Investments in Foreign Joint Ventures - Schedule of Activity in Investment in Foreign Joint Ventures (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016
Investments in foreign joint ventures:
Balance at December 31, 2015	$ 11,104
Equity in earnings (loss) in 2016	638
Dividend distributions in 2016	(589)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(348)
Investments, end of period	10,805
Components of investments in foreign joint ventures:
Investment in joint ventures		$ 2,048
Undistributed earnings		8,135
Foreign currency translation		622
Investments, end of period	10,805	10,805
BOMAY
Investments in foreign joint ventures:
Balance at December 31, 2015	10,896
Equity in earnings (loss) in 2016	641
Dividend distributions in 2016	(589)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(356)
Investments, end of period	10,592
Components of investments in foreign joint ventures:
Investment in joint ventures		2,033
Undistributed earnings		8,150
Foreign currency translation		409
Investments, end of period	10,896	10,592
MIEFE
Investments in foreign joint ventures:
Balance at December 31, 2015	208
Equity in earnings (loss) in 2016	(3)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	8
Investments, end of period	213
Components of investments in foreign joint ventures:
Investment in joint ventures		15
Undistributed earnings		(15)
Foreign currency translation		213
Investments, end of period	$ 208	$ 213

Change in equity method investment foreign currency translation.

No definition available.

Name:	aeti_ChangeInEquityMethodInvestmentForeignCurrencyTranslation
Namespace Prefix:	aeti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Component of investment in joint ventures.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aeti_ComponentOfInvestmentInJointVenturesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	aeti_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Equity method investments undistributed earnings.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aeti_EquityMethodInvestmentsUndistributedEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	aeti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Income (loss) from equity method investments in foreign joint venture.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aeti_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestmentsInForeignJointVenture
Namespace Prefix:	aeti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Investment in foreign currency translation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aeti_InvestmentInForeignCurrencyTranslation
Namespace Prefix:	aeti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Investment in joint ventures.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aeti_InvestmentInJointVenturesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	aeti_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents disclosure of the amount of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporation; these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as investing activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(10))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(12))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66022249&loc=d3e33749-111570

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total investments in (A) an entity in which the entity has significant influence, but does not have control, (B) subsidiaries that are not required to be consolidated and are accounted for using the equity and or cost method, and (C) an entity in which the reporting entity shares control of the entity with another party or group. Includes long-term advances receivable from a party that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership.

+ 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 210.5-02.12)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=aeti_BomayMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=aeti_MIEFEMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: