STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (540,398)	$ (395,491)	$ 115,614
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	171,629	195,814	185,955
Impairment of proved oil and natural gas properties	183,437	616,784	407,540
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments	118,395	(458,216)	(492,405)
Cash settlements (paid) received on expired derivative instruments	210,704	250,043	11,693
Cash settlements (paid) on terminated derivatives	228,646	47,930	0
Premiums paid for commodity derivatives	0	(47,930)	0
Bad debt expense	2,050	0	0
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	187	(2,234)	(1,548)
Amortization and write-off of deferred financing costs	22,106	6,058	4,227
Amortization and write-off of senior notes discount	13,185	2,430	1,921
Gain on extinguishment of debt	(42,337)	(422)	0
Accretion of asset retirement obligations	10,231	7,125	5,773
(Gain) loss on sale of properties	(2,754)	(2,998)	0
Unit-based compensation (see Note 12)	7,350	10,809	7,874
Settlement of asset retirement obligations	(1,442)	(1,430)	0
Exploration costs	792	2,078	1,960
Other	229	0	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	23,928	15,528	(18,022)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(4,088)	2,275	(2,695)
Payables and accrued liabilities	4,084	(32,068)	27,037
Other	2,692	666	(651)
Net cash provided by operating activities	408,626	216,751	254,273
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of oil and natural gas properties	0	(100,730)	(1,083,761)
Acquisition post-closing adjustments receipts	0	9,570	0
Additions to oil and gas properties	(57,675)	(241,299)	(298,274)
Additions to restricted investments	(8,443)	(5,690)	(3,976)
Withdrawals of restricted investments	4,840	0	0
Additions to other property and equipment	(7,875)	0	(98)
Proceeds from the sale of oil and natural gas properties, net of cash and cash equivalents sold	52,711	580	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(16,442)	(337,569)	(1,386,109)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Advances on revolving credit facilities	144,000	562,000	1,446,000
Payments on revolving credit facilities	(468,348)	(138,000)	(1,137,000)
Proceeds from senior notes	0	0	492,425
Deferred financing costs	(1,350)	(341)	(11,494)
Repurchase of senior notes	(41,261)	(2,914)	0
Capital contributions from previous owners	0	1,912	5,990
Contributions related to sale of assets to NGP affiliate	26	860	0
Transfer of operating subsidiary from Memorial Resource	2,363	0	0
Proceeds from general partner contributions	0	0	570
Proceeds from the issuance of common units	2,385	0	553,288
Costs incurred in conjunction with issuance of common units	(536)	0	(12,510)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	0	(5,946)	0
Distributions to partners	(13,300)	(163,259)	(154,852)
Distribution to Memorial Resource (see Note 1)	0	(78,396)	(48,880)
Acquisition of General Partner (see Note 1)	(750)	0	0
Acquisition of IDRs from NGP (see Note 1)	(50)	0	0
Restricted units returned to plan	(589)	(1,285)	(1,012)
Repurchases under unit repurchase program	0	(54,184)	(11,531)
Distributions made by previous owners	0	0	(9,886)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(377,410)	120,447	1,111,108
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	14,774	(371)	(20,728)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	599	970	21,698
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 15,373	$ 599	$ 970