<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000844965-16-000220.txt : 20161206
<SEC-HEADER>0000844965-16-000220.hdr.sgml : 20161206
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20161206180049
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000844965-16-000220
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20161205
FILED AS OF DATE:		20161206
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20161206

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TETRA TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000844965
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				742148293
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		24955 INTERSTATE 45 NORTH
		CITY:			THE WOODLANDS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77380
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2813671983

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		24955 INTERSTATE 45 NORTH
		CITY:			THE WOODLANDS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77380

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Pintar Peter J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001337978

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13455
		FILM NUMBER:		162037271

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 60068
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77205
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-12-05</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000844965</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TETRA TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TTI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001337978</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Pintar Peter J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>24955 I 45 N</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>THE WOODLANDS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77380</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SR VP</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-12-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.8822</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>262262</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $5.82 to $5.95, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to TETRA Technologies, Inc., any security holder of TETRA Technologies, Inc., or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in Footnote 1 to this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The sales reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on September 26, 2016.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bass C. Wallace, Jr., Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-12-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
