Deferred Revenue from Volumetric Production Payment (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012 partnership	Sep. 30, 2014 Boe	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Number of limited partnerships involved in the mergers	24
Remaining obligation (in BOE)		402,000
Changes in deferred revenue from the VPP
Beginning of period		$ 29,770,000	$ 37,184,000	$ 37,184,000
Deferred revenue from VPP		810,000		1,332,000
Amortization of deferred revenue from VPP		(5,855,000)	(6,639,000)	(8,746,000)
End of period		24,725,000		29,770,000
Southwest Royalties, Inc. | Limited partnerships
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Upfront cash proceeds under VPP	44,400,000
Deferred future advances under VPP	$ 4,700,000
Barrels of oil equivalents of future oil and gas production covered by a term overriding royalty interest conveyed to a third party under the terms of the VPP (in BOE)	725,000