Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 08, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenue
Total operating revenue		$ 473,473
Gain on sale of assets		4,751
Gain on acquisitions of oil and gas properties		0
Gain (loss) on derivatives		(10,247)
Total revenue		467,977
Operating expenses
Lease operating		56,827
Transportation, processing and marketing		19,293
Midstream operating		15,221
Cost of sales for purchased gathered production		31,247
Production taxes		16,865
Workovers		5,563
Exploration		34,085
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		160,942
Impairment of assets		3,205,051
General and administrative		131,052
Total operating expenses		3,676,146
Operating income		(3,208,169)
Other income (expense)
Interest expense		(43,296)
Interest income and other		2,049
Loss on debt extinguishment		0
Total other income (expense), net		(41,247)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes		(3,249,416)
Income tax provision (benefit)		(69)
Loss from continuing operations		(3,249,347)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		0
Net loss		(3,249,347)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest		(1,724,648)
Net Loss Attributable to Alta Mesa Resources, Inc. Stockholders		$ (1,524,699)
Net Loss Per Common Share Attributable To Alta Mesa Resources, Inc. Stockholders:
Basic and diluted (in dollars per share)		$ (8.71)
Predecessor
Revenue
Total operating revenue	$ 40,136		$ 269,386	$ 142,356
Gain on sale of assets	840		28	3
Gain on acquisitions of oil and gas properties	0		1,668	0
Gain (loss) on derivatives	6,663		8,287	(40,460)
Total revenue	47,639		279,369	101,899
Operating expenses
Lease operating	4,408		43,953	29,567
Transportation, processing and marketing	3,725		29,460	11,628
Midstream operating	0		0	0
Cost of sales for purchased gathered production	0		0	0
Production taxes	953		5,494	2,765
Workovers	423		4,255	3,441
Exploration	7,003		13,563	17,230
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	11,670		89,115	53,755
Impairment of assets	0		1,188	382
General and administrative	21,234		55,671	40,468
Total operating expenses	49,416		242,699	159,236
Operating income	(1,777)		36,670	(57,337)
Other income (expense)
Interest expense	(5,511)		(50,585)	(59,675)
Interest income and other	172		1,075	884
Loss on debt extinguishment	0		0	(18,151)
Total other income (expense), net	(5,339)		(49,510)	(76,942)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(7,116)		(12,840)	(134,279)
Income tax provision (benefit)	0		6	0
Loss from continuing operations	(7,116)		(12,846)	(134,279)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(7,746)		(64,815)	(33,642)
Net loss	(14,862)		(77,661)	(167,921)
Net Loss Attributable to Alta Mesa Resources, Inc. Stockholders	(14,862)			(77,661)
Oil
Revenue
Total operating revenue		$ 323,299
Oil | Predecessor
Revenue
Total operating revenue	30,972		194,423	105,811
Natural gas
Revenue
Total operating revenue		43,407
Natural gas | Predecessor
Revenue
Total operating revenue	4,276		37,794	20,021
Natural gas liquids
Revenue
Total operating revenue		43,039
Natural gas liquids | Predecessor
Revenue
Total operating revenue	4,000		31,445	14,174
Sales of gathered production
Revenue
Total operating revenue		31,506
Total revenue		600
Sales of gathered production | Predecessor
Revenue
Total operating revenue	0		0	0
Midstream revenue
Revenue
Total operating revenue		27,460
Midstream revenue | Predecessor
Revenue
Total operating revenue	0		0	0
Other
Revenue
Total operating revenue		4,762
Total revenue		$ 409,011
Other | Predecessor
Revenue
Total operating revenue	$ 888		$ 5,724	$ 2,350