Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Asset Retirement Obligation, Cash Paid to Settle			$ 10,305,000	$ 63,319,000	$ 114,109,000
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Rental expenses			417,549,000	466,908,000	400,739,000
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairments of long-lived assets			44,158,000	34,842,000	9,578,000
Proceeds from sale of heavy lift barge			$ 7,135,000	17,527,000	1,794,000
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Changes, Net [Abstract]
Percentage of consolidated net assets comprised of investment in CCLP	25.00%		25.00%
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	$ 0		$ 0
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0		0
Cumulative adjustment to equity based compensation expense	6,700,000
Equity-based compensation expense			13,900,000.0	4,700,000	4,800,000
Foreign currency exchange gains and losses			(1,700,000)	(1,200,000)	(1,800,000)
Reduction in decommissioning liabilities for work performed				63,300,000	119,600,000
Estimated future hurricane repair expenses	7,800,000		7,800,000
Insurance gains credited to earnings					7,600,000
Goodwill table (details)
Beginning balance			293,866,000	188,159,000	189,604,000
Goodwill adjustments			(180,921,000)	(68,125,000)	(1,445,000)
Goodwill acquired				173,832,000
Ending balance	112,945,000	$ 293,866,000	112,945,000	293,866,000	188,159,000	$ 189,604,000
Goodwill impairment		60,400,000	177,006,000	64,295,000	0	0
Allowances for Doubtful Accounts [Table]
At beginning of period			2,485,000	1,349,000	1,085,000
Activity in the period:
Provision for doubtful accounts			5,387,000	856,000	374,000
Account chargeoffs			(25,000)	280,000	(110,000)
At end of period	7,847,000	2,485,000	7,847,000	2,485,000	1,349,000	1,085,000
Inventories Detail [Table]
Finished goods	54,587,000	62,188,000	54,587,000	62,188,000
Raw materials	1,731,000	5,005,000	1,731,000	5,005,000
Parts and supplies	37,379,000	51,229,000	37,379,000	51,229,000
Work in progress	23,312,000	70,935,000	23,312,000	70,935,000
Inventories	117,009,000	189,357,000	117,009,000	189,357,000
Depreciation expense			138,200,000	109,200,000	76,900,000
Interest capitalized			400,000	800,000	1,600,000
Amortization expense of patents, trademarks, and other intangible assets			14,800,000	9,300,000	5,000,000
Future amortization expense, 2014	8,700,000		8,700,000
Future amortization expense, 2015	8,400,000		8,400,000
Future amortization expense, 2016	8,200,000		8,200,000
Future amortization expense, 2017	8,100,000		8,100,000
Future amortization expense, 2018	8,000,000		8,000,000
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Fair value of intangible assets acquired			92,600,000
Fluids Division [Member]
Goodwill table (details)
Beginning balance			6,636,000	0	0
Goodwill adjustments			0	0	0
Goodwill acquired				6,636,000
Ending balance	6,636,000	6,636,000	6,636,000	6,636,000	0	0
Goodwill impairment				5,200,000
Accumulated impairment losses	23,800,000		23,800,000
Production Testing Division [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		64,300,000		64,300,000
Goodwill table (details)
Beginning balance				112,062,000	113,507,000
Goodwill adjustments			(39,775,000)	(64,189,000)	(1,445,000)
Goodwill acquired				5,809,000
Ending balance					112,062,000	113,507,000
Goodwill impairment				14,500,000
Accumulated impairment losses	97,900,000		97,900,000
Goodwill, gross	51,500,000		51,500,000
Residual purchase price to be allocated to goodwill	13,907,000	53,682,000	13,907,000	53,682,000
CSI Compressco [Member]
Goodwill table (details)
Beginning balance				72,161,000	72,161,000
Goodwill adjustments			(141,146,000)	0	0
Goodwill acquired				161,387,000
Ending balance					72,161,000	72,161,000
Accumulated impairment losses	139,400,000		139,400,000
Goodwill, gross	233,600,000	233,548,000	233,600,000	233,548,000
Residual purchase price to be allocated to goodwill	92,402,000		92,402,000
Offshore Services [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment of heavy lift barge					9,300,000
Proceeds from sale of heavy lift barge				3,000,000
Goodwill table (details)
Beginning balance			0	3,936,000	3,936,000
Goodwill adjustments			0	(3,936,000)	0
Ending balance	0	0	0	0	3,936,000	3,936,000
Goodwill impairment				13,700,000
Accumulated impairment losses	27,200,000		27,200,000
Maritech [Member]
Goodwill table (details)
Beginning balance			0	0	0
Goodwill adjustments				0	0
Ending balance	0	0	$ 0	0	0	$ 0
Building [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life			15 years
Building [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life			40 years
Barges and vessels [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life			5 years
Barges and vessels [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life			30 years
Machinery and equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life			2 years
Machinery and equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life			20 years
Automobiles and trucks [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life			3 years
Automobiles and trucks [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life			4 years
Chemical plants [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life			15 years
Chemical plants [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life			30 years
Compressors [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life			12 years
Compressors [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life			20 years
Service Agreements [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Rental revenue			$ 136,384	91,509	20,492
Rental expenses			67,718	43,240	$ 8,422
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	23,000	0	23,000	0
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	(385,000)	(174,000)	(385,000)	(174,000)
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0	0	0	0
Total	(362,000)	(174,000)	(362,000)	(174,000)
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0	0	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	0	0	0	0
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	0	0	0	0
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0	0	0	0
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0	0	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	23,000		23,000
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	385,000		385,000
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0		0
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	0	0	0	0
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	0	0	0	0
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0	0	0	0
Acquisition contingent consideration liability	0	0	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Other assets	0	0	0	0
Total	(127,880,000)	(287,330,000)	(127,880,000)	(287,330,000)
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Other assets	0	0	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Other assets	0	0	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Other assets	0	0	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Accumulated Other-than-Temporary Impairment [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Other assets	0	1,856,000	0	1,856,000
Total	(221,164,000)	(99,137,000)	(221,164,000)	(99,137,000)
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fluids Division [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	6,323,000	1,225,000	6,323,000	1,225,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fluids Division [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	0	0	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fluids Division [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	0	0	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fluids Division [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	6,323,000	1,225,000	6,323,000	1,225,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fluids Division [Member] | Accumulated Other-than-Temporary Impairment [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	19,889,000	5,201,000	19,889,000	5,201,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Production Testing Division [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	14,476,000	94,328,000	14,476,000	94,328,000
Intangible assets		34,941,000		34,941,000
Goodwill	13,907,000	53,681,000	13,907,000	53,681,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Production Testing Division [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	0	0	0	0
Intangible assets		0		0
Goodwill	0	0	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Production Testing Division [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	0	0	0	0
Intangible assets		0		0
Goodwill	0	0	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Production Testing Division [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	14,476,000	94,328,000	14,476,000	94,328,000
Intangible assets		34,941,000		34,941,000
Goodwill	13,907,000	53,681,000	13,907,000	53,681,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Production Testing Division [Member] | Accumulated Other-than-Temporary Impairment [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	12,310,000	7,646,000	12,310,000	7,646,000
Intangible assets		6,831,000		6,831,000
Goodwill	37,562,000	60,359,000	37,562,000	60,359,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | CSI Compressco [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	772,000		772,000
Intangible assets	0		0
Goodwill	92,402,000		92,402,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | CSI Compressco [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	0		0
Intangible assets	0		0
Goodwill	0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | CSI Compressco [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	0		0
Intangible assets	0		0
Goodwill	0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | CSI Compressco [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	772,000		772,000
Intangible assets	0		0
Goodwill	92,402,000		92,402,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | CSI Compressco [Member] | Accumulated Other-than-Temporary Impairment [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	6,300,000		6,300,000
Intangible assets	5,659,000		5,659,000
Goodwill	139,444,000		139,444,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Offshore Services [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		103,155,000		103,155,000
Goodwill		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Offshore Services [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		0		0
Goodwill		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Offshore Services [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		0		0
Goodwill		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Offshore Services [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		103,155,000		103,155,000
Goodwill		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Offshore Services [Member] | Accumulated Other-than-Temporary Impairment [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		13,308,000		13,308,000
Goodwill		3,936,000		3,936,000
CSI Compressco Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fair value of Senior Notes	259,900,000	354,900,000	259,900,000	354,900,000
Carrying value of Senior Notes	350,000,000		350,000,000
TETRA Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fair value of Senior Notes	229,800,000	310,700,000	229,800,000	310,700,000
Carrying value of Senior Notes	$ 385,000,000	$ 305,000,000	$ 385,000,000	$ 305,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Average useful life of finite-lived intangible asset			2 years
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Average useful life of finite-lived intangible asset			20 years
Intangible Assets, Amortization Period [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Average useful life of finite-lived intangible asset			2 years
Intangible Assets, Amortization Period [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Average useful life of finite-lived intangible asset			20 years
Intangible Assets, Amortization Period [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Average useful life of finite-lived intangible asset			12 years 6 months