XML 57 R61.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT ﻿
v2.3.0.11

Commitments and Contingencies (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified |  |  | 6 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Jun. 30, 2011 Rainbow pipeline mi acres bbl
Loss Contingencies |  |  |
Length of Pipeline Isolated and Depressurized (in miles) |  |  | 45
Estimated volume of crude oil released (in barrels) |  |  | 28,000
Area of land affected due to crude oil release (in acres) |  |  | 40
Recognized remaining undiscounted gross environmental remediation liability |  |  | $ 58
Total estimated cost to clean-up and remediate the site, before insurance recoveries |  |  | 72
Probable recoveries from insurers and third parties recorded as a receivable | $ 64 | $ 5 | $ 59

X
- Definition Represents the area of land affected due to release of crude oil. + Details
Name: | paa_AreaOfSiteAffectedDueToCrudeOilRelease
Namespace Prefix: | paa
Data Type: | us-types:areaItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the current estimated volume of crude oil released. + Details
Name: | paa_EstimatedVolumeOfCrudeOilReleased
Namespace Prefix: | paa
Data Type: | us-types:volumeItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the Length of pipeline isolated and depressurized to conduct clean-up operations. + Details
Name: | paa_LengthOfPipelineIsolatedAndDepressurized
Namespace Prefix: | paa
Data Type: | us-types:lengthItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the estimated total cost to clean-up and remediate the site, before insurance recoveries. + Details
Name: | paa_TotalEstimatedCostToCleanUpAndRemediateSiteBeforeInsuranceRecoveries
Namespace Prefix: | paa
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The estimated aggregate undiscounted amount of the accrual for environmental loss contingencies as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 96-1 -Paragraph 161 -Subparagraph a Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section Y -Paragraph Question 1 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesGross
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of known and reasonably estimable amounts of recoveries from third-parties pertaining to an entity's environmental remediation obligations. An entity's balance sheet may include several assets that relate to an environmental remediation obligation. Among them are the following: a. Receivables from other potentially responsible parties that are not providing initial funding; b. anticipated recoveries from insurers; and c. anticipated recoveries from prior owners as a result of indemnification agreements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 96-1 -Paragraph 161 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RecordedThirdPartyEnvironmentalRecoveriesReceivable
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant