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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details)
 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
CAD
Dec. 31, 2014
United States
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
United States
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
United States
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Canada
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Canada
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Canada
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Minimum
Dec. 31, 2014
Less than
Property and Equipment                        
Estimated useful lives of property and equipment                     1 year 7 years
Cash Equivalents                        
Amount in the Texas Bank accounts insured by FDIC $ 250,000us-gaap_CashFDICInsuredAmount                      
Amount in the Alberta Bank accounts insured by CDIC       100,000dwsn_CashCDICInsuredAmount                
Long-Lived Assets.                        
Long-Lived Assets 48,792,000us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets 63,107,000us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets 89,386,000us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets   18,621,000us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US		 20,148,000us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US		 32,390,000us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US		 30,171,000us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_CA		 42,959,000us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_CA		 56,996,000us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_CA		    
Impairment Charge $ 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse $ 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse $ 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse                  
Revenue Recognition                        
Minimum period of prior notice to cancel supplemental agreement 30 days