Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill	$ 112,945,000	$ 293,866,000	$ 293,866,000
Impairment of goodwill	106,309,000			$ 180,921,000
Goodwill	6,636,000		112,945,000	293,866,000
Goodwill impairment	106,205,000	0
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Long-term debt	841,365,000		853,228,000
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Revenues	169,329,000	251,092,000
Cost of revenue	75,182,000	103,084,000
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment	106,205,000	$ 0
Year-to-date impairment losses	116,900,000
Inventories Detail [Table]
Finished goods	69,109,000		54,587,000
Raw materials	2,752,000		1,731,000
Parts and supplies	37,476,000		37,379,000
Work in progress	17,345,000		23,312,000
Inventories	$ 126,682,000		117,009,000
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding [Table]
Number of weighted average common shares outstanding	79,421	78,907
Assumed exercise of stock options	0	0
Average diluted shares outstanding	79,421	78,907
Foreign currency exchange gains and losses	$ (300,000)	$ 700,000
Fluids Division [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill	6,636,000	6,636,000	6,636,000
Impairment of goodwill	0			0
Goodwill	6,636,000		6,636,000	6,636,000
Goodwill, accumulated impairment losses	23,800,000
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Revenues	59,113,000	99,286,000
Production Testing Division [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill	13,907,000	53,682,000	53,682,000
Impairment of goodwill	(13,907,000)			39,775,000
Goodwill	0		13,907,000	53,682,000
Goodwill, accumulated impairment losses	111,800,000
Impairment of identified intangible assets	2,800,000
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Revenues	19,871,000	37,101,000
Compression Division [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill	92,402,000	233,548,000	233,548,000
Impairment of goodwill	(92,402,000)			141,146,000
Goodwill	0		92,402,000	233,548,000
Goodwill, accumulated impairment losses	231,800,000
Impairment of identified intangible assets	7,900,000
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Revenues	81,695,000	102,889,000
Offshore Services [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill	0	0	0
Impairment of goodwill	0			0
Goodwill	0		0	0
Goodwill, accumulated impairment losses	27,200,000
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Revenues	10,246,000	11,783,000
Maritech [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill	0	0	0
Impairment of goodwill	0			0
Goodwill	0		0	$ 0
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Revenues	89,000	1,506,000
Service Agreements [Member]
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Revenues	14,101	50,524
Cost of revenue	12,974	$ 24,523
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Asset for foreign currency derivative contracts	453,000		23,000
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	(69,000)		(385,000)
Acquisition contingent consideration liability			0
Total	(384,000)		(362,000)
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
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	453,000		23,000
Liability for foreign currency derivative contracts	(69,000)		(385,000)
Acquisition contingent consideration liability			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			0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other	0
Year-to-date impairment losses	116,873,000
Total	(23,500,000)
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Production Testing Division [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill	0
Intangible assets	2,900,000
Impairment of intangible assets	2,804,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Production Testing Division [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill	0
Intangible assets	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Production Testing Division [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill	0
Intangible assets	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Production Testing Division [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill	0
Intangible assets	2,900,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Compression Division [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill	0
Intangible assets	20,600,000
Impairment of intangible assets	7,865,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Compression Division [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill	0
Intangible assets	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Compression Division [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill	0
Intangible assets	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Compression Division [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill	0
Intangible assets	20,600,000
CSI Compressco Senior Notes [Member]
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Fair value of Senior Notes	244,100,000		259,900,000
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	216,800,000		229,800,000
Carrying value of Senior Notes	$ 265,000,000		$ 275,000,000