Represents the ratio of current assets to current liabilities

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the ratio of debt to tangible net worth ratio to be maintained during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the maximum borrowing capacity of the second feature on the Line Of Credit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of letters of credit issued and outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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- Definition

The number of outstanding notes payable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the percentage of maximum borrowing capacity on eligible accounts receivable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the maximum percentage allowed to be borrowed against core equipment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the portion of short-term borrowings principal that will be repaid in next 12 months.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84164817&loc=d3e45280-112737

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(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The reference rate for the variable rate of the debt instrument, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt and capital lease obligations including current maturities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Principal amount of long-term debt and capital lease obligation maturing in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Principal amount of long-term debt and capital lease obligation maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Principal amount of long-term debt and capital lease obligation maturing in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Principal amount of long-term debt and capital lease obligation maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The lowest amount of net worth (total assets minus total liabilities) required by secondary market investors or state-imposed regulatory mandates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 948
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)(a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6490092&loc=d3e47080-110998

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 948
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6490092&loc=d3e47304-110998

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Reflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ 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(19)(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(13))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16)(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=dwsn_CityOfMidlandTexasMember
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- Details

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DEBT (Details)	9 Months Ended
DEBT (Details)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Recording equipment
Debt Instruments
Capital lease obligations	$ 8,001,000
Letter Of Credit
Debt Instruments
Number of letters of credit \| item	2
Letter Of Credit \| AIG Assurance Company
Debt Instruments
Letters of credit issued	$ 1,767,000
Letter Of Credit \| City of Midland, Texas
Debt Instruments
Letters of credit issued	$ 75,000
Notes payable to finance companies for insurance
Debt Instruments
Number of outstanding notes payable \| item	1
Aggregate principal amount outstanding	$ 56,000
Interest rate	2.80%
Credit Agreement
Debt Instruments
Borrowing, repaying and re-borrowing capacity	$ 20,000,000
Percentage of maximum borrowing capacity on eligible accounts receivable	80.00%
Percentage of maximum borrowing capacity on eligible core equipment	50.00%
Maximum borrowing capacity on core equipment	$ 12,500,000
Interest rate	4.50%
Minimum tangible net worth	$ 125,000,000
Credit Agreement \| Term Note
Debt Instruments
Number of outstanding notes payable \| item	0
Credit Agreement \| Prime rate
Debt Instruments
Variable interest rate basis	prime rate
Credit Agreement \| Minimum
Debt Instruments
Ratio of current assets to current liabilities	1.50
Credit Agreement \| Minimum \| Prime rate
Debt Instruments
Interest rate	2.50%
Credit Agreement \| Maximum
Debt Instruments
Debt to tangible net worth ratio	1.00
Notes payable to commercial banks and finance companies
Aggregate maturities of notes payable and obligations under capital leases
October 2017 - September 2018	$ 56,000
Notes payable to commercial banks
Debt Instruments
Aggregate principal amount outstanding		$ 1,938,000
Notes payable to commercial banks \| Minimum
Debt Instruments
Interest rate		3.50%
Notes payable to commercial banks \| Maximum
Debt Instruments
Interest rate		4.50%
Obligations under capital leases
Aggregate maturities of notes payable and obligations under capital leases
October 2017 - September 2018	2,732,000
October 2018 - September 2019	2,802,000
October 2019 - September 2020	3,002,000
October 2020 - September 2021	25,000
Total	$ 8,561,000
Obligations under capital leases \| Minimum
Debt Instruments
Interest rate	3.16%
Obligations under capital leases \| Maximum
Debt Instruments
Interest rate	6.88%