Cash received from stock issued under stock purchase agreement.

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Common Stock, Dividend Rate, Percentage

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Deconsolidated net assets associated with land division.

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Effective issued price Per share.

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Expense from sale of common stock at discount.

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Expenses related to formation of geophysical.

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The non-cash increase (decrease) during the period, which was recognized in earnings as fair value adjustments related to the BGP warrant.

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Fair value of warrants.

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Line of Credit Facility, Term of Loan

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Minimum percentage owned in outstanding common shares by related party.

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Portion of proceed from issuance of share under stock purchase agreement invested to joint venture.

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Related party owned company common stock outstanding shares.

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Accumulated adjustment, net of tax, that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity investments into the reporting currency from the functional currency of the reporting entity, net of reclassification of realized foreign currency translation gains or losses.

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Amount of noncash expense included in interest expense to amortize debt discount and premium associated with the related debt instruments. Excludes amortization of financing costs. Alternate captions include noncash interest expense.

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Total number of common shares of an entity that have been sold or granted to shareholders (includes common shares that were issued, repurchased and remain in the treasury). These shares represent capital invested by the firm's shareholders and owners, and may be all or only a portion of the number of shares authorized. Shares issued include shares outstanding and shares held in the treasury.

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Including current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date before deducting unamortized discount or premiums (if any). May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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The gain (loss) resulting from the sale of a disposal group that is not a discontinued operation. It is included in income from continuing operations before income taxes in the income statement.

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The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

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Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date.

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Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

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Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

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The charge against earnings in the period, comprised of costs associated with restructuring activities not otherwise specified in the taxonomy pursuant to a duly authorized plan, excluding a discontinued operation as defined by generally accepted accounting principles. Costs of such activities include those for one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, and relocating employees, but excludes costs associated with the retirement of a long-lived asset and severance costs associated with established compensation plans.

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Formation of INOVA Geophysical and Related Financing Transactions (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 25, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	May 29, 2012	Mar. 24, 2010
Formation of INOVA Geophysical and Related Financing Transactions (Textual) [Abstract]
Issuance of stock, shares	23,789,536
BGP interest in INOVA Geophysical	51.00%						51.00%
Effective purchase price	$ 2.80
Shares acquired upon BGP conversion	10,204,082
Principal balance of indebtedness outstanding under a Convertible Promissory Note	$ 28,600,000
Sale of shares of ION common stock to BGP	13,585,454
Beneficially owned of the outstanding shares	16.60%		15.20%
Cash received from BGP	38,000,000
Term loan facility			97,250,000	0		98,300,000
Repay of total indebtedness	226,000,000		101,702,000	6,145,000	145,558,000
Applied a portion of the cash proceeds, received for BGP's purchase	108,500,000						108,500,000
Received cash proceeds from BGP			0	0	99,790,000
Company's outstanding shares of common stock owns			10.00%
Percentage of equity method investment	49.00%		49.00%				49.00%
Equity in losses of INOVA Geophysical			0	0	(38,115,000)
Fair value of retained interest					119,000,000
Deconsolidated net assets associated with land division		221,700,000
Accumulated foreign currency translation losses		21,200,000
Expense from the sale of common stock at discount		7,000,000
Expense related to use of certain leased facilities		5,000,000
Other expenses related to formation of INOVA geophysical		2,000,000
Non-cash fair value adjustment		12,800,000	0	0	12,788,000
Fair value of Warrants		32,000,000
Common stock dividend payments rate		0.00%
Interest expense the remaining non-cash debt discount		8,700,000
Write-down of unamortized debt issuance costs and debt discount		10,100,000	0	0	18,777,000
BGP [Member]
Formation of INOVA Geophysical and Related Financing Transactions (Textual) [Abstract]
Term loan facility	191,300,000
BGP [Member] \| Term Loan [Member]
Formation of INOVA Geophysical and Related Financing Transactions (Textual) [Abstract]
Credit facility under a new five-year term loan	106,300,000
Term of term loan facility	5 years
Term loan facility	106,300,000
BGP [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Formation of INOVA Geophysical and Related Financing Transactions (Textual) [Abstract]
Revolving line of credit borrowings	100,000,000
Term loan facility	$ 85,000,000