Partners' Capital (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Alta Mesa Holdings GP, LLC | Common Class A
Partners' Capital l[Line Items]
Economic interests	100.00%
Alta Mesa Holdings GP, LLC | Common Class B
Partners' Capital l[Line Items]
Voting interests	100.00%
Directors And Affiliates Of Bayou City And Highbridge | Alta Mesa Holdings GP, LLC | Common Class B
Partners' Capital l[Line Items]
Voting interests	10.00%
SRII Opco, LP | Alta Mesa Holdings GP, LLC | Common Class B
Partners' Capital l[Line Items]
Economic interests	90.00%