Represents the number of leased properties.

No definition available.

Name:	dwsn_NumberOfLeasedProperties
Namespace Prefix:	dwsn_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of operating leases that expire on a month to month basis.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dwsn_NumberOfLeasesToExpireOnMonthlyBasis
Namespace Prefix:	dwsn_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of required minimum rental payments maturing in the fourth fiscal year and thereafter following the latest fiscal year for operating leases having initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dwsn_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYearsAndThereafter
Namespace Prefix:	dwsn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of rent expense incurred for leased assets, including but not limited to, furniture and equipment, that is not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasedAssetsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of required minimum rental payments for leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 10

-Section 55

-Paragraph 40

-Subparagraph (Note 3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584154&loc=d3e38371-112697

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6453985&loc=d3e41502-112717

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of required minimum rental payments maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of required minimum rental payments maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of required minimum rental payments maturing in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_OfficeBuildingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_WarehouseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

LEASES (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
LEASES (Details 2) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014 item	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Operating Lease Obligations
Number of operating lease that expire on a month to month basis	1
Rent expense	$ 720,000us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense	$ 750,000us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense	$ 700,000us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense
Schedule of future minimum rental payments
2015	1,145,359
2016	1,075,513
2017	394,019
2018 and thereafter	104,934
Total minimum payments required	$ 2,719,825
Offices
Operating Lease Obligations
Number of leased properties	6
Offices \| Texas
Operating Lease Obligations
Number of leased properties	1
Offices \| Alberta
Operating Lease Obligations
Number of leased properties	1
Offices \| Texas and Oklahoma
Operating Lease Obligations
Number of leased properties	3
Warehouse facilities
Operating Lease Obligations
Number of leased properties	2