Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 36,215	$ 38,754
Restricted cash	8,786	9,067
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $2,522 in 2014 and $1,349 in 2013	233,827	180,659
Deferred tax asset	17,969	14,740
Inventories	177,149	100,792
Assets held for sale	2,541	5,541
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	23,083	24,386
Total current assets	499,570	373,939
Property, plant, and equipment:
Land and building	74,659	42,954
Machinery and equipment	1,277,455	682,836
Automobiles and trucks	58,202	57,588
Chemical plants	173,938	175,494
Construction in progress	24,579	14,170
Total property, plant, and equipment	1,608,833	973,042
Less accumulated depreciation	(457,005)	(400,426)
Net property, plant, and equipment	1,151,828	572,616
Other assets:
Goodwill	369,048	188,159
Patents, trademarks and other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $31,567 in 2014 and $31,956 in 2013	111,545	31,980
Deferred tax assets	21,417	2,170
Other assets	40,831	37,669
Total other assets	542,841	259,978
Total assets	2,194,239	1,206,533
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	101,676	69,220
Accrued liabilities	135,359	65,017
Current portion of long-term debt	90,288	89
Decommissioning and other asset retirement obligations, current	42,531	38,700
Total current liabilities	369,854	173,026
Long-term debt, net	849,881	387,727
Deferred income taxes	13,143	17,651
Decommissioning and other asset retirement obligations, net	12,256	12,204
Other liabilities	18,898	18,427
Total long-term liabilities	894,178	436,009
Equity:
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 82,203,402 shares issued at September 30, 2014, and 81,333,631 shares issued at December 31, 2013	822	813
Additional paid-in capital	239,173	234,360
Treasury stock, at cost; 2,602,298 shares held at September 30, 2014, and 2,478,084 shares held at December 31, 2013	(16,187)	(15,765)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(11,556)	(3,903)
Retained earnings	320,109	340,036
Total TETRA stockholders' equity	532,361	555,541
Noncontrolling interests	397,846	41,957
Total equity	930,207	597,498
Total liabilities and equity	$ 2,194,239	$ 1,206,533