Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	$ 31,457
Revenues:
Product sales	75,953	$ 67,978
Services and rentals	123,428	91,431
Total revenues	199,381	159,409
Cost of revenues:
Cost of product sales	60,214	49,582
Cost of services and rentals	84,743	63,649
Depreciation, amortization, and accretion	26,441	26,524
Total cost of revenues	171,398	139,755
Gross profit	27,983	19,654
General and administrative expense	30,803	26,751
Interest expense, net	14,973	13,767
Fair Value Adjustment Of Warrants, Income Statement	(1,994)	(5,976)
Preferred, Fair Value Adjustment	1,358	1,631
Litigation Settlement, Amount	0	(12,816)
Other (income) expense, net	2,776	461
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	(19,933)	(4,164)
Income (loss) before taxes	(21,057)	(4,245)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	1,124	81
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(41,706)	(7,007)
Net income (loss)	(62,763)	(11,252)
(Income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	9,115	8,789
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (53,648)	$ (2,463)
Basic net income per common share:
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (0.46)	$ (0.02)
Average shares outstanding	117,598	114,197
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share	$ (0.10)	$ 0.04
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share	(0.36)	(0.06)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic and Diluted Share	(0.10)	0.04
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share	(0.36)	(0.06)
Diluted net income per common share:
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (0.46)	$ (0.02)
Average diluted shares outstanding	117,598	114,304