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Description of Business	12 Months Ended
Description of Business	Dec. 31, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Description of Business	DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS Alta Mesa Holdings, LP (“Alta Mesa” or “the Company”) is an independent exploration and production company focused on the acquisition, development, exploration and exploitation of unconventional onshore oil and natural gas reserves in the eastern portion of the Anadarko Basin in Oklahoma commonly referred to as the Sooner Trend Anadarko Basin Canadian and Kingfisher County (“STACK”). Our operations prior to February 9, 2018, also included other oil and gas interests in Texas, Louisiana, Idaho and Florida. In connection with the closing of the Business Combination described below, in which we were acquired by our parent company, Alta Mesa Resources, Inc. (“AMR”), on February 9, 2018, we distributed our non-STACK oil and gas assets and liabilities to High Mesa Holdings, LP (the “AM Contributor”) and completed our transition from a multi-play asset base composed of a portfolio of conventional assets to an oil and liquids-rich resource unconventional play in the STACK.