Common control business acquisition cost of acquired entity purchase price gross.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Consolidation and basis of presentation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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- Definition

Ownership interest percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	memp_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Partners capital account percentage of partnership interest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	memp_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow to purchase remaining minority interest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The net gains or losses recognized for each transaction with the acquiree that was recognized separately from the acquisition of assets and assumptions of liabilities in the business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (e)(3)
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The cash outflow to purchase long lived physical asset for use in the normal oil and gas operations and to purchase mineral interests in oil and gas properties not intended for resale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (c)
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- Definition

A description of the related party transaction, including transactions to which no amounts or nominal amounts were ascribed and such other information deemed necessary to an understanding of the effects of the transactions on the financial statements. Examples of common related party transactions are, sales, purchases and transfers of realty and personal property, services received or furnished, loans and leases to and from top management and affiliates.

+ References

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+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
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- Details

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Organization and Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail)			12 Months Ended
	Apr. 27, 2016 USD ($)	Nov. 03, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Segment	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2016
Consolidation And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Number of reportable business segments \| Segment			1
Acquisitions of oil and natural gas properties			$ 0	$ 100,730,000	$ 1,083,761,000
2015 Beta Acquisition [Member]
Consolidation And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Acquisitions of oil and natural gas properties		$ 94,600,000
Purchase of noncontrolling interest in SPBPC		$ 6,000,000
MEMP GP [Member]
Consolidation And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Acquisition purchase price	$ 800,000
Partnership ownership percentage	0.10%
Gain (loss) on acquisition	$ 0
Related party transaction, description of transaction			In connection with the closing of the transactions on June 1, 2016, our partnership agreement was amended and restated to, among other things, (i) convert the 0.1% general partner interest in the Partnership held by MEMP GP into a non-economic general partner interest, (ii) cancel the IDRs, and (iii) provide that the limited partners of the Partnership will elect the members of MEMP GP’s board of directors beginning with our next annual meeting.
Incentive Distribution Rights (“IDRs”) [Member] \| MEMP GP [Member]
Consolidation And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Partnership ownership percentage	50.00%
General Partner [Member] \| Incentive Distribution Rights (“IDRs”) [Member] \| MEMP GP [Member]
Consolidation And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Partnership ownership percentage	50.00%
Natural Gas Partners [Member] \| Incentive Distribution Rights (“IDRs”) [Member]
Consolidation And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Agreed ownership interest percentage to acquire	50.00%					50.00%