Supplemental Schedules Supplemental Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 53,980,000	$ 195,951,000	$ 108,645,000
Investing activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	0	0	(854,031,000)
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(21,066,000)	(120,597,000)	(131,609,000)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment	3,354,000	7,135,000	17,527,000
Other investing activities	3,456,000	(1,525,000)	374,000
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(14,256,000)	(114,987,000)	(967,739,000)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	458,580,000	535,896,000	837,519,000
Principal payments on long-term debt	(689,783,000)	(598,070,000)	(289,900,000)
CCLP distributions	(28,956,000)	(37,816,000)	(12,569,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of underwriters' discount	168,275,000	0	0
Other	(6,073,000)	(3,750,000)	(27,587,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(30,954,000)	(103,437,000)	871,644,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(1,987,000)	(2,854,000)	(2,920,000)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	6,783,000	(25,327,000)	9,630,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	23,057,000	48,384,000	38,754,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	29,840,000	23,057,000	48,384,000
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by operating activities	14,861	100,932	87,451
Investing activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	0	0	(14,799)
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	2,931	(678)	26,067
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment	1,325	2,146	6,210
Purchase of CSI Compressco's common units and additional general partner contribution	(314)	(1,626)	(616)
Other investing activities	10,000	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(11,292)	4,450	(34,040)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	349,550	472,896	143,188
Principal payments on long-term debt	516,900	575,070	195,956
CCLP distributions	(4,494)	(3,742)	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of underwriters' discount	168,000	0	0
Other	0	303	1,032
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(3,569)	(105,613)	(51,736)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	(231)	1,675
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	231	(1,444)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 0	$ 0	$ 231