Equity-Based Compensation (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2018	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	May 31, 2018	May 03, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangements [Line Items]
GrantsOfRestrictedSharesAggregateMarketValue		$ 5,100	$ 4,800	$ 4,900
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
Stock Option Award Activity Detail [Table]
Outstanding at beginning of period		3,686,000	4,480,000
Outstanding at beginning of period, weighted average option price per share		$ 6.90	$ 6.65
Options granted			72,000
Options granted, weighted average option price per share			$ 4.51
Options cancelled		(302,000)	(426,000)
Options cancelled, weighted average option price per share		$ 6.78	$ 6.85
Options exercised		0	0
Options exercised, weighted average option price per share			$ 0
Options expired		$ (176,000)	(440,000)
Options expired, weighted average option price per share		$ 10.27	$ 3.98
Outstanding at end of period		3,208,000	3,686,000	4,480,000
Outstanding at end of period, weighted average option price per share		$ 6.73	$ 6.90	$ 6.65
Outstanding at end of period, weighted average remaining contractual life		4 years 9 months 18 days	5 years 6 months
Outstanding at end of period, aggregate intrinsic value		$ 0	$ 0
Options vested and expected to vest		3,208,000	3,686,000
Options expected to vest, weighted average option price per share		$ 6.73	$ 6.90
Options vested and expected to vest, weighted average remaining contractual life		4 years 9 months 18 days	5 years 6 months
Options vested and expected to vest, aggregate intrinsic value		$ 0	$ 0
Options exercisable at period end		3,171,000	3,369,000
Options exercisable at period end, weighted average option price per share		$ 6.76	$ 7.18
Options exercisable, weighted average remaining contractual life		4 years 9 months 18 days	5 years 3 months 18 days
Options exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value		$ 0	$ 0
Maximum number of shares authorized for issuance		11,000,000
Total intrinsic value of options exercised				$ 100
Stock Option Valuation Assumptions Detail [Abstract]
Expected stock price volatility (maximum)			61.00%	57.00%
Expected life of options			4 years 4 months 24 days	4 years 6 months
Risk free interest rate (maximum)			2.30%	2.60%
Expected dividend yield			0.00%	0.00%
Weighted average fair value of options granted			$ 0.76	$ 1.88
Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation cost is expected to be recognized		1 year 7 months 6 days
Shares surrendered related to restricted stock vesting		130,785	105,622	79,476
Maximum number of shares issuable under stock options outstanding and stock options authorized for future grants		2,771,052
Equity-Based Compensation, Before Tax		$ 5,500	$ 5,800	$ 6,700
Equity-based compensation expense		4,300	4,600	5,300
Restricted shares vested during the period, aggregate fair value		$ 4,500	4,000	3,200
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent		75.00%
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost		$ 1,500	$ 5,100	$ 3,800
2018 Equity Plan [Member]
Stock Option Award Activity Detail [Table]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant					6,635,000
2018 Director Plan [Member]
Stock Option Award Activity Detail [Table]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant					335,000
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		$ 3,400
Restricted Stock/Unit Award Activity Detail [Table]
Nonvested restricted shares/units outstanding at beginning of period		3,577,000
Nonvested restricted shares/units at beginning of period, weighted average grant date fair value per share		$ 2.85
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross		1,958,000
Shares/units granted, weighted average grant date fair value per share		$ 1.39
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Forfeited		(1,577,000)
Shares/units cancelled, weighted average grant date fair value per share		$ 2.87
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period		(225,000)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		$ 2.22
Nonvested restricted shares/units outstanding at end of period		3,733,000	3,577,000
Nonvested restricted shares/units at end of period, weighted average grant date fair value per share		$ 2.11	$ 2.85
Stock Option Award Activity Detail [Table]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Granted	1,000,000