Subsidiary Guarantors Consolidated Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany receivable	$ 0	$ 0
Current assets	305,685	257,170
Net property and equipment	3,122,864	1,881,456
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Long-term assets	26,969	7,064
Total assets	3,455,518	2,145,690	$ 1,464,665
Intercompany payable	0	0
Current liabilities	330,022	282,606
Senior unsecured notes payable	1,037,837	574,073
Other long-term liabilities	308,002	31,465
Total shareholders' equity	1,688,880	1,156,556
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	90,777	100,990
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 3,455,518	2,145,690
Subsidiary ownership percentage	100.00%
Eliminating Entries
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany receivable	$ (1,274,221)	(588,021)
Current assets	0	0
Net property and equipment	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,585,747)	(1,258,372)
Long-term assets	(9,502)	(3,003)
Total assets	(2,869,470)	(1,849,396)
Intercompany payable	(1,274,221)	(588,021)
Current liabilities	(724)	(274)
Senior unsecured notes payable		0
Other long-term liabilities	(8,778)	(2,729)
Total shareholders' equity	(1,585,747)	(1,258,372)
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	(2,869,470)	(1,849,396)
Matador | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany receivable	1,244,405	585,109
Current assets	4,109	2,240
Net property and equipment	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	1,490,401	1,147,295
Long-term assets	23,897	6,425
Total assets	2,762,812	1,741,069
Intercompany payable	0	0
Current liabilities	22,874	8,847
Senior unsecured notes payable	1,037,837	574,073
Other long-term liabilities	13,221	1,593
Total shareholders' equity	1,688,880	1,156,556
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	2,762,812	1,741,069
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany receivable	29,816	2,912
Current assets	34,027	9,334
Net property and equipment	379,052	223,178
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Long-term assets	1,479	0
Total assets	444,374	235,424
Intercompany payable	0	0
Current liabilities	27,988	19,891
Senior unsecured notes payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	230,263	3,466
Total shareholders' equity	95,346	111,077
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	90,777	100,990
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	444,374	235,424
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany receivable	0	0
Current assets	267,549	245,596
Net property and equipment	2,743,812	1,658,278
Investment in subsidiaries	95,346	111,077
Long-term assets	11,095	3,642
Total assets	3,117,802	2,018,593
Intercompany payable	1,274,221	588,021
Current liabilities	279,884	254,142
Senior unsecured notes payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	73,296	29,135
Total shareholders' equity	1,490,401	1,147,295
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 3,117,802	$ 2,018,593