Long Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Jul. 17, 2014
Nov. 22, 2013
Jun. 18, 2014
Dec. 18, 2013
Dec. 12, 2012
Nov. 20, 2012
Mar. 28, 2013
Apr. 01, 2013
Oct. 10, 2013
May 23, 2013
Apr. 17, 2013
Jul. 10, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Federal funds effective rate 0.50%                          
One month adjusted LIBOR 1.00%                          
Variable borrowing, Minimum 0.50%                          
Variable borrowing, Maximum 1.50%                          
Variable LIBOR plus margin, Minimum 1.50%                          
Variable LIBOR plus margin, Maximum 2.50%                          
Interest coverage ratio on EBITDAX to net interest expenses 2.50%                          
Interest coverage ratio consolidated current assets to consolidated current liabilities 1.00%                          
Letters of credit outstanding $ 6,700,000                          
Senior Secured Notes [Member] | Notes Due 2022 [Member]                            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Senior unsecured notes maturity period Aug. 01, 2022                          
Senior Secured Notes [Member] | Notes Due 2021 [Member]                            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Senior unsecured notes maturity period May 01, 2021                          
Senior notes 7.625%                          
Other events of default minimum note holder percentage to accelerate 25.00%                          
Six Point Eight Seven Five Percent Senior Notes [Member]                            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Other events of default minimum note holder percentage to accelerate   25.00%                        
REO revolving credit facility [Member]                            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Revolving credit facility           28,500,000                
Termination date of revolving credit facility Dec. 12, 2012                          
Classic revolving credit facility [Member]                            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Revolving credit facility             80,000,000              
Termination date of revolving credit facility Nov. 20, 2012                          
WHT revolving credit facility [Member]                            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Revolving credit facility               89,300,000            
Termination date of revolving credit facility Mar. 28, 2013                          
Tanos revolving credit facility [Member]                            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Revolving credit facility                 27,000,000          
Termination date of revolving credit facility Apr. 01, 2013                          
Boaz And Crown [Member]                            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Termination date of revolving credit facility Oct. 01, 2013                          
Stanolind And Propel Energy [Member]                            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Termination date of revolving credit facility Oct. 01, 2013                          
MRD LLC revolving credit facility [Member]                            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Revolving credit facility         59,700,000                  
Termination date of revolving credit facility Dec. 18, 2013                          
Revolving credit facility, mandatory principal repayment     20,000,000                      
Memorial Resource revolving credit facility [Member]                            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Line of credit facility, aggregate maximum borrowing amount       2,000,000,000                    
Revolving credit facility 183,000,000                          
Revolving credit facility expiration term       5 years                    
Line of credit facility, initial borrowing base       725,000,000                    
Aggregate elected capacity of revolving credit facility       725,000,000                    
Private Placement of Debt [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member] | Notes Due 2022 [Member]                            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Face amount of senior notes at time of issuance   500,000,000                        
Senior notes   6.875%                        
Senior notes issued at par   98.485%                        
Private Placement of Debt [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member] | Notes Due 2021 [Member]                            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Face amount of senior notes at time of issuance                   300,000,000 100,000,000 300,000,000    
Private Placement of Debt [Member] | Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] | Notes Due 2022 [Member] | MRD [Member]                            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Face amount of senior notes at time of issuance                         600,000,000  
Senior notes                         5.875%  
PIK notes [Member] | M R D Issuers                            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Face amount of senior notes at time of issuance         350,000,000                  
Senior notes interest rate, minimum         10.00%                  
Senior notes interest rate, maximum         10.75%                  
Senior notes redemption date Jul. 16, 2014                          
Minimum [Member]                            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Variable LIBOR Market index plus margin, Maximum 1.50%                          
Variable commitment fee 0.375%                          
Maximum [Member]                            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Variable LIBOR Market index plus margin, Maximum 2.50%                          
Variable commitment fee 0.50%                          
OLLC $2.0 billion revolving credit facility [Member]                            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Line of credit facility, aggregate maximum borrowing amount 2,000,000,000                          
Revolving credit facility 412,000,000                         103,000,000
Line of credit facility, initial borrowing base $ 1,440,000,000                          
Universal Shelf Registration Statement [Member]                            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                            
Universal shelf guarantor subsidiaries ownership percentage 100.00%