Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) - Quarterly Financial Data (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 81,426	$ 74,222	$ 68,066	$ 60,866	$ 79,108	$ 88,083	$ 98,138	$ 92,818	$ 284,580	$ 358,147	$ 566,043
Operating income (loss)	(267,783)	(6,336)	(156,971)	(5,449)	99,434	(160,844)	(85,197)	(136,370)	(436,539)	(282,977)	198,400
Net income (loss)	(321,885)	(32,866)	(147,550)	(38,097)	73,007	(191,981)	(113,859)	(162,658)	(540,398)	(395,491)	115,614
Net income (loss) attributable to Memorial Production Partners LP	(321,885)	(32,866)	(147,550)	(38,097)	72,949	(192,085)	(113,924)	(162,817)	(540,398)	(395,877)	115,582
Net income (loss) allocated to previous owners								(2,268)	0	(2,268)	(2,465)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest					58	104	65	159	0	386	32
Limited partners’ interest in net income (loss)	$ (321,885)	$ (32,866)	$ (147,422)	$ (38,057)	$ 72,874	$ (191,938)	$ (113,862)	$ (160,439)	$ (540,230)	$ (393,365)	$ 117,753
Basic and diluted earnings per unit	$ (3.85)	$ (0.39)	$ (1.78)	$ (0.46)	$ 0.88	$ (2.31)	$ (1.36)	$ (1.90)	$ (6.48)	$ (4.71)	$ 1.66