Subsidiary Guarantors - Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 23,694	$ 31,610	$ 18,512	$ 23,473
Accounts receivable, net	43,854	29,682
Accrued revenue	233,585	261,960
Derivative instruments	299,796	73,022
Other current assets	10,024	6,313
Total current assets	610,953	402,587
Unproved properties	2,305,749	2,331,173
Proved properties	10,779,043	9,549,671
Water handling and treatment systems	891,869	744,682
Gathering systems and facilities	1,977,510	1,723,768
Other property and equipment	54,571	41,231
Property and equipment, gross	16,008,742	14,390,525
Less accumulated depletion, depreciation, and amortization	(2,973,544)	(2,363,778)
Property and equipment, net	13,035,198	12,026,747
Derivative instruments	876,293	1,731,063
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	287,842	68,299
Other assets, net	38,928	26,854
Total assets	14,849,214	14,255,550	14,629,253
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Accounts payable	47,457	38,627
Accrued liabilities	429,696	393,803
Revenue distributions payable	220,971	163,989
Derivative Liability, Current	4,285	203,635
Other current liabilities	15,267	17,334
Total current liabilities	717,676	817,388
Long-term debt	4,510,521	4,703,973
Deferred income tax liability	1,180,564	950,217
Derivative instruments	427	234
Other liabilities	52,764	55,160
Total liabilities	6,461,952	6,526,972
Common stock	3,155	3,149
Additional paid-in capital	6,564,320	5,299,481
Accumulated earnings	1,088,196	959,995
Total stockholders' equity	7,655,671	6,262,625
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiary	731,591	1,465,953
Total equity	8,387,262	7,728,578
Total liabilities and equity	14,849,214	14,255,550
Reportable legal entity | Parent
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	21,199	17,568	9,291	16,590
Accounts receivable, net	42,689	28,442
Intercompany receivables	4,050	3,193
Accrued revenue	233,585	261,960
Derivative instruments	299,796	73,022
Other current assets	9,011	5,784
Total current assets	610,330	389,969
Unproved properties	2,305,749	2,331,173
Proved properties	11,093,749	9,726,957
Gathering systems and facilities	17,929	17,929
Other property and equipment	54,571	41,231
Property and equipment, gross	13,471,998	12,117,290
Less accumulated depletion, depreciation, and amortization	(2,630,298)	(2,109,136)
Property and equipment, net	10,841,700	10,008,154
Derivative instruments	876,293	1,731,063
Investment in subsidiaries	488,089	(420,429)
Contingent acquisition consideration asset	204,210	194,538
Other assets, net	28,380	21,087
Total assets	13,049,002	11,924,382
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Accounts payable	33,637	21,648
Intercompany payable	84,124	64,139
Accrued liabilities	359,164	332,162
Revenue distributions payable	220,971	163,989
Derivative Liability, Current	4,285	203,635
Other current liabilities	15,061	17,134
Total current liabilities	717,242	802,707
Long-term debt	3,442,799	3,854,059
Deferred income tax liability	1,180,564	950,217
Derivative instruments	427	234
Other liabilities	52,299	54,540
Total liabilities	5,393,331	5,661,757
Common stock	3,155	3,149
Additional paid-in capital	6,564,320	5,299,481
Accumulated earnings	1,088,196	959,995
Total stockholders' equity	7,655,671	6,262,625
Total equity	7,655,671	6,262,625
Total liabilities and equity	13,049,002	11,924,382
Reportable legal entity | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	2,495	14,042	$ 9,221	$ 6,883
Accounts receivable, net	1,165	1,240
Intercompany receivables	84,124	64,139
Other current assets	1,013	529
Total current assets	88,797	79,950
Water handling and treatment systems	891,869	744,682
Gathering systems and facilities	1,959,581	1,705,839
Property and equipment, gross	2,851,450	2,450,521
Less accumulated depletion, depreciation, and amortization	(343,246)	(254,642)
Property and equipment, net	2,508,204	2,195,879
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	287,842	68,299
Other assets, net	10,548	5,767
Total assets	2,895,391	2,349,895
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Accounts payable	13,820	16,979
Intercompany payable	4,050	3,193
Accrued liabilities	70,532	61,641
Other current liabilities	206	200
Total current liabilities	88,608	82,013
Long-term debt	1,067,722	849,914
Contingent acquisition consideration liability	204,210	194,538
Other liabilities	465	620
Total liabilities	1,361,005	1,127,085
Partners' capital	1,534,386	1,222,810
Total stockholders' equity	1,534,386	1,222,810
Total equity	1,534,386	1,222,810
Total liabilities and equity	2,895,391	2,349,895
Eliminations
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables	(88,174)	(67,332)
Total current assets	(88,174)	(67,332)
Proved properties	(314,706)	(177,286)
Property and equipment, gross	(314,706)	(177,286)
Property and equipment, net	(314,706)	(177,286)
Investment in subsidiaries	(488,089)	420,429
Contingent acquisition consideration asset	(204,210)	(194,538)
Total assets	(1,095,179)	(18,727)
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Intercompany payable	(88,174)	(67,332)
Total current liabilities	(88,174)	(67,332)
Contingent acquisition consideration liability	(204,210)	(194,538)
Total liabilities	(292,384)	(261,870)
Partners' capital	(1,534,386)	(1,222,810)
Total stockholders' equity	(1,534,386)	(1,222,810)
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiary	731,591	1,465,953
Total equity	(802,795)	243,143
Total liabilities and equity	$ (1,095,179)	$ (18,727)