Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate, Increase (Decrease)

No definition available.

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- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Debt Exchange, Conversion Ratio

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Debt Exchange, Ratio Of Principal To Common Stock Shares

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Number Of Days Early Commitment Termination Date And Early Maturity Date, Eliminated By Amendment

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Number Of Days Prior To Stated Maturity Borrowing Capacity Reduced By Reserve

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

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

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No definition available.

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Restrictive Covenants, Threshold For Liquidation, Value Of Multi-Client Data Library

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No definition available.

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fixed charge coverage ratio.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Line Of Credit Facility, Covenant Terms, Maximum Amount Of Permitted Junior Debt

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No definition available.

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line Of Credit Facility, Excess Availability To Borrow

+ References

No definition available.

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of shares issued in exchange for the original debt being converted in a noncash (or part noncash) transaction. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or payments in the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4332-108586

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586

+ Details

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- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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

+ References

+ Details

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- 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

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- Definition

Face (par) amount of the original debt instrument that was repurchased.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- 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://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-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=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-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=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-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=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

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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

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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

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt and capital lease obligations including current maturities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3291-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

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Long-term Debt - Narrative (Details)			3 Months Ended
Long-term Debt - Narrative (Details)	Apr. 28, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Apr. 27, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2013 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of debt			$ 157,339,000		$ 158,790,000
Principal purchased for cash			1,706,000	$ 2,212,000
Line of credit [Member] \| Revolving credit facility [Member] \| PNC Bank, National Association (PNC) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum amount of certain indebtedness			40,000,000
Increase in applicable margin due to amendment to Credit Facility	0.50%
Number of days prior to stated maturity borrowing capacity reduced by reserve	90 days
Maximum amount of certain permitted junior indebtedness	$ 200,000,000	$ 175,000,000
Number of days early commitment termination date and early maturity date, eliminated by amendment	90 days
Limit for multi-client liquidation component			15,000,000.0
Current borrowing capacity			19,500,000
Indebtedness under the Credit Facility			10,000,000
Required liquidity maintained five consecutive business days			7,500,000.0
Required liquidity maintained any business day			6,500,000.0
Excess availability to borrow			$ 9,500,000
Line of credit [Member] \| Revolving credit facility [Member] \| PNC Bank, National Association (PNC) [Member] \| Conversion Of Third Lien Notes For Second Lien Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt exchange conversion ratio	1
Line of credit [Member] \| Revolving credit facility [Member] \| PNC Bank, National Association (PNC) [Member] \| Debt Conversion, Prior To Extended Early Tender Deadline [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt exchange, ratio of principal to common stock shares (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 100
Line of credit [Member] \| Revolving credit facility [Member] \| PNC Bank, National Association (PNC) [Member] \| Debt Conversion, After Extended Early Tender Deadline [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt exchange, ratio of principal to common stock shares (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 142.86
Line of credit [Member] \| Revolving credit facility [Member] \| PNC Bank, National Association (PNC) [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed charge coverage ratio			1.1
Line of credit [Member] \| Revolving credit facility [Member] \| PNC Bank, National Association (PNC) [Member] \| Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of obligations secured by stock of Subsidiary Borrowers	100.00%
Line of credit [Member] \| Revolving credit facility [Member] \| PNC Bank, National Association (PNC) [Member] \| ION International Holdings L.P. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of obligations secured by stock of Subsidiary Borrowers	65.00%
Line of credit [Member] \| Revolving credit facility [Member] \| PNC Bank, National Association (PNC) [Member] \| Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate for debt	3.00%	2.50%
Line of credit [Member] \| Revolving credit facility [Member] \| PNC Bank, National Association (PNC) [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate for debt	4.00%	3.50%
Senior notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated rate on debt			8.125%
Senior notes [Member] \| Senior secured third-priority lien notes (maturing May 15, 2018) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt						$ 175,000,000
Stated rate on debt						8.125%
Aggregate principal amount of debt	$ 28,500,000		$ 28,497,000		28,497,000
Amount of debt purchased	25,900,000
Principal purchased for cash	$ 15,000,000
Senior notes [Member] \| Senior secured second-priority lien notes (maturing December 15, 2021) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated rate on debt	9.125%
Aggregate principal amount of debt	$ 120,600,000		$ 120,569,000		$ 120,569,000
Senior notes [Member] \| Senior secured second-priority lien notes (maturing December 15, 2021) [Member] \| Conversion Of Common Stock For Second Lien Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt converted for shares, issued shares \| shares	1,205,477