Debt Changes in Debt (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Increase for Period, Net	$ 3,223
Debt Instrument, Increase, Additional Borrowings	3,219
Debt Instrument, Decrease for Period, Net	(3,092)
Debt Instrument, Decrease, Repayments	(3,091)
Kinder Morgan, Inc. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity	1,750
Kinder Morgan, Inc. [Member] \| Senior secured term loan credit facility, due May 24, 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Decrease for Period, Net	(947)
Debt Instrument, Decrease, Repayments	(947)
Kinder Morgan, Inc. [Member] \| KMI Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Decrease for Period, Net	(281)
Debt Instrument, Decrease, Repayments	(281)
Kinder Morgan, Inc. [Member] \| EP Preferred securities, due March 31, 2028 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.75%
Debt Instrument, Decrease for Period, Net	(3)
Debt Instrument, Decrease, Repayments	(2)
Kinder Morgan, Inc. [Member] \| Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Increase for Period, Net	520
Debt Instrument, Increase, Additional Borrowings	520
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity	2,200
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt	991
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. [Member] \| KMP 3.50% Senior Notes due September 1, 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Increase for Period, Net	600
Debt Instrument, Increase, Additional Borrowings	598
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.50%
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. [Member] \| 5.00% KMP Senior notes due March 1, 2043 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Increase for Period, Net	400
Debt Instrument, Increase, Additional Borrowings	398
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.00%
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. [Member] \| KMP Commercial Paper Borrowings [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Increase for Period, Net	1,689
Debt Instrument, Increase, Additional Borrowings	1,689
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. [Member] \| KMP Altamont LLC Credit Faciltiy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Increase for Period, Net	14
Debt Instrument, Increase, Additional Borrowings	14
Debt Instrument, Decrease for Period, Net	(92)
Debt Instrument, Decrease, Repayments	(92)
Line of Credit Facility, Increase (Decrease) for Period, Net	90
Repayments of Lines of Credit	45
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Amount Outstanding During Period	95
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. [Member] \| KMP Altamont LLC Credit Faciltiy [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Increase (Decrease) for Period, Net	1
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. [Member] \| Commercial Paper [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Decrease for Period, Net	(1,715)
Debt Instrument, Decrease, Repayments	(1,715)
EPC Building LLC [Member] \| KMI Promissory note 3.967%, due 2035 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Increase for Period, Net	(1)
Debt Instrument, Increase, Additional Borrowings	(1)
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.967%
El Paso LLC [Member] \| KMI Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Increase for Period, Net	(50)
Debt Instrument, Increase, Additional Borrowings	(50)
Kinder Morgan Texas Pipeline. L.P. [Member] \| KMP 5.23%, BP, note due January 2, 2014 [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.23%
Debt Instrument, Decrease for Period, Net	(2)
Debt Instrument, Decrease, Repayments	(2)
El Paso Corporation [Member] \| Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Decrease for Period, Net	(1)
Debt Instrument, Decrease, Repayments	(1)
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| El Paso Pipeline Partners Operating Company, L.L.C. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity	$ 1,000

Debt Instrument, Decrease for Period, Net

No definition available.

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Increase for Period, Net

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Decrease for amounts repaid on the debt instrument for the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(f))

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- Definition

Increase of additional borrowings on existing and new debt instruments.

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- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

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- Definition

Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

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-Number 210

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- Definition

Net increase or decrease in the carrying amount of the debt instrument for the period.

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- Definition

Maximum amount borrowed under the credit facility at any time during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The cash inflow from a borrowing with the highest claim on the assets of the entity in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 19

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Glossary Financing Activities

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- Definition

The cash outflow to pay off an obligation from a contractual arrangement with the lender, including letter of credit, standby letter of credit and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a specific amount at any point in time with either short term or long term maturity.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

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-Number 95

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