Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Product revenues	$ 41,760	$ 34,299	$ 113,163	$ 113,974
Service revenues	73,894	87,295	181,575	171,725
Total net revenues	115,654	121,594	294,738	285,699
Cost of products	21,568	17,354	53,831	68,421
Cost of services	50,028	55,292	132,079	117,902
Gross profit	44,058	48,948	108,828	99,376
Operating expenses:
Research, development and engineering	6,325	5,532	18,070	19,748
Marketing and sales	8,199	7,768	23,079	21,323
General and administrative	11,038	12,279	34,312	39,929
Total operating expenses	25,562	25,579	75,461	81,000
Income from operations	18,496	23,369	33,367	18,376
Interest expense, net	(1,382)	(1,861)	(4,184)	(28,877)
Loss on disposition of land division				(38,115)
Fair value adjustment of warrant				12,788
Equity in losses of INOVA Geophysical	(4,811)	(8,004)	(9,844)	(8,183)
Other income (expense)	199	(3,229)	(2,303)	(811)
Income (loss) before income taxes	12,502	10,275	17,036	(44,822)
Income tax expense (benefit)	3,484	(1,934)	4,716	12,400
Net income (loss)	9,018	12,209	12,320	(57,222)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	34		103
Net income (loss) attributable to ION	9,052	12,209	12,423	(57,222)
Preferred stock dividends	338	338	1,014	1,598
Net income (loss) applicable to common shares	$ 8,714	$ 11,871	$ 11,409	$ (58,820)
Net income (loss) per share:
Basic	$ 0.06	$ 0.08	$ 0.07	$ (0.42)
Diluted	$ 0.06	$ 0.08	$ 0.07	$ (0.42)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic	155,166	152,344	154,648	141,483
Diluted	162,227	152,690	156,095	141,483