Related Party Transactions (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 BGP Joint Venture [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 BGP Joint Venture [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 BGP Joint Venture [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 INOVA Geophysical [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 INOVA Geophysical [Member]	Feb. 19, 2013 OceanGeo [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 LIBOR INOVA Geophysical [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Basis spread on annual rate of loan	11.50%								6.50%
Company's outstanding common stock owned by BGP			14.60%	14.60%
Related party transaction, revenues from transactions with related party				$ 5,300,000	$ 11,000,000
Receivables due from BGP			2,500,000	2,500,000
Paid to related party for seismic acquisition services			38,700,000
Owed to related party for unpaid services			9,000,000	9,000,000
Percentage of equity method investment								30.00%
Loan made to equity method investee							10,000,000
Advance to related party	8,000,000	0					10,000,000
Payment received on related party debt						$ 2,000,000