Cover - shares	9 Months Ended
Cover - shares	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 25, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-36505
Entity Registrant Name	Viper Energy Partners LP
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	46-5001985
Entity Address, Address Line One	500 West Texas
Entity Address, City or Town	Suite 1200
Entity Address, City or Town	Midland,
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	79701
City Area Code	432
Local Phone Number	221-7400
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Units
Trading Symbol	VNOM
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Units, Units Outstanding		62,653,583
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Central Index Key	0001602065
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Class B Units
Document Information [Line Items]
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	72,418,500	90,709,946	72,418,500

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 19,952	$ 22,676
Royalty income receivable	43,288	38,823
Royalty income receivable—related party	14,033	3,489
Other current assets	252	257
Total current assets	77,525	65,245
Property:
Oil and natural gas interests, full cost method of accounting ($1,051,791 and $871,485 excluded from depletion at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively)	2,036,561	1,716,713
Land	5,688	5,688
Accumulated depletion and impairment	(299,704)	(248,296)
Property, net	1,742,545	1,474,105
Funds held in escrow	7,500	0
Deferred tax asset	157,885	96,883
Other assets	21,483	17,831
Total assets	2,006,938	1,654,064
Current liabilities:
Other accrued liabilities	5,370	6,022
Total current liabilities	5,370	6,022
Long-term debt	409,500	411,000
Total liabilities	414,870	417,022
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)
Unitholders’ equity:
General partner	1,000	1,000
Common units (62,649,348 units issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2019 and 51,653,956 units issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018)	774,815	540,112
Class B units (72,418,500 units issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018)	990	990
Total Viper Energy Partners LP unitholders’ equity	776,805	542,102
Non-controlling interest	815,263	694,940
Total equity	1,592,068	1,237,042
Total liabilities and unitholders’ equity	$ 2,006,938	$ 1,654,064

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Operating income:
Royalty income	$ 71,080	$ 73,497	$ 201,950	$ 209,902
Lease bonus income	698	4,205	3,607	5,133
Other operating income	10	12	15	120
Total operating income	71,788	77,714	205,572	215,155
Costs and expenses:
Production and ad valorem taxes	4,731	5,027	12,812	14,133
Depletion	18,697	16,532	51,408	41,317
General and administrative expenses	1,805	1,309	5,223	6,230
Total costs and expenses	25,233	22,868	69,443	61,680
Income from operations	46,555	54,846	136,129	153,475
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(3,827)	(3,711)	(11,089)	(9,061)
Gain (loss) on revaluation of investment	336	(199)	3,978	5,165
Other income, net	553	640	1,756	1,479
Total other expense, net	(2,938)	(3,270)	(5,355)	(2,417)
Income before income taxes	43,617	51,576	130,774	151,058
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(7,480)	764	(41,908)	(71,114)
Net income	51,097	50,812	172,682	222,172
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest	43,151	48,466	128,692	77,526
Net income attributable to Viper Energy Partners LP	$ 7,946	$ 2,346	$ 43,990	$ 144,646
Net income attributable to common limited partners per unit:
Basic (dollars per unit)	$ 0.13	$ 0.05	$ 0.73	$ 1.85
Diluted (dollars per unit)	$ 0.13	$ 0.05	$ 0.73	$ 1.85
Weighted average number of common limited partner units outstanding:
Basic (in units)	62,645	48,234	60,267	78,250
Diluted (in units)	62,678	48,304	60,296	78,319

Consolidated Statements of Unitholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	General Partner	Non-Controlling Interest	Common Units Limited Partner	Class B Units Limited Partner
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 913,908	$ 0	$ 0	$ 913,908	$ 0
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017				113,882	0
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Unit-based compensation	1,288			$ 1,288
Distributions to public	(18,737)			(18,737)
Distributions to Diamondback	(33,649)			(33,649)
Net income	42,896			$ 42,896
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018				113,882	0
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2018	887,055	0	0	$ 887,055	$ 0
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	913,908	0	0	$ 913,908	$ 0
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017				113,882	0
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net income	222,172
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018				51,654	72,419
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	1,267,767	1,000	695,550	$ 570,227	$ 990
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2018	887,055	0	0	$ 887,055	$ 0
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018				113,882	0
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Unit exchange related to tax conversion, units				(73,150)	73,150
Unit exchange related to tax conversion	2,000	1,000	545,441	$ (545,441)	$ 1,000
Recapitalization related to tax conversion, units				732	(732)
Recapitalization related to tax conversion	(10)				$ (10)
Unit-based compensation, units				7
Unit-based compensation	452			$ 452
Distributions to public	(19,551)			(19,551)
Distributions to Diamondback	(35,112)			(35,112)
Net income	128,464		29,060	$ 99,404
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018				41,471	72,419
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2018	963,298	1,000	574,501	$ 386,807	$ 990
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net proceeds from the issuance of common units - public, units				10,080
Net proceeds from the issuance of common units - public	305,773			$ 305,773
Offering costs	(2,636)			$ (2,636)
Unit-based compensation, units				96
Unit-based compensation	426			$ 426
Unit options exercised, units				8
Unit options exercised	140			$ 140
Distributions to public	(30,501)			(30,501)
Distributions to Diamondback	(43,901)		(43,451)	(450)
Distributions to General Partner	(11)			(11)
Change in ownership of consolidated subsidiaries, net	24,367		116,034	(91,667)
Net income	50,812		48,466	$ 2,346
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018				51,654	72,419
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	1,267,767	1,000	695,550	$ 570,227	$ 990
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	1,237,042	1,000	694,940	$ 540,112	$ 990
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018				51,654	72,419
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net proceeds from the issuance of common units - public, units				10,925
Net proceeds from the issuance of common units - public	340,648			$ 340,648
Unit-based compensation, units				60
Unit-based compensation	405			$ 405
Distributions to public	(25,970)			(25,970)
Distributions to Diamondback	(37,326)		(36,934)	(392)
Distributions to General Partner	(20)			(20)
Change in ownership of consolidated subsidiaries, net	18,925		90,120	$ (71,195)
Units repurchased for tax withholding, units				(11)
Units repurchased for tax withholding, dollars	(353)			$ (353)
Net income	74,311		40,532	$ 33,779
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019				62,628	72,419
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2019	1,607,662	1,000	788,658	$ 817,014	$ 990
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	1,237,042	1,000	694,940	$ 540,112	$ 990
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018				51,654	72,419
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net income	172,682
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019				62,649	72,419
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	1,592,068	1,000	815,263	$ 774,815	$ 990
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2019	1,607,662	1,000	788,658	$ 817,014	$ 990
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019				62,628	72,419
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Offering costs	(9)			$ (9)
Unit-based compensation	472			472
Distributions to public	(23,521)			(23,521)
Distributions to Diamondback	(27,817)		(27,519)	(298)
Distributions to General Partner	(20)			(20)
Net income	47,274		45,009	$ 2,265
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019				62,628	72,419
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2019	1,604,041	1,000	806,148	$ 795,903	$ 990
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Unit-based compensation, units				21
Unit-based compensation	449			$ 449
Distributions to public	(29,099)			(29,099)
Distributions to Diamondback	(34,400)		(34,036)	(364)
Distributions to General Partner	(20)			(20)
Net income	51,097		43,151	$ 7,946
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019				62,649	72,419
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 1,592,068	$ 1,000	$ 815,263	$ 774,815	$ 990

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 172,682	$ 222,172
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Benefit from deferred income taxes	(42,077)	(71,184)
Depletion	51,408	41,317
Gain on revaluation of investment	(3,978)	(5,165)
Amortization of debt issuance costs	676	521
Non-cash unit-based compensation	1,326	2,166
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Royalty income receivable	(4,465)	(12,264)
Royalty income receivable—related party	(10,544)	(2,616)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(821)	1,315
Income tax payable	169	69
Other current assets	(148)	83
Net cash provided by operating activities	164,228	176,414
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of oil and natural gas interests	(319,696)	(505,842)
Other	0	(4,687)
Funds held in escrow	(7,500)	0
Proceeds from sale of assets	0	441
Proceeds from the sale of investments	0	124
Net cash used in investing activities	(327,196)	(509,964)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings under credit facility	368,000	557,000
Repayment on credit facility	(369,500)	(354,000)
Debt issuance costs	(349)	(623)
Proceeds from public offerings	340,860	305,773
Public offering costs	(221)	(2,636)
Proceeds from exercise of unit options	0	140
Contributions by members	0	2,000
Units purchased for tax withholding	(353)	0
Distributions to partners	(178,193)	(181,472)
Net cash provided by financing activities	160,244	326,182
Net decrease in cash	(2,724)	(7,368)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	22,676	24,197
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	19,952	16,829
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid	$ 10,882	$ 8,147

ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION	9 Months Ended
ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION	Sep. 30, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION	ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION Organization Viper Energy Partners LP (the “Partnership”) is a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership, the common units of which are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “VNOM”. The Partnership was formed by Diamondback Energy, Inc. (“Diamondback”) on February 27, 2014 to, among other things, own, acquire and exploit oil and natural gas properties in North America. The Partnership is currently focused on oil and natural gas properties in the Permian Basin and Eagle Ford Shale. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “we,” “us,” “our” or “the Partnership” are intended to mean the business and operations of the Partnership and its consolidated subsidiary, Viper Energy Partners LLC (the “Operating Company”). As of September 30, 2019, Viper Energy Partners GP LLC (the “General Partner”), held a 100% general partner interest in the Partnership and Diamondback had an approximate 54% limited partner interest in the Partnership. Diamondback owns and controls the General Partner. Immediately following the completion of the Drop-Down Acquisition on October 1, 2019, Diamondback owned 731,500 common units and 90,709,946 Class B units, representing approximately 60% of the Partnership’s total units outstanding. See Note 4—Acquisitions and Note 14—Subsequent Events for additional information regarding this transaction. Recapitalization, Tax Status Election and Related Transactions In March 2018, the Board of Directors of the General Partner unanimously approved a change of the Partnership’s federal income tax status from that of a pass-through partnership to that of a taxable entity via a “check the box” election. In connection with making this election, on May 9, 2018 the Partnership (i) amended and restated its First Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, (ii) amended and restated the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Operating Company, (iii) amended and restated its existing registration rights agreement with Diamondback and (iv) entered into an exchange agreement with Diamondback, the General Partner and the Operating Company. Simultaneously with the effectiveness of these agreements, Diamondback delivered and assigned to the Partnership the 73,150,000 common units Diamondback owned in exchange for (i) 73,150,000 of the Partnership’s newly-issued Class B units and (ii) 73,150,000 newly-issued units of the Operating Company pursuant to the terms of a Recapitalization Agreement dated March 28, 2018, as amended as of May 9, 2018 (the “Recapitalization Agreement”). Immediately following that exchange, the Partnership continued to be the managing member of the Operating Company, with sole control of its operations, and owned approximately 36% of the outstanding units issued by the Operating Company, and Diamondback owned the remaining approximately 64% of the outstanding units issued by the Operating Company. Upon completion of the Partnership’s July 2018 offering of units, it owned approximately 41% of the outstanding units issued by the Operating Company and Diamondback owned the remaining approximately 59%. The Operating Company units and the Partnership’s Class B units owned by Diamondback are exchangeable from time to time for the Partnership’s common units (that is, one Operating Company unit and one Partnership Class B unit, together, will be exchangeable for one Partnership common unit). On May 10, 2018, the change in the Partnership’s income tax status became effective. On that date, pursuant to the terms of the Recapitalization Agreement, (i) the General Partner made a cash capital contribution of $1.0 million to the Partnership in respect of its general partner interest and (ii) Diamondback made a cash capital contribution of $1.0 million to the Partnership in respect of the Class B units. Diamondback, as the holder of the Class B units, and the General Partner, as the holder of the general partner interest, are entitled to receive an 8% annual distribution on the outstanding amount of these capital contributions, payable quarterly, as a return on this invested capital. On May 10, 2018, Diamondback also exchanged 731,500 Class B units and 731,500 units in the Operating Company for 731,500 common units of the Partnership and a cash amount of $10,000 representing a proportionate return of the $1.0 million invested capital in respect of the Class B units. The General Partner continues to serve as the Partnership’s general partner and Diamondback continues to control the Partnership. After the effectiveness of the tax status election and the completion of related transactions, the Partnership’s minerals business continues to be conducted through the Operating Company, which continues to be taxed as a partnership for federal and state income tax purposes. This structure is anticipated to provide significant benefits to the Partnership’s business, including operational effectiveness, acquisition and disposition transactional planning flexibility and income tax efficiency. For additional information regarding the tax status election and related transactions, please refer to the Partnership’s Definitive Information Statement on Schedule 14C filed with the SEC on April 17, 2018 and the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 15, 2018. Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto were prepared in conformity with GAAP. All material intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. These financial statements have been prepared by the Partnership without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. They reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for interim periods, on a basis consistent with the annual audited financial statements. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Certain information, accounting policies and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although the Partnership believes the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. This Quarterly Report on Form 10–Q should be read in conjunction with the Partnership’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10–K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, which contains a summary of the Partnership’s significant accounting policies and other disclosures.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	9 Months Ended
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	Sep. 30, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Use of Estimates Certain amounts included in or affecting the Partnership’s financial statements and related disclosures must be estimated by management, requiring certain assumptions to be made with respect to values or conditions that cannot be known with certainty at the time the financial statements are prepared. These estimates and assumptions affect the amounts the Partnership reports for assets and liabilities and the Partnership’s disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. The Partnership evaluates these estimates on an ongoing basis, using historical experience, consultation with experts and other methods the Partnership considers reasonable in the particular circumstances. Nevertheless, actual results may differ significantly from the Partnership’s estimates. Any effects on the Partnership’s business, financial position or results of operations resulting from revisions to these estimates are recorded in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include estimates of proved oil and natural gas reserves and related present value estimates of future net cash flows therefrom, the carrying value of oil and natural gas interests and unit–based compensation. Investments The Partnership has an equity interest in a limited partnership that is so minor that the Partnership has no influence over the limited partnership’s operating and financial policies. This interest was acquired during the year ended December 31, 2014 and was accounted for under the cost method. This investment is presented on the balance sheet as other long-term assets. Effective January 1, 2018, the Partnership adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-01 which requires the Partnership to measure this investment at fair value which resulted in a downward adjustment of $18.7 million to record the impact of this adoption. See Note 12—Fair Value Measurements for additional disclosure regarding the impact of the fair value measurement of this investment. Income Taxes The Partnership uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences of (i) temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities and (ii) operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are based on enacted tax rates applicable to the future period when those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period the rate change is enacted. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Partnership is subject to margin tax in the state of Texas pursuant to a tax sharing agreement with Diamondback, as discussed further in Note 7—Related Party Transactions. In addition to the 2018 tax year, the Partnership’s 2016 and 2017 tax years, periods during which the Partnership was organized as a pass-through entity for income tax purposes, remain open to examination by tax authorities. As of September 30, 2019, the Partnership had no unrecognized tax benefits that would have a material impact on the effective tax rate. The Partnership is continuing its practice of recognizing interest and penalties related to income tax matters as interest expense and general and administrative expenses, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, there was no interest or penalties associated with uncertain tax positions recognized in the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements. New Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted Pronouncements In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases”. This update applies to any entity that enters into a lease, with some specified scope exemptions. Under this update, a lessee should recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. While there were no major changes to the lessor accounting, changes were made to align key aspects with the revenue recognition guidance. This update was effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. Entities were required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. As of September 30, 2019, the Partnership was not the lessor or lessee of any leases other than mineral leases which were excluded from the scope of this ASU. The Partnership adopted this update effective January 1, 2019. It did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In January 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-01, “Leases - Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842”. This update applies to any entity that holds land easements. The update allows entities to adopt a practical expedient to not evaluate existing or expired land easements under Topic 842 that were not previously accounted for as leases under the current leases guidance. An entity that elects this practical expedient should evaluate new or modified land easements under Topic 842 beginning at the date that the entity adopts Topic 842. The Partnership adopted this update effective January 1, 2019. It did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-10, “Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases”. This update provides clarification and corrects unintended application of certain sections in the new lease guidance. This update was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Partnership adopted this update effective January 1, 2019. It did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, “Lease (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements”. This update provides another transition method of allowing entities to initially apply the new lease standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. This update was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Partnership adopted this update effective January 1, 2019. It did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In December 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-20, “Leases (Topic 842) - Narrow-Scope Improvements for Lessors”. This update provides a practical expedient for lessors to elect not to evaluate whether sales taxes and other similar taxes are lessor costs. The update also requires a lessor to exclude from variable payments those costs paid directly by the lessee to third parties and include lessor costs paid by the lessor and reimbursed by the lessee. The Partnership adopted this update effective January 1, 2019. It did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In January 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-01, “Leases (Topic 842): Codification Improvements”. This update clarifies certain presentation and transition disclosures under Topic 842. This update was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Partnership adopted this update effective January 1, 2019. It did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, “Stock Compensation - Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting”. This update applies the existing employee guidance to nonemployee share-based transactions, with the exception of specific guidance related to the attribution of compensation cost. This update was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Partnership adopted this update effective January 1, 2019. It did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-09, “Codification Improvements”. This update provides clarification and corrects unintended application of the guidance in various sections. This update was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Partnership adopted this update effective January 1, 2019. It did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In July 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-07, “Codification Updates to SEC Sections”. This update simplifies the guidance in various sections that was duplicative, redundant or outdated. The Partnership adopted this update effective July 2019. It did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses”. This update affects entities holding financial assets and net investment in leases that are not accounted for at fair value through net income. The amendments affect loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off-balance sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. This update will be effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. This update will be applied through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. The Partnership does not believe the adoption of this standard will have an impact on its financial statements since it does not have a history of credit losses. In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-19, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses”. This update clarifies that receivables arising from operating leases are not in scope of this topic, but rather Topic 842, Leases. This update will be effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. This update will be applied through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. The Partnership does not believe the adoption of this standard will have an impact on its financial statements since it does not have a history of credit losses. In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments”. This update clarifies guidance previously issued in ASU 2016-01, ASU 2016-13 and ASU 2017-12. This update will be effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Partnership does not believe the updates to the referenced standards will have an impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In May 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-05, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326)”. This update allows a fair value option to be elected for certain financial assets, other than held-to-maturity debt securities, that were previously required to be measured at amortized cost basis. This update will be effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Partnership does not believe the adoption of this standard will have an impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) - Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement”. This update modifies the fair value measurement disclosure requirements specifically related to Level 3 fair value measurements and transfers between levels. This update will be effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. This update will be applied prospectively. The Partnership does not believe the adoption of this standard will have an impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS	9 Months Ended
REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS	Sep. 30, 2019
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS	REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS Effective January 1, 2018, the Partnership adopted the FASB ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” using the modified retrospective method. The adoption of this standard did not result in a cumulative-effect adjustment. Royalty income represents the right to receive revenues from oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids sales obtained by the operator of the wells in which the Partnership owns a royalty interest. Royalty income is recognized at the point control of the product is transferred to the purchaser. Virtually all of the Partnership’s contracts’ pricing provisions are tied to a market index. Royalty income from oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids sales The Partnership’s oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids sales contracts are generally structured whereby the producer of the properties in which the Partnership owns a royalty interest sells the Partnership’s proportionate share of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids production to the purchaser and the Partnership collects its percentage royalty based on the revenue generated by the sale of the oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. In this scenario, the Partnership recognizes revenue when control transfers to the purchaser or operator at the wellhead or at the gas processing facility based on the Partnership’s percentage ownership share of the revenue, net any deductions for gathering and transportation. Transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations The Partnership’s right to royalty income does not originate until production occurs and, therefore, is not considered to exist beyond each days’ production. Therefore, there are no remaining performance obligations under any of the Partnership’s royalty income contracts. Contract balances Under the Partnership’s royalty income contracts, it would have the right to receive royalty income once production has occurred, at which point payment is unconditional. Accordingly, the Partnership’s royalty income contracts do not give rise to contract assets or liabilities under Accounting Standards Codification 606. Prior-period performance obligations The Partnership records revenue in the month production is delivered. However, settlement statements for certain natural gas and natural gas liquids sales may not be received for 30 to 90 days after the date production is delivered, and as a result, the Partnership is required to estimate the amount of royalty income to be received based upon the Partnership’s interest. The Partnership records the differences between its estimates and the actual amounts received for royalties in the month that payment is received from the producer. The Partnership has existing internal controls for its revenue estimation process and related accruals, and any identified differences between its revenue estimates and actual revenue received historically have not been significant. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, revenue recognized in the reporting period related to performance obligations satisfied in prior reporting periods was not material. The Partnership believes that the pricing provisions of its oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids contracts are customary in the industry. To the extent actual volumes and prices of oil and natural gas sales are unavailable for a given reporting period because of timing or information not received from third parties, the royalties related to expected sales volumes and prices for those properties are estimated and recorded.

ACQUISITIONS	9 Months Ended
ACQUISITIONS	Sep. 30, 2019
Business Combinations [Abstract]
ACQUISITIONS	ACQUISITIONS 2019 Activity Drop-Down Acquisition On July 29, 2019, the Partnership entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire certain mineral and royalty interests from subsidiaries of Diamondback for approximately 18.3 million of its newly-issued Class B units, approximately 18.3 million newly-issued units of the Operating Company and $190.2 million in cash, after giving effect to closing adjustments for net title benefits (the ‘‘Drop-Down Acquisition’’). Based on the volume weighted average sales price of our common units for the ten trading-day period ended July 26, 2019 of $30.07, the transaction is valued at $740.2 million. The mineral and royalty interests acquired in the Drop-Down Acquisition represent approximately 5,490 net royalty acres across the Midland and Delaware Basins, of which over 95% are operated by Diamondback, and have an average net royalty interest of approximately 3.2% (the ‘‘Drop-Down Assets’’). The Drop-Down Assets are concentrated in Diamondback’s seven core operating areas, with the largest exposure to Spanish Trail North, where Diamondback is currently running two rigs, as well as Pecos County, where Diamondback is currently running six rigs. The Partnership completed the acquisition on October 1, 2019 and funded the cash portion of the purchase price for the Drop-Down Assets through a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under the Operating Company’s revolving credit facility. In connection with the closing of the Drop-Down Acquisition on October 1, 2019, the borrowing base under the Operating Company’s revolving credit facility was increased by $125.0 million to $725.0 million from $600.0 million. Other Recent Acquisitions In addition, during the three months ended September 30, 2019, the Partnership acquired, from unrelated third-party sellers, mineral interests representing 101,520 gross (1,281 net royalty) acres in the Permian Basin for an aggregate of approximately $193.6 million, subject to post-closing adjustments. These acquisitions were funded with cash on hand and borrowings under the Operating Company’s revolving credit facility. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Partnership acquired, from unrelated third parties, mineral interests underlying 2,309 net royalty acres for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $320.5 million and, as of September 30, 2019, had mineral interests underlying 17,151 net royalty acres. The Partnership funded these acquisitions with cash on hand, a portion of the net proceeds from its first quarter 2019 offering of common units and borrowings under the Operating Company’s revolving credit facility. As a result of the Drop-Down Acquisition and the other recently completed acquisitions described above (collectively, the ‘‘Recent Acquisitions’’), as of October 15, 2019, the Partnership’s assets included mineral interests representing 22,641 net royalty acres in the Permian Basin and the Eagle Ford Shale, 51% of which are operated by Diamondback. Pending Santa Elena Acquisition On September 9, 2019, the Partnership and the Operating Company entered into a definitive purchase and sale agreement (the ‘‘Santa Elena Purchase and Sale Agreement’’) with Santa Elena Minerals, LP, an unrelated third-party seller (‘‘Santa Elena’’), providing for an acquisition by the Partnership of certain mineral and royalty interests from Santa Elena (the ‘‘Pending Santa Elena Acquisition’’), which assets will be immediately contributed by the Partnership to the Operating Company at closing of the Pending Santa Elena Acquisition. The assets being acquired in the Pending Santa Elena Acquisition represent approximately 1,358 net royalty acres across the Midland Basin with an average net royalty interest of approximately 5.6% and are primarily operated by Diamondback in Glasscock and Martin counties (the ‘‘Santa Elena Assets’’). The Pending Santa Elena Acquisition is expected to close on October 31, 2019, subject to the completion of due diligence and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, and will have an effective date of October 1, 2019. At closing, the Partnership will issue to Santa Elena common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership as consideration for the Santa Elena Assets, and the Operating Company will issue to the Partnership new units of the Operating Company, in each case in a number equal to the quotient of (a) $150.0 million (as adjusted pursuant to the Santa Elena Purchase and Sale Agreement) divided by (b) $29.02, which represents the volume weighted average sale prices as traded on Nasdaq of the Partnership’s common units calculated for the five trading-day period ended September 5, 2019. Assuming no adjustments to the purchase price, Santa Elena would receive approximately 5.2 million common units. With respect to the common units it receives under the Santa Elena Purchase and Sale Agreement, Santa Elena has agreed to waive its right to receive any distributions for which the record date falls in the fourth quarter of 2019. 2018 Activity During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Partnership acquired from unrelated third parties mineral interests underlying 2,651 net royalty acres for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $521.2 million and, as of September 30, 2018, had mineral interests underlying 13,908 net royalty acres. The Partnership funded these acquisitions with cash on hand and borrowings under its revolving credit facility.

DEBT

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

DEBT

The Operating Company’s Revolving Credit Facility

On July 20, 2018, the Partnership, as guarantor, entered into an amended and restated credit agreement with the Operating Company, as borrower, Wells Fargo National Bank (“Wells Fargo”), as administrative agent, and the other lenders. The credit agreement, as amended to the date hereof, provides for a revolving credit facility in the maximum credit amount of $2.0 billion and a borrowing base based on the Operating Company’s oil and natural gas reserves and other factors (the ‘‘borrowing base’’) of $725.0 million, subject to scheduled semi-annual and other borrowing base redeterminations. The borrowing base is scheduled to be re-determined semi-annually with effective dates of May 1st and November 1st. In addition, the Operating Company and Wells Fargo each may request up to three interim redeterminations of the borrowing base during any 12-month period. Upon closing of the Drop-Down Acquisition on October 1, 2019, the borrowing base under the Operating Company’s revolving credit facility was increased by $125.0 million to $725.0 million from $600.0 million. In connection with the commencement of the Notes Offering described in Note 14—Subsequent Events below, the Partnership entered into a third amendment to the Operating Company’s revolving credit facility with Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and certain required lenders party thereto, which provides for the waiver of the automatic reduction of the borrowing base that would otherwise occur upon the consummation of the Notes Offering. In addition, the third amendment increased the maximum amount of unsecured senior or senior subordinated notes that

may be issued by the Operating Company or the Partnership from $400.0 million to $1.0 billion. The amendment was approved by the requisite percentage of lenders under the revolving credit facility and became effective on October 8, 2019. If the amendment had not been approved, the borrowing base under the revolving credit facility would have decreased by $125.0 million upon consummation of the Notes Offering.

As of September 30, 2019, when the borrowing base was set at $600.0 million, the Operating Company had $409.5 million of outstanding borrowings and $190.5 million available for future borrowings under the Operating Company’s revolving credit facility. The Partnership funded the cash portion of the purchase price for the Drop-Down Acquisition through a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under the Operating Company’s revolving credit facility. The Operating Company used the proceeds from the Notes Offering to pay down borrowings under its revolving credit facility. Following these transactions, as of October 16, 2019, the closing date of the Notes Offering, there was $94.5 million in outstanding borrowings under the Operating Company’s revolving credit facility, the borrowing base under the Operating Company’s revolving credit facility was $725.0 million, and the Operating Company had $630.5 million of available borrowing capacity under the Operating Company’s revolving credit facility. Additionally, in connection with the Partnership’s fall redetermination expected to occur in November 2019, the lead bank under the Operating Company’s revolving credit facility has recommended a borrowing base increase to $775.0 million from the current borrowing base of $725.0 million. The anticipated increase in the borrowing base is subject to approval by the requisite lenders under the Operating Company’s revolving credit facility.

The outstanding borrowings under the credit agreement bear interest at a rate elected by the Operating Company that is equal to an alternative base rate (which is equal to the greatest of the prime rate, the Federal Funds effective rate plus 0.50% and 3-month LIBOR plus 1.0%) or LIBOR, in each case plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin ranges from 0.75% to 1.75% per annum in the case of the alternative base rate and from 1.75% to 2.75% per annum in the case of LIBOR, in each case depending on the amount of loans and letters of credit outstanding in relation to the commitment, which is defined as the lesser of the maximum credit amount and the borrowing base. The Operating Company is obligated to pay a quarterly commitment fee ranging from 0.375% to 0.500% per year on the unused portion of the commitment, which fee is also dependent on the amount of loans and letters of credit outstanding in relation to the commitment. Loan principal may be optionally repaid from time to time without premium or penalty (other than customary LIBOR breakage), and is required to be repaid (a) to the extent the loan amount exceeds the commitment or the borrowing base, whether due to a borrowing base redetermination or otherwise (in some cases subject to a cure period), (b) in an amount equal to the net cash proceeds from the sale of property when a borrowing base deficiency or event of default exists under the credit agreement and (c) at the maturity date of November 1, 2022. The loan is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Partnership and the Operating Company.

The credit agreement contains various affirmative, negative and financial maintenance covenants. These covenants, among other things, limit additional indebtedness, additional liens, sales of assets, mergers and consolidations, dividends and distributions, transactions with affiliates and entering into certain swap agreements, and require the maintenance of the financial ratios described below:



Financial Covenant		Required Ratio
Ratio of total net debt to EBITDAX, as defined in the credit agreement		Not greater than 4.0 to 1.0
Ratio of current assets to liabilities, as defined in the credit agreement		Not less than 1.0 to 1.0

The covenant prohibiting additional indebtedness allows for the issuance of unsecured debt of up to $400.0 million in the form of senior unsecured notes and, in connection with any such issuance, the reduction of the borrowing base by 25% of the stated principal amount of each such issuance. A borrowing base reduction in connection with such issuance may require a portion of the outstanding principal of the loan to be repaid.

As of September 30, 2019, the Operating Company was in compliance with the financial covenants under its credit agreement. The lenders may accelerate all of the indebtedness under the revolving credit facility upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any event of default. The credit agreement contains customary events of default, including non-payment, breach of covenants, materially incorrect representations, cross-default, bankruptcy and change of control. With certain specified exceptions, the terms and provisions of the credit agreement generally may be amended with the consent of the lenders holding a majority of the outstanding loans or commitments to lend.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS	9 Months Ended
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS	Sep. 30, 2019
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS	RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Partnership Agreement The second amended and restated agreement of limited partnership, dated as of May 9, 2018, as amended as of May 10, 2018 (the “Partnership Agreement”), requires the Partnership to reimburse the General Partner for all direct and indirect expenses incurred or paid on the Partnership’s behalf and all other expenses allocable to the Partnership or otherwise incurred by the General Partner in connection with operating the Partnership’s business. The Partnership Agreement does not set a limit on the amount of expenses for which the General Partner and its affiliates may be reimbursed. These expenses include salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to persons who perform services for the Partnership or on the Partnership’s behalf and expenses allocated to the General Partner by its affiliates. The General Partner is entitled to determine the expenses that are allocable to the Partnership. For the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the General Partner allocated $0.9 million and $0.6 million, respectively, to the Partnership. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the General Partner allocated $2.2 million and $1.8 million, respectively, to the Partnership. Advisory Services Agreement In connection with the closing of the IPO, the Partnership and General Partner entered into an advisory services agreement with Wexford Capital LP (“Wexford”) dated as of June 23, 2014 (the “Advisory Services Agreement”), under which Wexford provided the Partnership and the General Partner with general financial and strategic advisory services related to the Partnership’s business in return for an annual fee of $0.5 million, plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. The Advisory Services Agreement was terminated on November 12, 2018 and the Partnership’s payment obligation ended in June 2019. During 2019, the Partnership did not pay any amounts under the Advisory Services Agreement. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Partnership did not pay any amounts under the Advisory Services Agreement. Tax Sharing In connection with the closing of the IPO, the Partnership entered into a tax sharing agreement with Diamondback, dated June 23, 2014, pursuant to which the Partnership agreed to reimburse Diamondback for its share of state and local income and other taxes for which the Partnership’s results are included in a combined or consolidated tax return filed by Diamondback with respect to taxable periods including or beginning on June 23, 2014. The amount of any such reimbursement is limited to the tax the Partnership would have paid had it not been included in a combined group with Diamondback. Diamondback may use its tax attributes to cause its combined or consolidated group, of which the Partnership may be a member for this purpose, to owe less or no tax. In such a situation, the Partnership agreed to reimburse Diamondback for the tax the Partnership would have owed had the tax attributes not been available or used for the Partnership’s benefit, even though Diamondback had no cash tax expense for that period. For the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Partnership accrued state income tax expense (benefit) of less than $0.1 million and $(0.1) million, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Partnership accrued state income tax expense of $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively, for its share of Texas margin tax for which the Partnership’s results are included in a combined tax return filed by Diamondback. Lease Bonus During the three months ended September 30, 2019, Diamondback did not pay the Partnership any lease bonus payments. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, Diamondback paid the Partnership $39,198 in lease bonus payments to extend the term of two leases and $3,101 in lease bonus payments for two new leases. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, Diamondback paid the Partnership $2.9 million in lease bonus payments to extend the term of 12 leases.

UNITHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND PARTNERSHIP DISTRIBUTIONS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Equity [Abstract]

UNITHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND PARTNERSHIP DISTRIBUTIONS

The Partnership has general partner and limited partner units. At September 30, 2019, the Partnership had a total of 62,649,348 common units issued and outstanding and 72,418,500 Class B units issued and outstanding, of which 731,500 common units and 72,418,500 Class B units were owned by Diamondback, representing approximately 54% of the total Partnership’s units outstanding. The Operating Company units and the Partnership’s Class B units owned by Diamondback are exchangeable from time to time for the Partnership’s common units (that is, one Operating Company unit and one Partnership Class B unit, together, will be exchangeable for one Partnership common unit).

The following table summarizes changes in the number of the Partnership’s common units:



	Common Units
Balance at December 31, 2018	51,653,956
Common units issued in public offerings	10,925,000
Common units vested and issued under the LTIP	81,124
Units repurchased for tax withholding	(10,732	)
Balance at September 30, 2019	62,649,348

The Partnership had a total of 72,418,500 Class B units outstanding as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

In March 2019, the Partnership completed an underwritten public offering of 10,925,000 common units, which included 1,425,000 common units issued pursuant to an option to purchase additional common units granted to the underwriters. Following this offering, Diamondback owned approximately 54% of the total Partnership units then outstanding. The Partnership received net proceeds from this offering of approximately $340.6 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses. The Partnership used the net proceeds to purchase units of the Operating Company. The Operating Company in turn used the net proceeds to repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility and finance acquisitions during the period.

The board of directors of the General Partner has adopted a policy for the Partnership to distribute on a quarterly basis all available cash it receives from the Operating Company.

The following table presents information regarding cash distributions approved by the board of directors of the General Partner for the periods presented:



	Amount per Common Unit		Declaration Date	Unitholder Record Date	Payment Date
Q4 2018	$	0.51	January 30, 2019	February 19, 2019	February 25, 2019
Q1 2019	$	0.38	April 25, 2019	May 13, 2019	May 20, 2019
Q2 2019	$	0.47	July 28, 2019	August 14, 2019	August 21, 2019

Cash distributions will be made to the common unitholders of record on the applicable record date, generally within 60 days after the end of each quarter. Available cash for each quarter will be determined by the board of directors of the General Partner following the end of such quarter. Available cash for each quarter will generally equal Adjusted EBITDA reduced for cash needed for debt service and other contractual obligations and fixed charges and reserves for future operating or capital needs that the board of directors of the General Partner deems necessary or appropriate, if any.

INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
INCOME TAXES	Sep. 30, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	INCOME TAXES As discussed further in Note 1—Organization and Basis of Presentation, on March 29, 2018, the Partnership announced that the Board of Directors of the General Partner had unanimously approved a change of the Partnership’s federal income tax status from that of a pass-through partnership to that of a taxable entity, which change became effective on May 10, 2018. Subsequent to the Partnership’s change in tax status, the Partnership’s provision for income taxes for the period ended September 30, 2019 is based on the estimated annual effective tax rate plus discrete items. The Partnership’s effective income tax rates were (17.1)% and 1.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and (32.05)% and (47.10)% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Total income tax benefit for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 differed from amounts computed by applying the United States federal statutory tax rate to pre-tax income for the period primarily due to net income attributable to the non-controlling interest and the revision of estimated deferred taxes recognized as a result of the Partnership’s change in tax status. Total income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and total income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 September 30, 2018 differed from amounts computed by applying the United States federal statutory rate to pre-tax income for the period primarily due to (i) net income attributable to the non-controlling interest (ii) net income attributable to the period prior to the Partnership’s change in tax status, and (iii) for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the impact of deferred taxes recognized as a result of the Partnership’s change in tax status. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Partnership recorded a discrete income tax benefit of approximately $42.4 million related to the revision of estimated deferred taxes on the Partnership’s investment in the Operating Company arising from the change in the Partnership’s federal tax status. Under federal income tax provisions applicable to the Partnership’s change in tax status, the Partnership’s basis for federal income tax purposes in its interest in the Operating Company consists primarily of the sum of the Partnership’s unitholders’ tax bases in their interests in the Partnership on the date of the tax status change. The Partnership prepared its best estimate of the resultant tax basis in the Operating Company for purposes of the Partnership’s income tax provision for the period of the change, but information necessary for the partnership to finalize its determination was not available until unitholders’ tax basis information was fully reported and the Partnership finalized its federal income tax computations for 2018. Based on such finalized information, the Partnership has revised its estimate of the difference between its tax basis and its basis for financial accounting purposes in the Operating Company on the date of the tax status change, resulting in deferred income tax benefit of $42.4 million included in the Partnership’s income tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Prior to May 10, 2018, the effective date of the Partnership’s change in income tax status, the Partnership was organized as a pass-through entity for income tax purposes. As a result, the Partnership’s partners were responsible for federal income taxes on their share of the Partnership’s taxable income.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

The fair value hierarchy is based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value. The Partnership’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurements requires judgment and may affect the valuation of the assets and liabilities being measured and their placement within the fair value hierarchy. The Partnership uses appropriate valuation techniques based on available inputs to measure the fair values of its assets and liabilities.

Level 1 - Observable inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets as of the reporting date.

Level 2 - Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data. These are inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date.

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data and may be used with internally developed methodologies that result in management’s best estimate of fair value.

Financial assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The Partnership’s cost method investment is reported at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair value of the Partnership’s investment at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was determined using the September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 quoted market prices. The investment is a Level 1 classification in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. The following table summarizes the changes in fair value of the Partnership’s investment:



	(in thousands)
Fair value of investment as of December 31, 2018	$	14,525
Gain on investment	3,978
Fair value of investment as of September 30, 2019	$	18,503



	(in thousands)
Fair value of investment as of December 31, 2017	$	33,851
Impact of adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2016-01	(18,651		)
Gain on investment	5,165
Fair value of investment as of September 30, 2018	$	20,365

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	9 Months Ended
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	Sep. 30, 2019
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	SUBSEQUENT EVENTS Cash Distribution On October 25, 2019, the board of directors of the General Partner approved a cash distribution for the third quarter of 2019 of $0.46 per common unit, payable on November 15, 2019, to eligible unitholders of record at the close of business on November 8, 2019. Diamondback received Class B units and units in the Operating Company upon the closing of the Drop-Down Acquisition on October 1, 2019 and the Partnership will issue common units to Santa Elena at the closing of the Pending Santa Elena Acquisition. Each of Diamondback and Santa Elena has waived its right to receive distributions for the third quarter of 2019 in respect of the applicable equity interests issued in these transactions and the cash distribution for the third quarter of 2019 has been calculated on this basis. Drop-Down Acquisition On October 1, 2019, the Partnership completed the acquisition of certain mineral and royalty interests from subsidiaries of Diamondback for approximately 18.3 million of the Partnership’s newly-issued Class B units, approximately 18.3 million newly-issued units of the Operating Company and $190.2 million in cash, after giving effect to closing adjustments for net title benefits. For a description of the Drop-Down Acquisition, see Note 4—Acquisitions—Drop-Down Acquisition above. Pending Santa Elena Acquisition On September 9, 2019, the Partnership and the Operating Company entered into a definitive purchase and sale agreement with Santa Elena, providing for an acquisition by the Partnership of certain mineral and royalty interests from Santa Elena which assets will be immediately contributed by the Partnership to the Operating Company at closing of the Pending Santa Elena Acquisition. For a description of the Pending Santa Elena Acquisition, see Note 4—Acquisitions—Pending Santa Elena Acquisition above. Notes Offering On October 16, 2019, the Partnership completed an offering (the “Notes Offering”) of $500.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its 5.375% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Notes”). The Partnership received net proceeds of approximately $492.0 million from the Notes Offering. The Partnership loaned the gross proceeds to the Operating Company. The Operating Company used the proceeds from the Notes Offering to pay down borrowings under its revolving credit facility. The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Partnership, initially are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Operating Company, and will pay interest semi-annually. Neither Diamondback nor the general partner will guarantee the Notes. In the future, each of the Partnership’s restricted subsidiaries that either (1) guarantees any of its or a guarantor’s other indebtedness or (2) is a domestic restricted subsidiary and is an obligor with respect to any indebtedness under any credit facility will be required to guarantee the Notes. Amendments to the Operating Company’s Revolving Credit Facility As described above, on September 24, 2019, the Partnership entered into a second amendment to the Operating Company’s revolving credit facility with Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and certain required lenders party thereto, which provided for an automatic increase of the borrowing base of $125.0 million upon the closing of the Drop-Down Acquisition and the satisfaction of certain conditions set forth therein. On October 1, 2019, upon closing of the Drop-Down Acquisition and the satisfaction of such conditions, the borrowing base was increased from $600.0 million to $725.0 million. In connection with the commencement of the Notes Offering, the Partnership entered into a third amendment to the Operating Company’s revolving credit facility with Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and certain required lenders party thereto, which provides for the waiver of the automatic reduction of the borrowing base that would otherwise occur upon the consummation of the Notes Offering. In addition, the third amendment increased the maximum amount of unsecured senior or senior subordinated notes that may be issued by the Operating Company or the Partnership from $400.0 million to $1.0 billion. The amendment was approved by the requisite percentage of lenders under the revolving credit facility and became effective on October 8, 2019. If the amendment had not been approved, the borrowing base under the revolving credit facility would have decreased by $125.0 million upon consummation of the Notes Offering. Anticipated Additional Borrowing Base Increase under the Operating Company’s Revolving Credit Facility In connection with the Partnership’s fall redetermination expected to occur in November 2019, the lead bank under the Operating Company’s revolving credit facility has recommended a further borrowing base increase to $775.0 million from the current borrowing base of $725.0 million. The anticipated increase in the borrowing base is subject to approval by the requisite lenders under the Operating Company’s revolving credit facility. Intercompany Promissory Note In connection with and upon closing of the Notes Offering, the Partnership loaned the gross proceeds from the Notes Offering to the Operating Company under the terms of that certain Subordinated Promissory Note, dated as of October 16, 2019, by the Operating Company in favor of the Partnership (the “Intercompany Promissory Note”). The Intercompany Promissory Note requires the Operating Company to repay the underlying loan to the Partnership on the same terms and in the same amounts as the Notes and has the same maturity date, interest rate, change of control repurchase and redemption provisions. The Partnership’s right to receive payment under the Intercompany Promissory Note is contractually subordinated to the Operating Company’s guarantee of the notes and is structurally subordinated to all of the Operating Company’s secured indebtedness (including all borrowings and other obligations under the Operating Company’s revolving credit facility) to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	9 Months Ended
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	Sep. 30, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Accounting	Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto were prepared in conformity with GAAP. All material intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. These financial statements have been prepared by the Partnership without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. They reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for interim periods, on a basis consistent with the annual audited financial statements. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Certain information, accounting policies and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although the Partnership believes the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. This Quarterly Report on Form 10–Q should be read in conjunction with the Partnership’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10–K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, which contains a summary of the Partnership’s significant accounting policies and other disclosures.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates Certain amounts included in or affecting the Partnership’s financial statements and related disclosures must be estimated by management, requiring certain assumptions to be made with respect to values or conditions that cannot be known with certainty at the time the financial statements are prepared. These estimates and assumptions affect the amounts the Partnership reports for assets and liabilities and the Partnership’s disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. The Partnership evaluates these estimates on an ongoing basis, using historical experience, consultation with experts and other methods the Partnership considers reasonable in the particular circumstances. Nevertheless, actual results may differ significantly from the Partnership’s estimates. Any effects on the Partnership’s business, financial position or results of operations resulting from revisions to these estimates are recorded in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include estimates of proved oil and natural gas reserves and related present value estimates of future net cash flows therefrom, the carrying value of oil and natural gas interests and unit–based compensation.
Investments	Investments The Partnership has an equity interest in a limited partnership that is so minor that the Partnership has no influence over the limited partnership’s operating and financial policies. This interest was acquired during the year ended December 31, 2014 and was accounted for under the cost method. This investment is presented on the balance sheet as other long-term assets. Effective January 1, 2018, the Partnership adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-01 which requires the Partnership to measure this investment at fair value which resulted in a downward adjustment of $18.7 million to record the impact of this adoption.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes The Partnership uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences of (i) temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities and (ii) operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are based on enacted tax rates applicable to the future period when those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period the rate change is enacted. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Partnership is subject to margin tax in the state of Texas pursuant to a tax sharing agreement with Diamondback, as discussed further in Note 7—Related Party Transactions.
New Accounting Pronouncements	New Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted Pronouncements In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases”. This update applies to any entity that enters into a lease, with some specified scope exemptions. Under this update, a lessee should recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. While there were no major changes to the lessor accounting, changes were made to align key aspects with the revenue recognition guidance. This update was effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. Entities were required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. As of September 30, 2019, the Partnership was not the lessor or lessee of any leases other than mineral leases which were excluded from the scope of this ASU. The Partnership adopted this update effective January 1, 2019. It did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In January 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-01, “Leases - Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842”. This update applies to any entity that holds land easements. The update allows entities to adopt a practical expedient to not evaluate existing or expired land easements under Topic 842 that were not previously accounted for as leases under the current leases guidance. An entity that elects this practical expedient should evaluate new or modified land easements under Topic 842 beginning at the date that the entity adopts Topic 842. The Partnership adopted this update effective January 1, 2019. It did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-10, “Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases”. This update provides clarification and corrects unintended application of certain sections in the new lease guidance. This update was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Partnership adopted this update effective January 1, 2019. It did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, “Lease (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements”. This update provides another transition method of allowing entities to initially apply the new lease standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. This update was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Partnership adopted this update effective January 1, 2019. It did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In December 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-20, “Leases (Topic 842) - Narrow-Scope Improvements for Lessors”. This update provides a practical expedient for lessors to elect not to evaluate whether sales taxes and other similar taxes are lessor costs. The update also requires a lessor to exclude from variable payments those costs paid directly by the lessee to third parties and include lessor costs paid by the lessor and reimbursed by the lessee. The Partnership adopted this update effective January 1, 2019. It did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In January 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-01, “Leases (Topic 842): Codification Improvements”. This update clarifies certain presentation and transition disclosures under Topic 842. This update was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Partnership adopted this update effective January 1, 2019. It did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, “Stock Compensation - Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting”. This update applies the existing employee guidance to nonemployee share-based transactions, with the exception of specific guidance related to the attribution of compensation cost. This update was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Partnership adopted this update effective January 1, 2019. It did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-09, “Codification Improvements”. This update provides clarification and corrects unintended application of the guidance in various sections. This update was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Partnership adopted this update effective January 1, 2019. It did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In July 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-07, “Codification Updates to SEC Sections”. This update simplifies the guidance in various sections that was duplicative, redundant or outdated. The Partnership adopted this update effective July 2019. It did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses”. This update affects entities holding financial assets and net investment in leases that are not accounted for at fair value through net income. The amendments affect loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off-balance sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. This update will be effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. This update will be applied through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. The Partnership does not believe the adoption of this standard will have an impact on its financial statements since it does not have a history of credit losses. In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-19, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses”. This update clarifies that receivables arising from operating leases are not in scope of this topic, but rather Topic 842, Leases. This update will be effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. This update will be applied through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. The Partnership does not believe the adoption of this standard will have an impact on its financial statements since it does not have a history of credit losses. In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments”. This update clarifies guidance previously issued in ASU 2016-01, ASU 2016-13 and ASU 2017-12. This update will be effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Partnership does not believe the updates to the referenced standards will have an impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In May 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-05, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326)”. This update allows a fair value option to be elected for certain financial assets, other than held-to-maturity debt securities, that were previously required to be measured at amortized cost basis. This update will be effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Partnership does not believe the adoption of this standard will have an impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) - Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement”. This update modifies the fair value measurement disclosure requirements specifically related to Level 3 fair value measurements and transfers between levels. This update will be effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. This update will be applied prospectively. The Partnership does not believe the adoption of this standard will have an impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	Royalty income represents the right to receive revenues from oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids sales obtained by the operator of the wells in which the Partnership owns a royalty interest. Royalty income is recognized at the point control of the product is transferred to the purchaser. Virtually all of the Partnership’s contracts’ pricing provisions are tied to a market index. Royalty income from oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids sales The Partnership’s oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids sales contracts are generally structured whereby the producer of the properties in which the Partnership owns a royalty interest sells the Partnership’s proportionate share of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids production to the purchaser and the Partnership collects its percentage royalty based on the revenue generated by the sale of the oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. In this scenario, the Partnership recognizes revenue when control transfers to the purchaser or operator at the wellhead or at the gas processing facility based on the Partnership’s percentage ownership share of the revenue, net any deductions for gathering and transportation. Transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations The Partnership’s right to royalty income does not originate until production occurs and, therefore, is not considered to exist beyond each days’ production. Therefore, there are no remaining performance obligations under any of the Partnership’s royalty income contracts. Contract balances Under the Partnership’s royalty income contracts, it would have the right to receive royalty income once production has occurred, at which point payment is unconditional. Accordingly, the Partnership’s royalty income contracts do not give rise to contract assets or liabilities under Accounting Standards Codification 606. Prior-period performance obligations The Partnership records revenue in the month production is delivered. However, settlement statements for certain natural gas and natural gas liquids sales may not be received for 30 to 90 days after the date production is delivered, and as a result, the Partnership is required to estimate the amount of royalty income to be received based upon the Partnership’s interest. The Partnership records the differences between its estimates and the actual amounts received for royalties in the month that payment is received from the producer. The Partnership has existing internal controls for its revenue estimation process and related accruals, and any identified differences between its revenue estimates and actual revenue received historically have not been significant. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, revenue recognized in the reporting period related to performance obligations satisfied in prior reporting periods was not material. The Partnership believes that the pricing provisions of its oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids contracts are customary in the industry. To the extent actual volumes and prices of oil and natural gas sales are unavailable for a given reporting period because of timing or information not received from third parties, the royalties related to expected sales volumes and prices for those properties are estimated and recorded.
Fair Value Measurement	Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The fair value hierarchy is based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value. The Partnership’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurements requires judgment and may affect the valuation of the assets and liabilities being measured and their placement within the fair value hierarchy. The Partnership uses appropriate valuation techniques based on available inputs to measure the fair values of its assets and liabilities. Level 1 - Observable inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets as of the reporting date. Level 2 - Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data. These are inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date. Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data and may be used with internally developed methodologies that result in management’s best estimate of fair value. Financial assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for income taxes, which may include its accounting policies for recognizing and measuring deferred tax assets and liabilities and related valuation allowances, recognizing investment tax credits, operating loss carryforwards, tax credit carryforwards, and other carryforwards, methodologies for determining its effective income tax rate and the characterization of interest and penalties in the financial statements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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+ Details

UNITHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND PARTNERSHIP DISTRIBUTIONS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of Changes in Common Units

The following table summarizes changes in the number of the Partnership’s common units:



	Common Units
Balance at December 31, 2018	51,653,956
Common units issued in public offerings	10,925,000
Common units vested and issued under the LTIP	81,124
Units repurchased for tax withholding	(10,732	)
Balance at September 30, 2019	62,649,348

Distributions Made to Limited Partner, by Distribution

The following table presents information regarding cash distributions approved by the board of directors of the General Partner for the periods presented:



	Amount per Common Unit		Declaration Date	Unitholder Record Date	Payment Date
Q4 2018	$	0.51	January 30, 2019	February 19, 2019	February 25, 2019
Q1 2019	$	0.38	April 25, 2019	May 13, 2019	May 20, 2019
Q2 2019	$	0.47	July 28, 2019	August 14, 2019	August 21, 2019

ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands				1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2019	May 10, 2018	May 09, 2018	Jul. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 25, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Percent of General Partner interest		36.00%		41.00%		100.00%
General partners' cash capital contribution		$ 1,000
Limited partners' cash capital contribution		$ 1,000
Limited partners capital account, percentage of distribution		8.00%
Number of class B units converted (in shares)		731,500
Partnership common units (in shares)		731,500
Limited partners' cash account		$ 10
Diamondback Energy, Inc.
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Number of common units exchanged (in shares)			73,150,000
Number of units issued in the exchange (in shares)			73,150,000
Common Units
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)					62,649,348	62,649,348		51,653,956
Common Units \| Diamondback Energy, Inc.
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)					731,500	731,500
Common Units \| Diamondback Energy, Inc. \| Subsequent Event
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	731,500
Class B Units
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)					72,418,500	72,418,500	90,709,946	72,418,500
Number of partnership's newly issued units exchanged (in shares)			73,150,000
Class B Units \| Diamondback Energy, Inc.
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)					72,418,500	72,418,500
Class B Units \| Diamondback Energy, Inc. \| Subsequent Event
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	90,709,946
Viper Energy Partners LP \| Diamondback Energy, Inc.
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Percent of limited partnership interest		64.00%		59.00%	54.00%	54.00%
Viper Energy Partners LP \| Diamondback Energy, Inc. \| Subsequent Event
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Percent of limited partnership interest	60.00%

ACQUISITIONS (Details) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions				3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 09, 2019 USD ($) a $ / shares shares	Jul. 29, 2019 USD ($) a area Rig $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) a	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) a	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) a	Oct. 16, 2019 USD ($)	Oct. 15, 2019 a
Revolving credit facility
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Credit facility borrowing base				$ 600,000,000.0	$ 600,000,000.0
Drop-Down Acquisition
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of units to be issued in acquisition (in shares) \| shares			18.3
Payments to acquire mineral rights			$ 190,200,000
Business acquisition, shares issued, number of trading-day period			10 days
Business acquisition, shares issued, weighted average price (in USD per share) \| $ / shares			$ 30.07
Aggregate purchase price			$ 740,200,000
Mineral interests acquired, net royalty acres (in acre) \| a			5,490
Percentage of average net royalty interest in acquired mineral and royalty interests			3.20%
Mineral interests in Permian Basin
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Aggregate purchase price				$ 193,600,000	$ 320,500,000
Mineral interests acquired, net royalty acres (in acre) \| a				1,281	2,309
Mineral interests acquired, gross acres (in acre) \| a				101,520
Mineral properties, net royalty acres \| a				17,151	17,151
Santa Elena Acquisition
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of units to be issued in acquisition (in shares) \| shares		5.2
Business acquisition, shares issued, number of trading-day period		5 days
Business acquisition, shares issued, weighted average price (in USD per share) \| $ / shares		$ 29.02
Mineral interests acquired, net royalty acres (in acre) \| a		1,358
Business acquisition, shares issued calculation base		$ 150,000,000.0
Miscellaneous Mineral Interests Acquired
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Aggregate purchase price						$ 521,200,000
Mineral interests acquired, net royalty acres (in acre) \| a						2,651
Mineral properties, net royalty acres \| a						13,908
Subsequent Event
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Mineral properties, net royalty acres \| a								22,641
Subsequent Event \| Revolving credit facility
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Credit facility borrowing base	$ 725,000,000.0						$ 725,000,000.0
Subsequent Event \| Drop-Down Acquisition
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to acquire mineral rights	190,200,000
Subsequent Event \| Drop-Down Acquisition \| Revolving credit facility
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Credit facility, increase of borrowing base	125,000,000.0
Credit facility borrowing base	$ 725,000,000.0
Diamondback Energy, Inc. \| Drop-Down Acquisition
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of mineral acres operated by affiliate			95.00%
Number of core operating areas \| area			7
Diamondback Energy, Inc. \| Drop-Down Acquisition \| Pecos County
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of operating rigs \| Rig			2
Diamondback Energy, Inc. \| Drop-Down Acquisition \| Spanish Trail North
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of operating rigs \| Rig			6
Diamondback Energy, Inc. \| Santa Elena Acquisition
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of mineral acres operated by affiliate		5.60%
Diamondback Energy, Inc. \| Subsequent Event
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of mineral acres operated by affiliate								51.00%

OIL AND NATURAL GAS INTERESTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Oil and natural gas interests:
Subject to depletion	$ 984,770	$ 845,228
Not subject to depletion	1,051,791	871,485
Gross oil and natural gas interests	2,036,561	1,716,713
Accumulated depletion and impairment	(299,704)	(248,296)
Oil and natural gas interests, net	1,736,857	1,468,417
Land	5,688	5,688
Property, net	1,742,545	1,474,105
Balance of costs not subject to depletion:	$ 267,930	$ 462,630	$ 284,371	$ 36,860
Minimum
Oil and natural gas interests:
Anticipated timing of cost inclusion in amortization calculation	3 years
Maximum
Oil and natural gas interests:
Anticipated timing of cost inclusion in amortization calculation	5 years

DEBT (Details)	9 Months Ended
DEBT (Details)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) redetermindation	Nov. 11, 2019 USD ($)	Oct. 16, 2019 USD ($)	Oct. 08, 2019 USD ($)	Oct. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Jul. 20, 2018 USD ($)
Senior Notes
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility, covenant, maximum issuance of additional indebtedness	$ 400,000,000.0					$ 400,000,000.0
Reduction of borrowing base due to additional issuances of unsecured debt	25.00%
Senior Notes \| Subsequent Event
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility, covenant, maximum issuance of additional indebtedness				$ 1,000,000,000.0
Revolving credit facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility maximum borrowing capacity						$ 2,000,000,000.0
Credit facility borrowing base	$ 600,000,000.0
Number of interim redeterminations that may be requested \| redetermindation	3
Period of redeterminations of borrowing base	12 months
Amount outstanding under credit facility	$ 409,500,000
Credit facility remaining borrowing capacity	$ 190,500,000
Revolving credit facility \| Subsequent Event
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility borrowing base			$ 725,000,000.0		$ 725,000,000.0
Credit facility, decrease of borrowing base provided amendment not been approved				$ 125,000,000.0
Amount outstanding under credit facility			94,500,000
Credit facility remaining borrowing capacity			$ 630,500,000
Revolving credit facility \| Fed Funds Effective Rate
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	0.50%
Revolving credit facility \| LIBOR
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.00%
Revolving credit facility \| Minimum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Commitment fee on the unused portion of the borrowing base	0.375%
Debt covenant, ratio of total net debt to EBITDAX	4.0
Revolving credit facility \| Minimum \| LIBOR
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt applicable margin	1.75%
Revolving credit facility \| Minimum \| Base Rate
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt applicable margin	0.75%
Revolving credit facility \| Maximum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Commitment fee on the unused portion of the borrowing base	0.50%
Debt covenant, ratio of current assets to liabilities	1.0
Revolving credit facility \| Maximum \| LIBOR
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt applicable margin	2.75%
Revolving credit facility \| Maximum \| Base Rate
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt applicable margin	1.75%
Forecast \| Revolving credit facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility borrowing base		$ 775,000,000.0
Drop-Down Acquisition \| Revolving credit facility \| Subsequent Event
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility borrowing base					725,000,000.0
Credit facility, increase of borrowing base					$ 125,000,000.0

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Details)		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Details)	Jun. 23, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) lease	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) lease	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) lease
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accrued state income tax expense			$ (100,000)	$ 200,000	$ 100,000
General Partner \| Partnership Agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Incurred costs for transactions with related party		$ 900,000	600,000	2,200,000	1,800,000
Affiliated Entity \| Advisory Services Agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Incurred costs for transactions with related party			0	0	0
Advisory services agreement, annual fee	$ 500,000
Diamondback Energy, Inc.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from Related Parties		0	$ 2,900,000	$ 39,198	$ 2,900,000
Number of leases extended \| lease			12	2	12
Revenue from related parties on new leases				$ 3,101
Number of new leases \| lease				2
Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accrued state income tax expense		$ 100,000

UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION - Phantom Units (Details) - Phantom Units $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Unvested at December 31, 2018 (in shares) \| shares	125,053
Granted (in shares) \| shares	33,886
Vested (in shares) \| shares	(81,124)
Forfeited (in shares) \| shares	(1,028)
Unvested at September 30, 2019 (in shares) \| shares	76,787
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]
Unvested at December 31, 2018 \| $ / shares	$ 23.44
Granted \| $ / shares	32.78
Vested \| $ / shares	23.34
Forfeited \| $ / shares	42.50
Unvested at September 30, 2019 \| $ / shares	$ 27.42
Aggregate fair value of phantom units vested during period \| $	$ 1.9
Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested phantom units \| $	$ 1.3
Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested phantom units, period for recognition	9 months 21 days

UNITHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND PARTNERSHIP DISTRIBUTIONS - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		1 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	May 10, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019	Jul. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 25, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Common Units
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Limited partners' capital account, units issued (in shares)				62,649,348	62,649,348		51,653,956
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)				62,649,348	62,649,348		51,653,956
Common units issued in public offerings (in shares)					10,925,000
Net proceeds from offering		$ 340.6
Common Units \| Follow-on Public Offering
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Common units issued in public offerings (in shares)		10,925,000
Common Units \| Over-Allotment Option
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Common units issued in public offerings (in shares)		1,425,000
Common Units \| Diamondback Energy, Inc.
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)				731,500	731,500
Class B Units
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Limited partners' capital account, units issued (in shares)				72,418,500	72,418,500		72,418,500
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)				72,418,500	72,418,500	90,709,946	72,418,500
Class B Units \| Diamondback Energy, Inc.
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)				72,418,500	72,418,500
Viper Energy Partners LP \| Diamondback Energy, Inc.
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Percent of limited partnership interest	64.00%		59.00%	54.00%	54.00%

UNITHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND PARTNERSHIP DISTRIBUTIONS - Schedule of Changes in Common Units (Details) - Common Units	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 shares
Changes In Common Units [Roll Forward]
Common units outstanding, begging balance (in shares)	51,653,956
Common units issued in public offerings (in shares)	10,925,000
Common units vested and issued under the LTIP (in shares)	81,124
Units repurchased for tax withholding (in shares)	(10,732)
Common units outstanding, ending balance (in shares)	62,649,348

EARNINGS PER UNIT (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to the period	$ 7,946	$ 2,346	$ 43,990	$ 144,646
Basic weighted average common units outstanding (in shares)	62,645,000	48,234,000	60,267,000	78,250,000
Effect of dilutive securities:
Effect of dilutive securities: Potential common units issuable (in shares)	33,000	70,000	29,000	69,000
Diluted weighted average common units outstanding (in shares)	62,678,000	48,304,000	60,296,000	78,319,000
Net income per common unit, basic (in USD per share)	$ 0.13	$ 0.05	$ 0.73	$ 1.85
Net income per common unit, diluted (in USD per share)	$ 0.13	$ 0.05	$ 0.73	$ 1.85
Anti-dilutive for potentially dilute basic earnings per common unit (in shares)	0	0	0	1,092

- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

+ References + Details

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018
Movement in Fair Value of Investment [Roll Forward]
Impact of adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2016-01					$ (18,651)
Gain on investment	$ 336	$ (199)	$ 3,978	$ 5,165
Fair Value, Recurring \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1
Movement in Fair Value of Investment [Roll Forward]
Fair value of investment, beginning balance			14,525	33,851
Impact of adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2016-01					$ (18,651)
Gain on investment			3,978	5,165
Fair value of investment, ending balance	$ 18,503	$ 20,365	$ 18,503	$ 20,365

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions					1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Oct. 25, 2019	Oct. 16, 2019	Oct. 01, 2019	Jul. 29, 2019	Oct. 25, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Nov. 11, 2019	Oct. 08, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jul. 20, 2018
Cash Distribution
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distribution Date									Oct. 25, 2019
Cash distributions, amount per common unit (in USD per unit)						$ 0.47	$ 0.38	$ 0.51
Cash Distribution \| Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distribution Date					Nov. 15, 2019
Cash distributions, amount per common unit (in USD per unit)	$ 0.46
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Date of Record					Nov. 08, 2019
Senior Notes
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Credit facility, covenant, maximum issuance of additional indebtedness												$ 400,000,000.0	$ 400,000,000.0
Senior Notes \| Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Credit facility, covenant, maximum issuance of additional indebtedness											$ 1,000,000,000.0
Revolving credit facility
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Credit facility borrowing base												$ 600,000,000.0
Revolving credit facility \| Forecast
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Credit facility borrowing base										$ 775,000,000.0
Revolving credit facility \| Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Credit facility borrowing base		$ 725,000,000.0	$ 725,000,000.0
Credit facility, decrease of borrowing base provided amendment not been approved											$ 125,000,000.0
5.375% Senior Notes Due 2027 \| Senior Notes \| Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt principal amount		$ 500,000,000.0
Debt interest rate, percentage		5.375%
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes		$ 492,000,000.0
Drop-Down Acquisition
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Payments to acquire mineral rights				$ 190,200,000
Drop-Down Acquisition \| Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number units issued in acquisition (in shares)			18.3
Payments to acquire mineral rights			$ 190,200,000
Drop-Down Acquisition \| Revolving credit facility \| Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Credit facility, increase of borrowing base			125,000,000.0
Credit facility borrowing base			$ 725,000,000.0
Class B Units \| Drop-Down Acquisition \| Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number units issued in acquisition (in shares)			18.3

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	9 Months Ended
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	Sep. 30, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES The Partnership is a party to various legal proceedings, disputes and claims from time to time arising in the course of its business, including those that arise from interpretation of federal and state laws and regulations affecting the crude oil and natural gas industry. These proceedings, disputes and claims may include differing interpretations as to the prices at which crude oil and natural gas sales may be made, the prices at which royalty owners may be paid for production from their leases, title claims, environmental issues and other matters. While the ultimate outcome of the pending proceedings, disputes or claims, and any resulting impact on the Partnership, cannot be predicted with certainty, the Partnership believes that none of these matters, if ultimately decided adversely, will have a material adverse effect on the Partnership’s financial condition, cash flows or results of operations. The Partnership’s assessment is based on information known about the pending matters and its experience in contesting, litigating and settling similar matters. Actual outcomes could differ materially from the Partnership’s assessment. The Partnership records reserves for contingencies related to outstanding legal proceedings, disputes or claims when information available indicates that a loss is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.

REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS (Details)	9 Months Ended
REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS (Details)	Sep. 30, 2019
Minimum
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue settlement period after production delivery	30 days
Maximum
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue settlement period after production delivery	90 days

UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION - Additional Disclosures (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) shares
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Number of common units reserved for issuance (in shares) \| shares	8,922,726	8,922,726
Unit-based compensation expenses incurred \| $	$ 0.4	$ 1.3

INCOME TAXES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
INCOME TAXES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Effective income tax rate reconciliation, percent	(17.10%)	1.50%	(32.05%)	(47.10%)
Discrete income tax benefit related to deferred taxes recorded during the period			$ 42.4

Label	Element	Value
Common Stock [Member] \| Limited Partner [Member]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption	$ (18,651,000)

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 25, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Oil and natural gas interests, based on the full cost method of accounting, amount excluded from depletion		$ 1,051,791	$ 871,485
Common Units
Limited partners' capital account, units issued (in shares)		62,649,348	51,653,956
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)		62,649,348	51,653,956
Class B Units
Limited partners' capital account, units issued (in shares)		72,418,500	72,418,500
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	90,709,946	72,418,500	72,418,500