminations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Production Enhancement Division Eliminations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Production Enhancement Division Eliminations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Production Enhancement Division Eliminations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Total Production Enhancement Division [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Total Production Enhancement Division [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Total Production Enhancement Division [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Total Production Enhancement Division [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Offshore Services [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Offshore Services [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Offshore Services [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Offshore Services [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Maritech [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Maritech [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Maritech [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Maritech [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Offshore Division Eliminations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Offshore Division Eliminations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Offshore Division Eliminations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Offshore Division Eliminations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Total Offshore Division [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Total Offshore Division [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Total Offshore Division [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Total Offshore Division [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Intersegment Eliminations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Intersegment Eliminations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Intersegment Eliminations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Intersegment Eliminations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Corporate Overhead [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Corporate Overhead [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Corporate Overhead [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Corporate Overhead [Member]
Industry Segments Details [Line Items]
Product sales	$ 82,871	$ 79,350	$ 159,623	$ 150,888		$ 78,905	$ 74,741	$ 152,325	$ 143,902		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 2,065	$ 1,341	$ 3,902	$ 2,429					$ 2,065	$ 1,341	$ 3,902	$ 2,429	$ 354	$ 1,584	$ 473	$ 1,713	$ 1,547	$ 1,684	$ 2,923	$ 2,844					$ 1,901	$ 3,268	$ 3,396	$ 4,557
Services and rentals	159,618	141,751	295,723	278,772		37,423	25,493	69,163	50,324	42,377		47,433	86,015	102,040	29,950	26,640	57,877	56,377	(1,085)	(293)	(1,709)	(573)	71,242	73,780	142,183	157,844	55,887	62,871	91,098	100,391	0	0	0	0	(4,934)	(20,393)	(6,721)	(29,787)	50,953	42,478	84,377	70,604					0	0	0	0
Intersegment revenues	0	0	0	0		322	(8)	307	40	0		0	0	0	0	0	0	0					0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(322)	8	(307)	(40)
Total revenues	242,489	221,101	455,346	429,660		116,650	100,226	221,795	194,266	42,377		47,433	86,015	102,040	32,015	27,981	61,779	58,806	(1,085)	(293)	(1,709)	(573)	73,307	75,121	146,085	160,273	56,241	64,455	91,571	102,104	1,547	1,684	2,923	2,844	(4,934)	(20,393)	(6,721)	(29,787)	52,854	45,746	87,773	75,161	(322)	8	(307)	(40)	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before taxes	(2,494)	(4,395)	(13,177)	(1,184)		17,059	17,847	35,536	34,852	(249)		4,317	(3,047)	10,615	5,477	3,161	10,664	8,386	3	0	6	0	5,231	7,478	7,623	19,001	1,833	9,688	(6,139)	4,485	(10,698)	(23,743)	(17,237)	(28,651)	0	0	0	0	(8,865)	(14,055)	(23,376)	(24,166)					(15,919)	(15,665)	(32,960)	(30,871)
Assets	$ 1,228,266	$ 1,171,552	$ 1,228,266	$ 1,171,552	$ 1,206,533	$ 439,793	$ 389,580	$ 439,793	$ 389,580	$ 333,531		$ 320,801	$ 333,531	$ 320,801	$ 233,956	$ 233,288	$ 233,956	$ 233,288					$ 567,487	$ 554,089	$ 567,487	$ 554,089	$ 170,663	$ 181,752	$ 170,663	$ 181,752	$ 20,727	$ 25,640	$ 20,727	$ 25,640	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 191,390	$ 207,392	$ 191,390	$ 207,392					$ 29,596	$ 20,491	$ 29,596	$ 20,491