Equity-Based Compensation (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	May 03, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangements [Line Items]
GrantsOfRestrictedSharesAggregateMarketValue	$ 4,900	$ 4,000	$ 8,400
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Weighted average fair value of options granted	$ 1.88	$ 2.01	$ 3.16
Total estimated unrecognized compensation cost	$ 1,800
Stock Option Award Activity Detail [Table]
Outstanding at beginning of period	5,217,000
Outstanding at beginning of period, weighted average option price per share	$ 8.59
Options granted	791,000
Options granted, weighted average option price per share	$ 3.89
Options cancelled	(922,000)
Options cancelled, weighted average option price per share	$ 6.97
Options exercised	(66,000)
Options exercised, weighted average option price per share	$ 3.78
Options expired	(540,000)
Options expired, weighted average option price per share	$ 21.16
Outstanding at end of period	4,480,000	5,217,000
Outstanding at end of period, weighted average option price per share	$ 6.65	$ 8.59
Outstanding at end of period, weighted average remaining contractual life	5 years 10 months 24 days
Outstanding at end of period, aggregate intrinsic value	$ 0
Options vested and expected to vest	4,480,000
Options expected to vest, weighted average option price per share	$ 6.65
Options vested and expected to vest, weighted average remaining contractual life	5 years 10 months 24 days
Options vested and expected to vest, aggregate intrinsic value	$ 0
Options exercisable at period end	3,324,000
Options exercisable at period end, weighted average option price per share	$ 7.48
Options exercisable, weighted average remaining contractual life	4 years 10 months 24 days
Options exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value	$ 0
Maximum number of shares authorized for issuance	11,000,000
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition	1 year 6 months
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate		2.60%
Total intrinsic value of options exercised	$ 100	$ 0	$ 100
Stock Option Valuation Assumptions Detail [Abstract]
Expected stock price volatility (minimum)
Expected stock price volatility (maximum)	57.00%	53.00%	52.00%
Expected life of options	4 years 6 months	4 years 6 months	4 years 7 months
Risk free interest rate (minimum)
Risk free interest rate (maximum)	2.60%	1.80%	1.20%
Expected dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate		54.60%
Weighted average fair value of options granted	$ 1.88	$ 2.01	$ 3.16
Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation cost is expected to be recognized	1 year 11 months 12 days
Shares surrendered related to restricted stock vesting	79,476	101,669	254,858
Maximum number of shares issuable under stock options outstanding and stock options authorized for future grants	6,373,059
Equity-Based Compensation, Before Tax	$ 7,400	$ 7,800	$ 13,700
Equity-based compensation expense	5,800	5,000	9,500
Restricted shares vested during the period, aggregate fair value	$ 3,200	$ 4,800	$ 8,400
TETRA 2007 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan [Member]
Stock Option Award Activity Detail [Table]
Maximum number of shares authorized for issuance	5,590,000
TETRA 2011 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan [Member]
Stock Option Award Activity Detail [Table]
Maximum number of shares authorized for issuance	5,600,000			2,200,000
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangements [Line Items]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross	2,509,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Total estimated unrecognized compensation cost	$ 6,900
Restricted Stock/Unit Award Activity Detail [Table]
Nonvested restricted shares/units outstanding at beginning of period	1,036,000
Nonvested restricted shares/units at beginning of period, weighted average grant date fair value per share	$ 5.06
Shares/units granted, weighted average grant date fair value per share	$ 3.72
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Forfeited	(657,000)
Shares/units cancelled, weighted average grant date fair value per share	$ 4.93
Nonvested restricted shares/units outstanding at end of period	2,579,000	1,036,000
Nonvested restricted shares/units at end of period, weighted average grant date fair value per share	$ 3.84	$ 5.06
Stock Option Award Activity Detail [Table]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period	(309,000)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 4.68
Phantom Share Units (PSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangements [Line Items]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross	330,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Maximum number of performance-based units that may be issued	93,996
Restricted Stock/Unit Award Activity Detail [Table]
Nonvested restricted shares/units outstanding at beginning of period	469,000
Nonvested restricted shares/units at beginning of period, weighted average grant date fair value per share	$ 9.31
Shares/units granted, weighted average grant date fair value per share	$ 7.33
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Forfeited	(186,000)
Shares/units cancelled, weighted average grant date fair value per share	$ 8.96
Nonvested restricted shares/units outstanding at end of period	492,000	469,000
Nonvested restricted shares/units at end of period, weighted average grant date fair value per share	$ 7.36	$ 9.31
Stock Option Award Activity Detail [Table]
Maximum number of units actually issued	218,836
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period	(121,000)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 12.37
CSI Compressco Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]
Stock Option Award Activity Detail [Table]
Maximum number of shares authorized for issuance	1,537,122