Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Value Assigned, Per Share

No definition available.

Name:	sdlp_BusinessAcquisitionEquityInterestIssuedorIssuableValueAssignedPerShare
Namespace Prefix:	sdlp_
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Mobilization Payable

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Working Capital Adjustment

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	sdlp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity, Net of Fees

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of direct costs of the business combination including legal, accounting, and other costs incurred to consummate the business acquisition.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Value of equity interests (such as common shares, preferred shares, or partnership interest) issued or issuable to acquire the entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

+ Details

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

- Definition

Number of shares of equity interests issued or issuable to acquire entity.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of voting equity interests acquired at the acquisition date 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 (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25497992&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For receivables acquired in a business combination, excluding certain loans and debt securities acquired in a transfer (as defined), this element represents the fair value of the receivables acquired, by major class of receivable, such as loans, direct finance leases (as defined), and any other class of receivables.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=39739317&loc=d3e4845-128472

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6578-128477

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6613-128477

+ Details

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

- Definition

For contingent consideration arrangements recognized in connection with a business combination, this element represents an estimate of the high-end of the potential range (undiscounted) of the consideration which may be paid.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of liability recognized arising from contingent consideration in a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 35
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911338&loc=d3e6819-128478

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 25
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911189&loc=d3e6408-128476

+ Details

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

- Definition

This element represents the amount of earnings or loss of the acquiree since the acquisition date included in the consolidated income statement for the reporting period.

+ 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 (h)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25497992&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the amount of revenue of the acquiree since the acquisition date included in the consolidated income statement for the reporting period.

+ 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 (h)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25497992&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt due after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, assumed at the acquisition date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=39739317&loc=d3e4845-128472

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow for cost incurred directly with the issuance of an equity security.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

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

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
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- Details

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- Details

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Period Type:

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Business acquisitions West Vela (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 04, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 21, 2014	Dec. 13, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent			50.00%
Consideration transferred			$ 2,695,000
Plus: Working capital adjustment			2,200
Proceeds on issuance of equity, net of fees			0	$ 937,800	$ 464,800
Payments of stock issuance costs		$ 18,800
Goodwill			$ 3,200	3,200
West Vela
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of voting interests acquired	100.00%
Consideration transferred	$ 900,000
Long term interest bearing debt	433,100
Mobilization payable	73,700
Contingent consideration	65,700
Plus: Working capital adjustment	$ 6,000
Business acquisition, equity interest issued or issuable, share price	$ 30.68
Proceeds on issuance of equity, net of fees	$ 245,400
Payments of stock issuance costs	10,900
Goodwill	200
Business acquisition, transaction costs	$ 200
Revenues				32,900
Business combination, earnings or loss of acquiree since acquisition date, actual				$ 5,700
Seadrill Capricorn Holdings LLC
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent	51.00%					51.00%	51.00%
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners	49.00%					49.00%
Seadrill Capricorn Holdings LLC \| Seadrill \| West Vela
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition, equity interest issued, value assigned	$ 228,800
Stock Issued to Public \| West Vela
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Common units issued as consideration (in shares)	8,000,000
Trade Accounts Receivable \| West Vela
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired receivables, fair value	$ 44,100
Mobilization Fee Receivable \| West Vela
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired receivables, fair value	94,200
Mobilization Fee Receivable \| West Vela
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Contingent consideration amount under the agreements, per day amount (up to)	44
BP Remaining Contract \| West Vela
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Contingent consideration amount under the agreements, per day amount (up to)	$ 40