Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $)	Total		Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 282,468,000		$ 68,786,000	$ 1,187,000	$ 666,928,000	$ (411,548,000)	$ (36,320,000)	$ (6,565,000)
Beginning balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2009			70,000	118,688,702
Net income (loss)	(36,838,000)					(36,838,000)
Translation adjustment	(266,000)						(266,000)
Change in fair value of effective cash flow hedges (net of taxes)	60,000						60,000
Equity interest in INOVA Geophysical's other comprehensive income	(103,000)						(103,000)
Accumulated translation adjustments recognized through earnings upon disposition of land division	21,219,000						21,219,000
Unrealized net income (loss) on available-for-sale securities	0
Preferred stock dividends	(1,936,000)				(1,936,000)
Stock-based compensation expense	8,147,000				8,147,000
Modification of stock awards (disposed of land division)	1,713,000				1,713,000
Issuance of stock, shares				23,789,536
Issuance of stock	105,644,000			238,000	105,406,000
Exercise of stock options, shares	323,610			323,610
Exercise of stock options	1,071,000			3,000	1,068,000
Vesting of restricted stock units/ awards, shares				486,168
Vesting of restricted stock units/awards	0			5,000	(5,000)
Restricted stock cancelled for employee minimum income taxes, shares				(76,568)
Restricted stock cancelled for employee minimum income taxes	(612,000)			(1,000)	(611,000)
Conversion of cumulative convertible preferred stock			(43,000)	9,659,231
Conversion of cumulative convertible preferred stock, value	0		(41,786,000)	97,000	41,689,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2010	380,447,000		27,000,000	1,529,000	822,399,000	(448,386,000)	(15,530,000)	(6,565,000)	0
Ending balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2010			27,000	152,870,679
Net income (loss)	24,651,000	[1]				24,774,000			(123,000)
Translation adjustment	(60,000)						(28,000)		(32,000)
Change in fair value of effective cash flow hedges (net of taxes)	(220,000)						(220,000)
Equity interest in INOVA Geophysical's other comprehensive income	315,000						315,000
Unrealized net income (loss) on available-for-sale securities	(730,000)						(730,000)
Preferred stock dividends	(1,352,000)				(1,352,000)
Stock-based compensation expense	6,344,000				6,344,000
Exercise of stock options, shares	2,145,792			2,145,792
Exercise of stock options	13,105,000			21,000	13,084,000
Vesting of restricted stock units/ awards, shares				449,231
Vesting of restricted stock units/awards	0			5,000	(5,000)
Restricted stock cancelled for employee minimum income taxes, shares				(93,488)
Restricted stock cancelled for employee minimum income taxes	(683,000)			(1,000)	(682,000)
Issuance of stock for the ESPP, shares				107,562
Issuance of stock for the ESPP	624,000			1,000	623,000
Tax benefits from stock-based compensation	2,860,000				2,860,000
Contribution from noncontrolling interest	511,000								511,000
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	100,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2011	425,812,000		27,000,000	1,555,000	843,271,000	(423,612,000)	(16,193,000)	(6,565,000)	356,000
Ending balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2011			27,000	155,479,776
Net income (loss)	63,319,000	[1]				63,315,000			4,000
Translation adjustment	2,718,000						2,756,000		(38,000)
Change in fair value of effective cash flow hedges (net of taxes)	(123,000)						(123,000)
Equity interest in INOVA Geophysical's other comprehensive income	1,003,000						1,003,000
Unrealized net income (loss) on available-for-sale securities	425,000						425,000
Preferred stock dividends	(1,352,000)				(1,352,000)
Stock-based compensation expense	6,598,000				6,598,000
Exercise of stock options, shares	194,410			194,410
Exercise of stock options	807,000			2,000	805,000
Vesting of restricted stock units/ awards, shares				764,704
Vesting of restricted stock units/awards	0			8,000	(8,000)
Restricted stock cancelled for employee minimum income taxes, shares				(209,068)
Restricted stock cancelled for employee minimum income taxes	(1,268,000)			(2,000)	(1,266,000)
Issuance of stock for the ESPP, shares				127,127
Issuance of stock for the ESPP	759,000			1,000	758,000
Tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(137,000)				(137,000)
Contribution from noncontrolling interest	212,000								212,000
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	500,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 499,019,000		$ 27,000,000	$ 1,564,000	$ 848,669,000	$ (360,297,000)	$ (11,886,000)	$ (6,565,000)	$ 534,000
Ending balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2012			27,000	156,356,949

[1] Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests for 2012 and 2011 excludes $(0.5) million and $(0.1) million related to the redeemable noncontrolling interests, which is reported in the mezzanine equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2012 and 2011.