Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Summary of segment information
Revenues	$ 79,838	$ 136,323	$ 330,490	$ 353,247
Gross profit (loss)	(15,104)	55,958	56,471	143,057
Gross margin	(19.00%)	41.00%	17.00%	40.00%
Income (loss) from operations	(56,528)	25,049	(47,835)	49,664
Interest expense, net	(4,281)	(1,237)	(8,103)	(4,119)
Equity in earnings (losses) of investments	(5,192)	(1,684)	(10,414)	4,561
Other expense, net	(74,301)	(936)	(180,392)	(727)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(140,302)	21,192	(246,744)	49,379
Solutions [Member]
Summary of segment information
Revenues	43,447	92,119	221,236	230,215
Gross profit (loss)	(8,487)	33,142	33,600	81,031
Gross margin	(20.00%)	36.00%	15.00%	35.00%
Income (loss) from operations	(18,163)	22,341	215	49,381
Systems
Summary of segment information
Revenues	26,267	31,114	81,962	90,639
Gross profit (loss)	(13,987)	12,731	3,195	37,777
Gross margin	(53.00%)	41.00%	4.00%	42.00%
Income (loss) from operations	(23,610)	6,335	(21,172)	16,070
Software [Member]
Summary of segment information
Revenues	10,124	13,090	27,292	32,393
Gross profit (loss)	7,370	10,085	19,676	24,249
Gross margin	73.00%	77.00%	72.00%	75.00%
Income (loss) from operations	6,280	9,186	16,396	21,547
Corporate and Other [Member]
Summary of segment information
Income (loss) from operations	(21,035)	(12,813)	(43,274)	(37,334)
New Venture and Data Library [Member] \| Solutions [Member]
Summary of segment information
Revenues	17,129	63,573	129,783	146,614
New Venture [Member] \| Solutions [Member]
Summary of segment information
Revenues	11,945	40,817	93,630	91,355
Data Library [Member] \| Solutions [Member]
Summary of segment information
Revenues	5,184	22,756	36,153	55,259
Data Processing [Member] \| Solutions [Member]
Summary of segment information
Revenues	26,318	28,546	91,453	83,601
Towed Streamer [Member] \| Systems
Summary of segment information
Revenues	15,342	17,529	41,461	47,060
Ocean Bottom [Member] \| Systems
Summary of segment information
Revenues	159	7,969	7,307	13,104
Other [Member] \| Systems
Summary of segment information
Revenues	10,766	5,616	33,194	30,475
Software Systems [Member] \| Software [Member]
Summary of segment information
Revenues	8,892	12,186	24,297	30,107
Services [Member] \| Software [Member]
Summary of segment information
Revenues	$ 1,232	$ 904	$ 2,995	$ 2,286

Percentage of gross profit over revenue.

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Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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