Deferred Revenue from Volumetric Production Payment (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012 partnership	Dec. 31, 2014 MBoe	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Changes in deferred revenue from the VPP
Beginning of period		$ 29,770,000	$ 37,184,000
Deferred revenue from VPP		1,067,000	1,332,000
Amortization of deferred revenue from VPP		(7,708,000)	(8,746,000)	(8,295,000)
End of period		23,129,000	29,770,000	37,184,000
Number of limited partnerships involved in the mergers	24
Remaining obligation (in BOE)		375
Southwest Royalties, Inc. | Limited partnerships
Changes in deferred revenue from the VPP
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