Income Taxes - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Provisional income tax expense related to TCJA	$ 7,800	$ 7,800
Income tax expense (benefit)		(2,470)	$ 16,373
Current federal tax expense (benefit)		0	0
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)		(2,470)	16,388
Income tax benefit due to TCJA			8,600
Change in deferred tax liability due to TCJA			4,800
Valuation allowance	(24,120)	(16,865)	(24,120)
Net deferred noncurrent tax assets	13,605	3,376	13,605
Deferred tax liabilities	10,515	13,489	10,515
U.S.
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Income tax expense (benefit)		(2,470)	16,373
Deferred tax assets	20,500	13,100	20,500
Deferred tax liabilities	7,700	9,600	7,700
Operating loss carryforward, net		42,400
Canada
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Income tax expense (benefit)		0	0
Deferred tax assets	3,600	3,800	3,600
Deferred tax liabilities	$ 2,800	3,900	2,800
Operating loss carryforward, net		10,000
Lynden U S A Inc
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Current federal tax expense (benefit)		(1,900)
Tax Act, income tax expense (benefit), alternative minimum tax credits		500
Lynden Arrangement | U.S.
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforward, net		28,000
Earthstone Energy Holdings, LLC
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Current federal tax expense (benefit)		(7,400)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)		$ (1,100)	(12,600)
Bold Transaction | Earthstone Energy Holdings, LLC
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Current federal tax expense (benefit)			$ 7,700