The percentage of general partner ownership in the subsidiary by the parent.

Name:	paa_GeneralPartnerOwnershipInterestInSubsidiary
Namespace Prefix:	paa
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	paa_PartnersCapitalAndDistributionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	paa
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Increase in Parent's capital balance from issuance of additional shares to noncontrolling interest holders.

+ Details

Name:	paa_PartnersCapitalIncreaseFromSubsidiaryStockIssuance
Namespace Prefix:	paa
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash from the parent entity received by subsidiary or equity investee for common stock issued or sold in the stock transaction.

+ Details

Name:	paa_SaleOfStockConsiderationReceivedOnTransactionFromParent
Namespace Prefix:	paa
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents units purchased during the subsidiary equity issuance.

+ Details

Name:	paa_SubsidiaryEquityIssuanceUnitsPurchased
Namespace Prefix:	paa
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the number of units after the subsidiary equity issuance.

+ Details

Name:	paa_SubsidiaryEquityUnitsOwnedPostEquityIssuance
Namespace Prefix:	paa
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The subsidiary's cash inflow from a general partner contribution made by the parent entity during the period.

+ Details

Name:	paa_SubsidiaryProceedsFromGeneralPartnerContribution
Namespace Prefix:	paa
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the number of units prior to the issuance of stock.

+ Details

Name:	paa_SubsidiaryUnitsOwnedPriorToSubsidiaryEquityIssuance
Namespace Prefix:	paa
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the transfer of common units of subsidiary entity to noncontrolling interests in connection with the settlement of equity compensation awards.

+ Details

Name:	paa_TransferOfSubsidiaryStockToNoncontrollingInterestsInSettlementOfEquityCompensationAwards
Namespace Prefix:	paa
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Increase in noncontrolling interest balance from issuance of additional shares to noncontrolling interest holders or the sale of all or a portion of the parent's equity interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph c(2)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestIncreaseFromStockIssuance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The consolidating entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Cash received on stock transaction after deduction of issuance costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section H

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SaleOfStockConsiderationReceivedOnTransaction
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of shares issued or sold by the subsidiary or equity method investee per stock transaction.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section H

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SaleOfStockNumberOfSharesIssuedInTransaction
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Partners' Capital and Distributions (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended						3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended							6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 Common Units PNG Private Placement	Dec. 31, 2010 Common Units PNG Private Placement	Jun. 30, 2011 PNG	Jan. 31, 2011 PNG	Jun. 30, 2010 PNG IPO	Feb. 28, 2011 PNG Private Placement	May 31, 2011 PNG Private Placement	Jun. 30, 2011 PNG Private Placement Series A Subordinated Units	Dec. 31, 2010 PNG Private Placement Series A Subordinated Units	Jun. 30, 2011 PNG Private Placement Series B Subordinated Units	Dec. 31, 2010 PNG Private Placement Series B Subordinated Units	Jun. 30, 2011 SLC Pipeline	Jun. 30, 2011 Common Units
Partners Capital and Distribution
Noncontrolling interests, ownership percentage of noncontrolling owners (as a percent)						36.00%									25.00%
Number of common units issued representing limited partner interest (in units)								13,500,000	17,400,000
Net proceeds from private placement on PNG common units								$ 268	$ 370
Proceeds received by PNG from Plains for sale of common units									230
Contribution from general partner									12
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership interest of reporting entity (as a percent)							77.00%			64.00%
General Partner Interest in PNG (as a percent)									2.00%
Prior to PNG equity issuance (in units)			43,500,000		18,100,000							11,900,000		13,500,000
Units purchased (in units)	10,200,000								10,200,000
Number of common units transfer to noncontrolling interests in connection with the settlement of equity compensation awards (in shares)		(100,000)		(100,000)						58,672
Ending units owned (in units)		53,600,000		28,200,000							11,900,000		13,500,000
Non-controlling interests associated with the book value of PNG sold to third parties	370	370							306							63
Increase to partners' capital									$ 64