Details of Selected Balance Sheet Accounts - Multi-Client Data Library (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Gross costs of multi-client data creation	$ 998,275		$ 972,309
Less accumulated amortization	(806,647)		(776,860)
Less impairments to multi-client data library	(121,905)		(121,905)
Multi-client data library, net	69,723		$ 73,544
Amortization of multi-client data library	$ 29,787	$ 32,544

Accumulated amortization of multi-client data creation costs capitalized at the end of the reporting period.

No definition available.

Name:	io_AccumulatedAmortizationOfMultiClientDataCosts
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of the multi-client library over the expected benefit period of such asset.

No definition available.

Name:	io_AmortizationOfMultiClientLibrary
Namespace Prefix:	io_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Gross amount of multi-client data creation costs capitalized at the end of the reporting period.

No definition available.

Name:	io_GrossCostsOfMultiClientDataCapitalized
Namespace Prefix:	io_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Multi-Client Data Library, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss

No definition available.

Name:	io_MultiClientDataLibraryImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss
Namespace Prefix:	io_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Capitalized costs directly incurred in acquiring and processing of seismic surveys that are licensed on a nonexclusive basis, net of amortization.

No definition available.

Name:	io_MultiClientDataLibraryNet
Namespace Prefix:	io_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

No definition available.

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