Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of segments \| segment			3
Summary of segment information
Revenues	$ 61,095	$ 78,622	$ 139,652	$ 137,439
Gross profit (loss)	$ 30,109	$ 31,765	$ 51,828	$ 27,688
Gross margin	49.00%	40.00%	37.00%	20.00%
Income (loss) from operations	$ 9,936	$ 11,864	$ (7,548)	$ (34,853)
Interest expense, net	(3,959)	(4,607)	(12,664)	(14,043)
Other income (expense), net	722	(2,027)	(4,154)	(3,624)
Income (loss) before income taxes	6,699	5,230	(24,366)	(52,520)
E&P Technology & Services
Summary of segment information
Revenues	52,054	36,037	109,246	67,673
Gross profit (loss)	$ 28,533	$ 12,888	$ 44,464	$ (418)
Gross margin	55.00%	36.00%	41.00%	(1.00%)
E&P Technology & Services \| New Venture and Data Library [Member]
Summary of segment information
Revenues	$ 48,586	$ 29,903	$ 95,837	$ 48,335
E&P Technology & Services \| New Venture
Summary of segment information
Revenues	43,542	8,393	70,477	16,278
E&P Technology & Services \| Data Library
Summary of segment information
Revenues	5,044	21,510	25,360	32,057
E&P Technology & Services \| Imaging Services
Summary of segment information
Revenues	3,468	6,134	13,409	19,338
E&P Operations Optimization
Summary of segment information
Revenues	9,041	12,601	30,406	33,349
Gross profit (loss)	$ 4,055	$ 6,866	$ 15,100	$ 16,647
Gross margin	45.00%	54.00%	50.00%	50.00%
E&P Operations Optimization \| Devices
Summary of segment information
Revenues	$ 5,260	$ 8,679	$ 17,929	$ 20,664
E&P Operations Optimization \| Optimization Software & Services
Summary of segment information
Revenues	3,781	3,922	12,477	12,685
Ocean Bottom Seismic Services
Summary of segment information
Revenues	0	29,984	0	36,417
Gross profit (loss)	$ (2,479)	$ 12,011	$ (7,736)	$ 11,459
Gross margin	0.00%	40.00%	0.00%	31.00%
Operating segments \| E&P Technology & Services
Summary of segment information
Income (loss) from operations	$ 22,695	$ 7,259	$ 27,952	$ (16,867)
Operating segments \| E&P Operations Optimization
Summary of segment information
Income (loss) from operations	998	3,682	5,569	7,162
Operating segments \| Ocean Bottom Seismic Services
Summary of segment information
Income (loss) from operations	(4,432)	9,320	(12,300)	2,053
Support and other
Summary of segment information
Income (loss) from operations	$ (9,325)	$ (8,397)	$ (28,769)	$ (27,201)

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