Debt Instrument, Covenant Compliance, Required Liquidity, Maintained Any Business Day

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Covenant Compliance, Required Liquidity, Maintained Five Consecutive Business Days

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Percentage Of Ownership Interest In Subsidiaries Subject To First Priority Security Interest

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	io_DebtInstrumentPercentageOfOwnershipInterestInSubsidiariesSubjectToFirstPrioritySecurityInterest
Namespace Prefix:	io_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fixed charge coverage ratio.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	io_FixedChargeCoverageRatio
Namespace Prefix:	io_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line Of Credit Facility, Increase (Decrease) In Maximum Borrowing Capacity

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120400017&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=io_DataLibraryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=io_EPTechnologyServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=io_PNCBankNationalAssociationPNCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=srt_SubsidiaryIssuerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_BaseRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=io_GXGeoscienceCorporationS.DeR.L.DeC.V.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=io_IONInternationalHoldingsL.P.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=io_SeniorSecuredSecondPriorityNotesDue2021SecondLienNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Long-term Debt - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)		6 Months Ended
Long-term Debt - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	Aug. 16, 2018	Jun. 30, 2020	Aug. 15, 2018
Line of credit \| Revolving credit facility (maturing August 16, 2023) \| Data Library \| E&P Technology & Services
Debt Instrument
Maximum amount of certain indebtedness	$ 28,500,000		$ 15,000,000.0
Line of credit \| Revolving credit facility (maturing August 16, 2023) \| PNC Bank, national association (PNC)
Debt Instrument
Debt term	4 years
Amount of increase in maximum revolver	$ 10,000,000.0
Maximum amount of certain indebtedness	50,000,000.0		$ 40,000,000.0
Outstanding amount of certain indebtedness		$ 22,500,000
Current borrowing capacity		$ 8,800,000
Required liquidity maintained five consecutive business days	6,250,000
Required liquidity maintained any business day	$ 5,000,000.0
Line of credit \| Revolving credit facility (maturing August 16, 2023) \| PNC Bank, national association (PNC) \| Subsidiary issuer
Debt Instrument
Percentage of obligations secured by stock of Subsidiary Borrowers (percent)		100.00%
Line of credit \| Revolving credit facility (maturing August 16, 2023) \| PNC Bank, national association (PNC) \| Minimum
Debt Instrument
Fixed charge coverage ratio	1.1
Line of credit \| Revolving credit facility (maturing August 16, 2023) \| PNC Bank, national association (PNC) \| Base rate \| Maximum
Debt Instrument
Basis spread on variable rate for debt (percent)	3.00%
Line of credit \| Revolving credit facility (maturing August 16, 2023) \| PNC Bank, national association (PNC) \| Base rate \| Minimum
Debt Instrument
Basis spread on variable rate for debt (percent)	2.00%
Line of credit \| Revolving credit facility (maturing August 16, 2023) \| PNC Bank, national association (PNC) \| LIBOR \| Maximum
Debt Instrument
Basis spread on variable rate for debt (percent)	4.00%
Line of credit \| Revolving credit facility (maturing August 16, 2023) \| PNC Bank, national association (PNC) \| LIBOR \| Minimum
Debt Instrument
Basis spread on variable rate for debt (percent)	3.00%
Line of credit \| Revolving credit facility (maturing August 16, 2023) \| PNC Bank, national association (PNC) \| Mexican subsidiary
Debt Instrument
Maximum amount of certain indebtedness	$ 5,000,000.0
Line of credit \| Revolving credit facility (maturing August 16, 2023) \| PNC Bank, national association (PNC) \| ION international holdings L.P.
Debt Instrument
Percentage of obligations secured by stock of Subsidiary Borrowers (percent)		65.00%
Senior secured notes \| Senior secured second-priority lien notes (maturing December 15, 2021)
Debt Instrument
Stated rate on debt (percent)		9.125%