Document and Entity Information [Abstract] ASSETS Assets [Abstract] Current assets: Assets, Current [Abstract] Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Restricted cash Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current Accounts receivable, net Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Current portion of contracts receivable Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Current Inventories, net Inventory, Net Prepaid income tax Prepaid Taxes Deferred tax asset Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Prepaid expenses and other current assets Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current Prepaid expenses and other current assets Total current assets Assets, Current, Total Total current assets Seismic equipment lease pool and property and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Intangible assets, net Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net Goodwill Goodwill Prepaid Taxes Non Current Prepaid foreign income tax Prepaid foreign income tax Long-term portion of contracts receivable, net Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent Other assets Other Assets, Noncurrent Other assets Total assets Assets, Total Total assets LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] Current liabilities: Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current Current maturities - long-term debt Long-term Debt, Current Maturities Income taxes payable Accrued Income Taxes, Current Deferred revenue Deferred Revenue, Current Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Accrued Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current, Total Total current liabilities Non-current income taxes payable Accrued Income Taxes, Noncurrent Deferred tax liability Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent Long-term debt, net of current maturities Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities Long-term debt, net of current maturities Total liabilities Liabilities, Total Total liabilities Shareholders' equity: Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Preferred stock, $1.00 par value; 1,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Preferred stock, par value Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Preferred stock, shares outstanding Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding Common stock, $0.01 par value; 20,000 shares authorized; 13,339 and 10,872 shares issued at July 31, 2011 and January 31, 2011, respectively Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock, par value Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Issued Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital Treasury stock, at cost (925 shares at July 31, 2011 and January 31, 2011) Treasury Stock, Value Treasury stock, at cost (925 shares at July 31, 2011 and January 31, 2011) Treasury stock, shares Treasury Stock, Shares Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated other comprehensive income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive income Total shareholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Total Total shareholders' equity Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Liabilities and Equity, Total Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Revenues: Revenues [Abstract] Equipment leasing Operating Leases, Income Statement, Lease Revenue Lease Pool Equipment Sales Lease pool equipment sales Lease pool equipment sales Subsidiary Equipment Sales Seamap equipment sales Seamap equipment sales Other Equipment Sales Other equipment sales Other equipment sales Other equipment sales Total revenues Revenues, Total Total revenues Cost of sales: Cost of Goods and Services Sold [Abstract] Direct costs - equipment leasing Direct Costs of Leased and Rented Property or Equipment Direct costs - lease pool depreciation Cost of Goods and Services Sold, Depreciation Cost of Lease Pool Equipment Sales Cost of lease pool equipment sales Cost of lease pool equipment sales Cost of Subsidiary and Other Equipment Sales Cost of Seamap and other equipment sales Cost of Seamap and other equipment sales Cost of Seamap and other equipment sales Total cost of sales Cost of Goods and Services Sold, Total Total cost of sales Gross profit Gross Profit Gross profit Operating expenses: Operating Expenses [Abstract] General and administrative General and Administrative Expense Provision for (recovery of) doubtful accounts Provision for Doubtful Accounts Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation and amortization Total operating expenses Operating Expenses, Total Total operating expenses Operating income (loss) Operating Income (Loss) Operating income (loss) Other (expenses) income: Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Gain from bargain purchase in business combination Business Combination, Bargain Purchase, Gain Recognized, Amount Interest, net Investment Income, Investment Expense Interest, net Other, net Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other, net Total other (expenses) income Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total Total other (expenses) income Income (loss) before income taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Income (loss) before income taxes (Provision) benefit for income taxes Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (Provision) benefit for income taxes Net income (loss) Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net income (loss) Net income (loss) per common share: Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Basic Earnings Per Share, Basic Diluted Earnings Per Share, Diluted Shares used in computing net income per common share: Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract] Basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Cash flows from operating activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Net income Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net Stock-based compensation Share-based Compensation Gain from bargain purchase in business combination Provision for Doubtful Accounts Excluding Recoveries Provisions for doubtful accounts Provisions for doubtful accounts Provisions for doubtful accounts Provision for inventory obsolescence Inventory Write-down Gross Profit from Sale of Lease Pool Equipment Gross profit from sale of lease pool equipment Gross profit from sale of lease pool equipment Gross profit from sale of lease pool equipment Excess tax benefit from exercise of non-qualified stock options and restricted shares Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Excess tax benefit from exercise of non-qualified stock options and restricted shares Deferred tax benefit Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Changes in non-current income taxes payable Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Payable Changes in working capital items, net of effects from business combination: Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable Contracts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Notes Receivables Contracts receivable Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Inventories Prepaid expenses and other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Prepaid expenses and other current assets Income taxes receivable and payable Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Payable, Net of Income Taxes Receivable Accounts payable, accrued expenses, other current liabilities and deferred revenue Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Liabilities Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities Cash flows from investing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Payments to Acquire Seismic Equipment Held for Lease Purchases of seismic equipment held for lease Purchases of seismic equipment held for lease Purchases of seismic equipment held for lease Purchases of property and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Purchases of property and equipment Proceeds from Sale of Used Lease Pool Equipment Sale of used lease pool equipment The cash inflow from sale of used leasepool equipment. Payment for earn-out provision (Note 3) Other Payments to Acquire Businesses Payment for earn-out provision (Note 3) Acquisition of AES, net of cash acquired Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Acquisition of AES, net of cash acquired Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash used in investing activities Cash flows from financing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Net payments on line of credit Proceeds from (Repayments of) Lines of Credit Proceeds from Equipment Notes Proceeds from equipment notes Proceeds from equipment notes Payments on borrowings Repayments of Other Debt Payments on borrowings Net purchases of short-term investments Payments for (Proceeds from) Short-term Investments Net purchases of short-term investments Proceeds from issuance of common stock upon exercise of options Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised Net proceeds from public offering of common stock (Note 8) Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Excess tax benefit from exercise of non-qualified stock options and restricted shares Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Excess tax benefit from exercise of non-qualified stock options and restricted shares Net cash provided by used in financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Effect of changes in foreign exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents Effect of changes in foreign exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents Net change in cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Net change in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Supplemental cash flow information: Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Interest paid Interest Paid Income taxes paid Income Taxes Paid Purchase of Seismic Equipment Held for Lease in Accounts Payable Purchases of seismic equipment held for lease in accounts payable at end of period Purchases of seismic equipment held for lease in accounts payable at end of period Basis of Presentation Basis of Accounting [Text Block] Basis of Presentation [Abstract] Basis of Presentation [Abstract] Organization [Text Block] Organization Organization Organization [Abstract] Organization [Abstract] Organization Acquisition Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Acquisition [Abstract] Acquisition [Abstract] Schedule of Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Disclosure [Text Block] Restricted Cash Restricted Cash Restricted Cash [Abstract] Restricted Cash [Abstract] Balance Sheet [Text Block] Balance Sheet Balance Sheet Balance Sheet [Abstract] Balance Sheet [Abstract] Balance Sheet Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract] Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract] Long-Term Debt and Notes Payable Long-term Debt [Text Block] Long-Term Debt and Notes Payable [Abstract] Long-Term Debt and Notes Payable [Abstract] Public Offering of Common Stock Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Public Offering of Common Stock/Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Public Offering of Common Stock/Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Comprehensive Income Comprehensive Income (Loss) Note [Text Block] Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income Taxes [Abstract] Income Taxes [Abstract] Earnings per Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract] Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract] Segment Reporting Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Reporting [Abstract] Segment Reporting [Abstract] Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Document Type Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Registrant Name Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Public Float Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]