Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Revenues	$ 288,796	$ 260,072	$ 532,524	$ 459,453
Cost of Goods and Services Sold [Abstract]
Depreciation, amortization, and accretion	31,817	28,979	62,445	55,420
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	2,311	0	2,457	0
Total cost of revenues	240,430	212,271	447,948	383,669
Gross profit	48,366	47,801	84,576	75,784
General and administrative expense	36,295	33,617	70,572	64,420
Interest expense, net	18,529	18,379	36,908	33,352
Fair Value Adjustment Of Warrants, Income Statement	(1,520)	2,195	(1,113)	201
Preferred, Fair Value Adjustment	146	(512)	1,309	846
Other (income) expense, net	627	3,808	(324)	6,584
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	(5,711)	(9,686)	(22,776)	(29,619)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	2,490	2,446	4,099	3,570
Income (loss) before taxes	(8,201)	(12,132)	(26,875)	(33,189)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(345)	(21)	(771)	(41,727)
Net income (loss)	(8,546)	(12,153)	(27,646)	(74,916)
(Income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,633	6,188	9,895	15,303
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (6,913)	$ (5,965)	$ (17,751)	$ (59,613)
Basic net income per common share:
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic and Diluted Share	$ (0.06)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.14)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share	0.00	0.00	(0.01)	(0.33)
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (0.06)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.14)	$ (0.47)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	125,612	122,474	125,646	125,553
Diluted net income per common share:
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share	$ (0.06)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.14)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share	0.00	0.00	(0.01)	(0.33)
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders	$ (0.06)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.14)	$ (0.47)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	125,612	122,474	125,646	125,553
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business				$ 31,500
Product [Member]
Revenues	$ 135,350	$ 107,687	$ 227,131	183,066
Cost of Goods and Services Sold [Abstract]
Cost of product sales	108,253	86,115	182,841	146,329
Service [Member]
Revenues	153,446	152,385	305,393	276,387
Cost of Goods and Services Sold [Abstract]
Cost of product sales	$ 98,049	$ 97,177	$ 200,205	$ 181,920