CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Oil and natural gas properties, unproved property costs	$ 1,097,373	$ 988,720
Other property and equipment accumulated depreciation and amortization	$ 14,565	$ 14,433
Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Units
Partners' equity, preferred units, outstanding (in shares)	0	26
Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units
Partners' equity, preferred units, outstanding (in shares)	14,711	14,711
Common Units
Partners' equity - units, outstanding (in shares)	108,330	103,456
Subordinated Units
Partners' equity - units, outstanding (in shares)	96,329	95,388

Capitalized costs of unproved properties incurred for any combination mineral interests acquisitions and other costs not previously disclosed within this table.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 932
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2145477

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 932
-SubTopic 235
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68064819&loc=d3e61901-109447

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsUnprovedProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of each class of partnership units outstanding at the balance sheet date. Units represent shares of ownership of the general, limited, and preferred partners.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-04.16(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488278&loc=d3e603758-122996

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-04.16(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488278&loc=d3e603758-122996

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 4.F)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187171-122770

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountUnits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of accumulated depreciation of long-lived, physical assets used to produce goods and services and not intended for resale, classified as other.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentOtherAccumulatedDepreciation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of securities classified as temporary equity that have been issued and are held by the entity's shareholders. Securities outstanding equals securities issued minus securities held in treasury. Temporary equity is a security with redemption features that are outside the control of the issuer, is not classified as an asset or liability in conformity with GAAP, and is not mandatorily redeemable. Includes any type of security that is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price or on a fixed or determinable date or dates, is redeemable at the option of the holder, or has conditions for redemption which are not solely within the control of the issuer. If convertible, the issuer does not control the actions or events necessary to issue the maximum number of shares that could be required to be delivered under the conversion option if the holder exercises the option to convert the stock to another class of equity. If the security is a warrant or a rights issue, the warrant or rights issue is considered to be temporary equity if the issuer cannot demonstrate that it would be able to deliver upon the exercise of the option by the holder in all cases. Includes stock with put option held by ESOP and stock redeemable by holder only in the event of a change in control of the issuer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(27)(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountByClassAxis=bsm_SeriesARedeemablePreferredUnitsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountByClassAxis=bsm_SeriesBCumulativeConvertiblePreferredUnitsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountByClassAxis=bsm_CommonUnitsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountByClassAxis=bsm_SubordinatedUnitsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: