Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Operating income:
Royalty income	$ 62,584	$ 71,080	$ 171,857	$ 201,950
Lease bonus income	40	698	1,685	3,607
Other operating income	318	10	761	15
Total operating income	62,942	71,788	174,303	205,572
Costs and expenses:
Production and ad valorem taxes	5,049	4,731	14,306	12,812
Depletion	24,780	18,697	72,204	51,408
General and administrative expenses	1,811	1,805	6,160	5,223
Total costs and expenses	31,640	25,233	92,670	69,443
Income from operations	31,302	46,555	81,633	136,129
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(8,238)	(3,827)	(24,870)	(11,089)
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net	(5,084)	0	(47,469)	0
Gain (loss) on revaluation of investment	(1,984)	336	(8,661)	3,978
Other income, net	188	553	1,111	1,756
Total other expense, net	(15,118)	(2,938)	(79,889)	(5,355)
Income (loss) before income taxes	16,184	43,617	1,744	130,774
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	0	(7,480)	142,466	(41,908)
Net income (loss)	16,184	51,097	(140,722)	172,682
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	16,948	43,151	23,963	128,692
Net income (loss) attributable to Viper Energy Partners LP	$ (764)	$ 7,946	$ (164,685)	$ 43,990
Net income (loss) attributable to common limited partner units:
Basic (dollars per unit)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.13	$ (2.43)	$ 0.73
Diluted (dollars per unit)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.13	$ (2.43)	$ 0.73
Weighted average number of common limited partner units outstanding:
Basic (in units)	67,847	62,645	67,832	60,267
Diluted (in units)	67,847	62,678	67,832	60,296
Revenue, Product and Service [Extensible List]			us-gaap:RoyaltyMember