Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 3,316	$ (12,852)	$ (12,132)	$ (21,057)	$ (31,726)	$ (857)	$ (7,966)	$ (4,245)		$ (42,725)	$ (44,794)	$ (225,376)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent										(41,515)	(17,389)	(14,017)
Cost of revenues:
Depreciation, amortization, and accretion										114,925	104,053	117,147
Impairments of long-lived assets		2,900			14,900					3,621	14,876	17,094
Insurance Recoveries										0	(2,352)	0
Total cost of revenues										836,477	614,708	556,552
Gross profit	45,184	41,330	47,801	27,983	16,550	42,651	29,535	19,654		162,298	108,390	60,839
General and administrative expense										132,446	115,414	108,422
Impairment of goodwill									$ (106,200)	0	0	(106,205)
Interest expense, net										70,946	57,246	58,614
Fair Value Adjustment of Warrants										(11,129)	(5,301)	2,106
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	282,471	256,851	260,072	199,381	200,081	183,677	179,931	159,409		998,775	723,098	617,391
Liabilities, Fair Value Adjustment										(733)	(2,975)	4,404
Gain (Loss) Related to Litigation Settlement										0	(12,816)	0
Other (income) expense, net										7,194	865	4,308
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations										(36,426)	(44,043)	(223,220)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes										6,299	751	2,156
Net income (loss)	2,732	(12,056)	(12,153)	(62,763)	(34,974)	(1,338)	(14,619)	(11,252)		(84,240)	(62,183)	(239,393)
Less: income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest										22,623	23,135	77,931
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 4,932	$ (6,936)	$ (5,965)	$ (53,648)	$ (28,739)	$ 3,145	$ (10,991)	$ (2,463)		$ (61,617)	$ (39,048)	$ (161,462)
Basic net income (loss) per common share:
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ 0.04	$ (0.06)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.46)	$ (0.25)	$ 0.03	$ (0.10)	$ (0.02)		$ (0.50)	$ (0.34)	$ (1.85)
Number of weighted average common shares outstanding										124,101	114,499	87,286
Diluted net income (loss) per common share:
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	0.04	(0.06)	(0.05)	(0.46)	(0.25)	0.03	(0.10)	(0.02)		$ (0.50)	$ (0.34)	$ (1.85)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted										124,101	114,499	87,286
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share	0.04	(0.06)	(0.05)	(0.10)	(0.22)	0.03	(0.04)	0.04		$ (0.16)	$ (0.19)	$ (1.69)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share										(0.34)	(0.15)	(0.16)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share	$ 0.04	$ (0.06)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.22)	$ 0.03	$ (0.04)	$ 0.04		(0.16)	(0.19)	(1.69)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share										$ (0.34)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.16)
Service [Member]
Cost of revenues:
Cost of Goods and Services Sold										$ 390,378	$ 274,627	$ 228,345
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax										589,548	417,694	368,700
Product [Member]
Cost of revenues:
Cost of Goods and Services Sold										327,553	223,504	193,966
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax										$ 409,227	305,404	248,691
Retained Earnings [Member]
Cost of revenues:
Net income (loss)											$ (39,048)	$ (161,462)