Nature of Operations	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Nature of Operations [Abstract]
NATURE OF OPERATIONS	NOTE 1 — NATURE OF OPERATIONS Matador Resources Company (“Matador” or the “Company”) is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development, production and acquisition of oil and natural gas resources in the United States, with a particular emphasis on oil and natural gas shale plays and other unconventional resource plays. Matador’s current operations are focused primarily in the oil and liquids rich Eagle Ford shale play in South Texas and the Haynesville shale play in Northwest Louisiana. In addition to these primary operating areas, Matador has a growing acreage position in Southeast New Mexico and West Texas where the Company plans to begin exploring the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring plays during 2013. Matador also has a large exploratory position in Southwest Wyoming and adjacent areas in Utah and Idaho where the Company is testing the Meade Peak shale. On November 22, 2010, the company formerly known as Matador Resources Company, a Texas corporation founded on July 3, 2003, formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, Matador Holdco, Inc. Pursuant to the terms of a corporate reorganization that was completed on August 9, 2011, the former Matador Resources Company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Matador Holdco, Inc. and changed its corporate name to MRC Energy Company, and Matador Holdco, Inc. changed its corporate name to Matador Resources Company. MRC Energy Company holds the primary assets of the Company and has four wholly-owned subsidiaries: Matador Production Company, MRC Permian Company, MRC Rockies Company and Longwood Gathering and Disposal Systems GP, Inc. Matador Production Company serves as the oil and natural gas operating entity. MRC Permian Company conducts oil and natural gas exploration and development activities in Southeast New Mexico. MRC Rockies Company conducts oil and natural gas exploration and development activities in the Rocky Mountains and specifically in the states of Wyoming, Utah and Idaho. Longwood Gathering and Disposal Systems GP, Inc. serves as the general partner of Longwood Gathering and Disposal Systems, LP which owns a majority of the pipeline systems and salt water disposal wells used in the Company’s operations and also transports limited quantities of third-party natural gas.

Nature of Operations

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

NOTE 1 — NATURE OF OPERATIONS

Matador Resources Company (“Matador” or the “Company”) is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development, production and acquisition of oil and natural gas resources in the United States, with a particular emphasis on oil and natural gas shale plays and other unconventional resource plays. Matador’s current operations are focused primarily in the oil and liquids rich Eagle Ford shale play in South Texas and the Haynesville shale play in Northwest Louisiana. In addition to these primary operating areas, Matador has a growing acreage position in Southeast New Mexico and West Texas where the Company plans to begin exploring the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring plays during 2013. Matador also has a large exploratory position in Southwest Wyoming and adjacent areas in Utah and Idaho where the Company is testing the Meade Peak shale.

On November 22, 2010, the company formerly known as Matador Resources Company, a Texas corporation founded on July 3, 2003, formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, Matador Holdco, Inc. Pursuant to the terms of a corporate reorganization that was completed on August 9, 2011, the former Matador Resources Company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Matador Holdco, Inc. and changed its corporate name to MRC Energy Company, and Matador Holdco, Inc. changed its corporate name to Matador Resources Company.

MRC Energy Company holds the primary assets of the Company and has four wholly-owned subsidiaries: Matador Production Company, MRC Permian Company, MRC Rockies Company and Longwood Gathering and Disposal Systems GP, Inc. Matador Production Company serves as the oil and natural gas operating entity. MRC Permian Company conducts oil and natural gas exploration and development activities in Southeast New Mexico. MRC Rockies Company conducts oil and natural gas exploration and development activities in the Rocky Mountains and specifically in the states of Wyoming, Utah and Idaho. Longwood Gathering and Disposal Systems GP, Inc. serves as the general partner of Longwood Gathering and Disposal Systems, LP which owns a majority of the pipeline systems and salt water disposal wells used in the Company’s operations and also transports limited quantities of third-party natural gas.