Equity (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Stockholders' equity rollforward
Beginning balance for the period	$ 514,180	$ 765,601
Net income (loss)	(147,731)	(3,622)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, including taxes	518	(9,787)
Comprehensive income	(147,213)	(13,409)
Exercise of common stock options	25	285
Distributions to public unitholders	(7,209)	(9,274)
Equity-based compensation	2,356	1,596
Treasury stock and other	(42)	0
Tax benefit upon exercise of stock options	0	(204)
Ending balance	362,097	744,595
TETRA [Member]
Stockholders' equity rollforward
Beginning balance for the period	241,217	369,713
Net income (loss)	(88,325)	(4,447)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, including taxes	971	(9,886)
Comprehensive income	(87,354)	(14,333)
Exercise of common stock options	25	285
Distributions to public unitholders	0	0
Equity-based compensation	1,738	1,119
Treasury stock and other	(5)	0
Tax benefit upon exercise of stock options	0	(204)
Ending balance	155,621	356,580
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Stockholders' equity rollforward
Beginning balance for the period	272,963	395,888
Net income (loss)	(59,406)	825
Foreign currency translation adjustment, including taxes	(453)	99
Comprehensive income	(59,859)	924
Exercise of common stock options	0	0
Distributions to public unitholders	(7,209)	(9,274)
Equity-based compensation	618	477
Treasury stock and other	(37)	0
Tax benefit upon exercise of stock options	0	0
Ending balance	$ 206,476	$ 388,015