Acquisitions and Dispositions - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands								1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Aug. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Feb. 21, 2017 USD ($) well phase	Jan. 10, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 04, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 17, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 15, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 08, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) county	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) mineral_interest_transaction
Permian Basin
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase of mineral and royalty interest							$ 10,000
Weld County, Colorado
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase of mineral and royalty interest						$ 34,018
Freeport-McMoRan oil and Gas, Inc
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase of mineral and royalty interest					$ 87,558
Twelve Texas countries, primarily Angelina and Nacagdoches [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of counties | county								12
Twelve Texas countries, primarily Angelina and Nacagdoches [Member] | Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash payments to acquire mineral interest								$ 4,800
Partnership common units issued to acquire mineral rights								$ 45,700
Purchase of mineral and royalty interest									$ 50,483
Loving and Winkler Counties, Texas | Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash payments to acquire mineral interest			$ 5,000
Partnership common units issued to acquire mineral rights			12,000
Acquisition related costs									1,200
Number of mineral interest transactions | mineral_interest_transaction										2
Purchase of mineral and royalty interest			$ 17,069							$ 3,400
Loving County, Texas | Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash payments to acquire mineral interest				$ 22,300
Purchase of mineral and royalty interest				$ 22,337
San Augustine County, Texas | Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash payments to acquire mineral interest									1,000
Number of mineral interest transactions | mineral_interest_transaction										1
Purchase of mineral and royalty interest										$ 1,000
Angelina County, Texas | Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash payments to acquire mineral interest									12,300	16,600
Partnership common units issued to acquire mineral rights										$ 200
Angelina County, Texas | Farmout Agreement
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Working interest in acreage (percent)		50.00%
Number of wells anticipated to be drilled | well		18
Additional wells to be drilled | well		20
Number of phases | phase		3
Canaan Resource Partners | Angelina County, Texas | Farmout Agreement
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of additional phases | phase		2
Term of phase		2 years
Percentage funding of drilling and completion costs		80.00%
Working interest in wells (percent)		80.00%
Gross working interest (percent)		40.00%
Third phase potential ownership interest in wells (percent)		40.00%
Third phase potential gross ownership interest (percent)		20.00%
Third phase percentage funding of drilling and completion costs		40.00%
Minimum | Angelina County, Texas | Farmout Agreement
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Anticipated reduction in future capital obligations in the next year		$ 30,000
Anticipated annual reduction in capital obligations		40,000
Maximum | Angelina County, Texas | Farmout Agreement
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Anticipated reduction in future capital obligations in the next year		35,000
Anticipated annual reduction in capital obligations		$ 50,000
General and administrative expenses | Twelve Texas countries, primarily Angelina and Nacagdoches [Member] | Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash payments to acquire mineral interest									$ 1,000
Subsequent Event | Twelve Texas countries, primarily Angelina and Nacagdoches [Member] | Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Partnership common units issued to acquire mineral rights	$ 1,400