v2.4.0.6
Guarantee of Securities of Subsidiaries Cash Flows (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Mar. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities $ 767 $ 560    
Acquisition Of Investments (4) (30)    
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments 88      
Repayments from related party 10 0    
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment (598) (354)    
Payments to Acquire Other Investments (40) (49)    
Capital Distributions From Equity Investments 37 48    
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities (12) 20    
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities (116) (365)    
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs (7) (6)    
Payments Of Dividends To Owners (384) (220)    
Payments for Repurchase of Warrants (80) 0    
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Noncontrolling Interest (375) (251)    
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities (253) (119)    
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents (6) 7    
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) 392 83    
Total Cash and Cash Equivalents 1,106 494 714 411
Contributions from noncontrolling interests 465 124    
Express pipeline system [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments 403 0    
BBPP Holdings Ltda [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments 88 0    
Parent Company [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities 325 249    
Acquisition Of Investments 0 0    
Repayments from related party 0      
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment (11) (1)    
Payments to Acquire Other Investments (13) (1)    
Capital Distributions From Equity Investments 0 0    
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities 0 0    
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities 964 (2)    
Issuance of debt 520 252    
Payment of debt (1,230) (278)    
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs 0 0    
Payments Of Dividends To Owners (384) (220)    
Payments for Repurchase of Warrants (80)      
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Noncontrolling Interest 0 0    
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities (1,174) (246)    
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents 0 0    
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) 115 1    
Total Cash and Cash Equivalents 118 3 3 2
Cash Dividends Paid to Parent Company 0 0    
Contributions from noncontrolling interests 0 0    
Parent Company [Member] | Express pipeline system [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments 0      
Parent Company [Member] | Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Acquisition Of Investments 988      
Parent Company [Member] | BBPP Holdings Ltda [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments 0      
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities 0 0    
Acquisition Of Investments 0 0    
Repayments from related party 0      
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment 0 0    
Payments to Acquire Other Investments 0 0    
Capital Distributions From Equity Investments 0 0    
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities 0 0    
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities 0 0    
Issuance of debt 0 0    
Payment of debt 0 0    
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs 0 0    
Payments Of Dividends To Owners 0 0    
Payments for Repurchase of Warrants 0      
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Noncontrolling Interest 0 0    
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities 0 0    
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents 0 0    
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) 0 0    
Total Cash and Cash Equivalents 0 0 0 0
Cash Dividends Paid to Parent Company 0 0    
Contributions from noncontrolling interests 0 0    
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Express pipeline system [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments 0      
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Acquisition Of Investments 0      
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | BBPP Holdings Ltda [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments 0      
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities 6 0    
Acquisition Of Investments 0 0    
Repayments from related party 0      
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment 0 0    
Payments to Acquire Other Investments (1) 0    
Capital Distributions From Equity Investments 0 0    
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities 0 0    
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities (1) 0    
Issuance of debt 0 0    
Payment of debt (50) 0    
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs 0 0    
Payments Of Dividends To Owners 0 0    
Payments for Repurchase of Warrants 0      
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Noncontrolling Interest 0 0    
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities (50) 0    
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents 0 0    
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) (45) 0    
Total Cash and Cash Equivalents 0 0 45 0
Cash Dividends Paid to Parent Company 0 0    
Contributions from noncontrolling interests 0 0    
Subsidiary Issuer [Member] | Express pipeline system [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments 0      
Subsidiary Issuer [Member] | Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Acquisition Of Investments 0      
Subsidiary Issuer [Member] | BBPP Holdings Ltda [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments 0      
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities 968 646    
Acquisition Of Investments (4) (30)    
Repayments from related party 10      
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment (587) (353)    
Payments to Acquire Other Investments (40) (49)    
Capital Distributions From Equity Investments 37 48    
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities (12) 20    
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities (1,093) (364)    
Issuance of debt 2,699 2,420    
Payment of debt (1,811) (2,160)    
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs (7) (6)    
Payments Of Dividends To Owners 0 0    
Payments for Repurchase of Warrants 0      
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Noncontrolling Interest (375) (251)    
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities 453 (207)    
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents (6) 7    
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) 322 82    
Total Cash and Cash Equivalents 988 491 666 409
Cash Dividends Paid to Parent Company (530) (335)    
Contributions from noncontrolling interests 477 125    
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Express pipeline system [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments 403      
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Acquisition Of Investments (988)      
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | BBPP Holdings Ltda [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments 88      
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities (532) (335)    
Acquisition Of Investments 0 0    
Repayments from related party 0      
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment 0 0    
Payments to Acquire Other Investments 14 1    
Capital Distributions From Equity Investments 0 0    
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities 0 0    
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities 14 1    
Issuance of debt 0 0    
Payment of debt 0 0    
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs 0 0    
Payments Of Dividends To Owners    0    
Payments for Repurchase of Warrants 0      
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Noncontrolling Interest 0 0    
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities 518 334    
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents 0 0    
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) 0 0    
Total Cash and Cash Equivalents 0 0 0 0
Cash Dividends Paid to Parent Company 530 335    
Contributions from noncontrolling interests (12) (1)    
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Express pipeline system [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments 0      
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Acquisition Of Investments 0      
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | BBPP Holdings Ltda [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments 0      
Consolidated Entity Excluding Variable Interest Entities (VIE) [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities 767 560    
Acquisition Of Investments (4) (30)    
Repayments from related party 10      
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment (598) (354)    
Payments to Acquire Other Investments (40) (49)    
Capital Distributions From Equity Investments 37 48    
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities (12) 20    
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities (116) (365)    
Issuance of debt 3,219 2,672    
Payment of debt (3,091) (2,438)    
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs (7) (6)    
Payments Of Dividends To Owners (384) (220)    
Payments for Repurchase of Warrants (80)      
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Noncontrolling Interest (375) (251)    
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities (253) (119)    
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents (6) 7    
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) 392 83    
Total Cash and Cash Equivalents 1,106 494 714 411
Cash Dividends Paid to Parent Company 0 0    
Contributions from noncontrolling interests 465 124    
Consolidated Entity Excluding Variable Interest Entities (VIE) [Member] | Express pipeline system [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments 403      
Consolidated Entity Excluding Variable Interest Entities (VIE) [Member] | Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Acquisition Of Investments 0      
Consolidated Entity Excluding Variable Interest Entities (VIE) [Member] | BBPP Holdings Ltda [Member]
       
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments $ 88