Equity-Based Compensation (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	May 03, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangements [Line Items]
GrantsOfRestrictedSharesAggregateMarketValue	$ 4,800	$ 4,900	$ 4,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Weighted average fair value of options granted	$ 0.76	$ 1.88	$ 2.01
Total estimated unrecognized compensation cost	$ 1,100
Stock Option Award Activity Detail [Table]
Outstanding at beginning of period	4,480,000
Outstanding at beginning of period, weighted average option price per share	$ 6.65
Options granted	72,000
Options granted, weighted average option price per share	$ 4.51
Options cancelled	(426,000)
Options cancelled, weighted average option price per share	$ 6.85
Options exercised	0
Options exercised, weighted average option price per share	$ 0
Options expired	(440,000)
Options expired, weighted average option price per share	$ 3.98
Outstanding at end of period	3,686,000	4,480,000
Outstanding at end of period, weighted average option price per share	$ 6.90	$ 6.65
Outstanding at end of period, weighted average remaining contractual life	5 years 6 months
Outstanding at end of period, aggregate intrinsic value	$ 0
Options vested and expected to vest	3,686,000
Options expected to vest, weighted average option price per share	$ 6.90
Options vested and expected to vest, weighted average remaining contractual life	5 years 6 months
Options vested and expected to vest, aggregate intrinsic value	$ 0
Options exercisable at period end	3,369,000
Options exercisable at period end, weighted average option price per share	$ 7.18
Options exercisable, weighted average remaining contractual life	5 years 3 months 18 days
Options exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value	$ 0
Maximum number of shares authorized for issuance	11,000,000
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition	1 year
Total intrinsic value of options exercised	$ 0	$ 100	$ 0
Stock Option Valuation Assumptions Detail [Abstract]
Expected stock price volatility (maximum)	61.00%	57.00%	53.00%
Expected life of options	4 years 4 months 24 days	4 years 6 months	4 years 6 months
Risk free interest rate (maximum)	2.30%	2.60%	1.80%
Expected dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Weighted average fair value of options granted	$ 0.76	$ 1.88	$ 2.01
Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation cost is expected to be recognized	1 year 8 months 26 days
Shares surrendered related to restricted stock vesting	105,622	79,476	101,669
Maximum number of shares issuable under stock options outstanding and stock options authorized for future grants	4,326,637
Equity-Based Compensation, Before Tax	$ 7,400	$ 7,400	$ 7,800
Equity-based compensation expense	5,800	5,800	5,000
Restricted shares vested during the period, aggregate fair value	$ 4,000	3,200	4,800
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent	70.00%
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost	$ 5,100	$ 3,800	$ 900
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 Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Total estimated unrecognized compensation cost	$ 6,300
Restricted Stock/Unit Award Activity Detail [Table]
Nonvested restricted shares/units outstanding at beginning of period	2,579,000
Nonvested restricted shares/units at beginning of period, weighted average grant date fair value per share	$ 3.84
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross	2,579,000
Shares/units granted, weighted average grant date fair value per share	$ 2.38
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Forfeited	(998,000)
Shares/units cancelled, weighted average grant date fair value per share	$ 3.97
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period	(583,000)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 3.20
Nonvested restricted shares/units outstanding at end of period	3,577,000	2,579,000
Nonvested restricted shares/units at end of period, weighted average grant date fair value per share	$ 2.85	$ 3.84
Phantom Share Units (PSUs) [Member]
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	290,528
Restricted Stock/Unit Award Activity Detail [Table]
Nonvested restricted shares/units outstanding at beginning of period	492,000
Nonvested restricted shares/units at beginning of period, weighted average grant date fair value per share	$ 7.36
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross	1,001,000
Shares/units granted, weighted average grant date fair value per share	$ 2.71
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Forfeited	(491,000)
Shares/units cancelled, weighted average grant date fair value per share	$ 4.51
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period	(185,000)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 6.39
Nonvested restricted shares/units outstanding at end of period	817,000	492,000
Nonvested restricted shares/units at end of period, weighted average grant date fair value per share	$ 3.59	$ 7.36
Stock Option Award Activity Detail [Table]
Maximum number of units actually issued	433,102
CSI Compressco Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]
Stock Option Award Activity Detail [Table]
Maximum number of shares authorized for issuance	1,537,122