Organization and Operations Organization and Operations (Details) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax					$ 1,037,933	$ 998,775	$ 723,098
Depreciation, amortization, and accretion					124,226	114,925	104,053
Impairments of long-lived assets	$ 800	$ 2,300	$ 2,900	$ 14,900	95,196	3,621	14,876
Insurance Recoveries					1,771	0	2,352
Cost of Revenue					946,134	836,477	614,708
Gross profit (loss)					91,799	162,298	108,390
General and administrative expense					139,747	132,446	115,414
Goodwill, Impairment Loss					25,784	0	0
Interest expense, net					73,886	72,066	58,027
Fair Value Adjustment of Warrants					(1,624)	(11,129)	(5,301)
Liabilities, Fair Value Adjustment					(1,309)	733	2,975
Gain (Loss) Related to Litigation Settlement					0	0	12,816
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)					(191)	7,923	865
Income (loss) before taxes and discontinued operations					(144,123)	(36,426)	(44,043)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)					6,164	6,299	751
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest					(150,287)	(42,725)	(44,794)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent					(10,213)	(41,515)	(17,389)
Net income (loss)					(160,500)	(84,240)	(62,183)
Noncontrolling Interest in Net Income (Loss) Limited Partnerships, Redeemable					(13,087)	(22,623)	(23,135)
Net income (loss) attributable to TETRA stockholders					$ (147,413)	$ (61,617)	$ (39,048)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share | $ / shares					$ (1.09)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.19)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share | $ / shares					(0.08)	(0.34)	(0.15)
Earnings Per Share, Basic | $ / shares					$ (1.17)	$ (0.50)	$ (0.34)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic | shares					125,600	124,101	114,499
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share | $ / shares					$ (1.09)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.19)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share | $ / shares					(0.08)	(0.34)	(0.15)
Earnings Per Share, Diluted | $ / shares					$ (1.17)	$ (0.50)	$ (0.34)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted | shares					125,600	124,101	114,499
Number of Operating Segments					3
Product [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax					$ 435,768	$ 409,227	$ 305,404
Cost of Goods and Services Sold					335,325	327,553	223,504
Service [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax					602,165	589,548	417,694
Cost of Goods and Services Sold					$ 393,158	390,378	274,627
Retained Earnings [Member]
Net income (loss)						$ (61,617)	$ (39,048)