Debt (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2010 Y	Jun. 30, 2011
Short-term debt:
Total short-term debt	$ 1,326	$ 536
Other short-term debt	2	2
Long-term debt:
Senior notes, net of unamortized discounts	4,363	4,761
Unamortized premium/(discount), net	(12)	(14)
Long-term debt, other	8	8
Total long-term debt	4,631	4,995
Total debt	5,957	5,531
Senior secured hedged inventory debt facility
Debt
Credit facility, interest rate (as a percent)	2.10%	2.10%
Short-term debt:
Credit Facility, Current	500	300
PAA senior unsecured revolving credit facility
Debt
Credit facility, interest rate (as a percent)	0.70%	1.10%
Short-term debt:
Credit Facility, Current	824	234
Repayment period (in years)	1
4.25% senior notes due September 2012
Debt
Debt instrument, interest rate (as a percent)	4.25%	4.25%
Long-term debt:
Senior notes	500	500
7.75% senior notes due October 2012
Debt
Debt instrument, interest rate (as a percent)	7.75%
Long-term debt:
Senior notes	200
5.63% senior notes due December 2013
Debt
Debt instrument, interest rate (as a percent)	5.63%	5.63%
Long-term debt:
Senior notes	250	250
5.25% senior notes due June 2015
Debt
Debt instrument, interest rate (as a percent)	5.25%	5.25%
Long-term debt:
Senior notes	150	150
3.95% senior notes due September 2015
Debt
Debt instrument, interest rate (as a percent)	3.95%	3.95%
Long-term debt:
Senior notes	400	400
5.88% senior notes due August 2016
Debt
Debt instrument, interest rate (as a percent)	5.88%	5.88%
Long-term debt:
Senior notes	175	175
6.13% senior notes due January 2017
Debt
Debt instrument, interest rate (as a percent)	6.13%	6.13%
Long-term debt:
Senior notes	400	400
6.50% senior notes due May 2018
Debt
Debt instrument, interest rate (as a percent)	6.50%	6.50%
Long-term debt:
Senior notes	600	600
8.75% senior notes due May 2019
Debt
Debt instrument, interest rate (as a percent)	8.75%	8.75%
Long-term debt:
Senior notes	350	350
5.75% senior notes due January 2020
Debt
Debt instrument, interest rate (as a percent)	5.75%	5.75%
Long-term debt:
Senior notes	500	500
5.00% senior notes due February 2021
Debt
Debt instrument, interest rate (as a percent)		5.00%
Long-term debt:
Senior notes		600
6.70% senior notes due May 2036
Debt
Debt instrument, interest rate (as a percent)	6.70%	6.70%
Long-term debt:
Senior notes	250	250
6.65% senior notes due January 2037
Debt
Debt instrument, interest rate (as a percent)	6.65%	6.65%
Long-term debt:
Senior notes	600	600
PNG senior unsecured revolving credit facility
Debt
Credit facility, interest rate (as a percent)	3.20%	2.90%
Long-term debt:
Long-term debt under credit facilities	$ 260	$ 226

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of other noncurrent debt not otherwise defined (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer), excluding current portion.

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The period, in years, within which the short-term borrowings must be repaid.

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- Definition

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all debt, including all short-term borrowings, long-term debt, and capital lease obligations.

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the sum of short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt and capital lease obligations, which are due within one year (or one business cycle if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19
-Article 5

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Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

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-Section 02
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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.

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The amount of debt discount (net of debt premium) that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 21
-Paragraph 16, 20

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The effective interest rate at the end of the reporting period.

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The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current portion of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

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Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all long-term debt, which is debt initially having maturities due after one year from the balance sheet date or beyond the operating cycle, if longer, but excluding the portions thereof scheduled to be repaid within one year (current maturities) or the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any.

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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5

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The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the noncurrent portion of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-Paragraph 9, 10, 11

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of notes payable (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer), excluding current portion.

+ References

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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
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-Paragraph 22
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Sum of the carrying amounts at the balance sheet date of short-term borrowings not otherwise specified in the taxonomy having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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-Publisher SEC
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-Section 02
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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer), excluding current portion. Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

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