Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 0	$ 0		$ 0	$ 0
Cost of rental revenue	135,870,000	111,870,000		344,109,000	296,501,000
Inventories Detail [Table]
Finished goods	63,927,000			63,927,000		73,515,000
Raw materials	6,357,000			6,357,000		3,894,000
Parts and supplies	49,249,000			49,249,000		22,668,000
Work in progress	57,616,000			57,616,000		715,000
Inventories	177,149,000			177,149,000		100,792,000
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding [Table]
Number of weighted average common shares outstanding	78,683,000	78,030,000		78,506,000	77,867,000
Assumed exercise of stock options	0	933,000		0	852,000
Average diluted shares outstanding	78,683,000	78,963,000		78,506,000	78,719,000
Outstanding stock options excluded from average diluted shares outstanding		1,571,777			2,241,490
Proceeds from insurance settlements			7,600,000
Fair value of contingent purchase price liability	1,200,000			1,200,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	181,000			181,000
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	(250,000)			(250,000)
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	(1,165,000)			(1,165,000)
Total	(1,234,000)			(1,234,000)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	0			0
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	0			0
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0			0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	181,000			181,000
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	(250,000)			(250,000)
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0			0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	0			0
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	0			0
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	(1,165,000)			(1,165,000)
Service Agreements [Member]
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Revenues	30,784,000	5,573,000		39,512,000	15,939,000
Cost of rental revenue	20,136,000	2,029,000		24,182,000	6,403,000
Compressco Partners Senior Notes [Member]
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Fair value of Senior Notes	348,900,000			348,900,000
Carrying value of Senior Notes	350,000,000			350,000,000
TETRA Senior Notes [Member]
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Fair value of Senior Notes	311,400,000			311,400,000		318,400,000
Carrying value of Senior Notes	$ 305,000,000			$ 305,000,000		$ 305,000,000