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Net Income Per Limited Partner Unit (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	May 31, 2011	Feb. 28, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per limited partner unit:
Net income attributable to Plains				$ 225	$ 131	$ 408	$ 282
Less: General partner's incentive distribution paid	(52)	(50)	(46)	(50)	(39)	(97)	(77)
Subtotal				175	92	311	205
Less: General partner 2% ownership				(4)	(2)	(6)	(4)
Net income available to limited partners				171	90	305	201
Adjustment in accordance with application of the two-class method for MLPs				(1)	(1)	(6)	(3)
Net income available to limited partners in accordance with the application of the two-class method for MLPs				$ 170	$ 89	$ 299	$ 198
Denominator:
Basic weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding (in units)				149	136	146	136
Effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted average LTIP units (in units)				1	1	1	1
Diluted weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding (in units)				150	137	147	137
Basic net income per limited partner unit (in dollars per unit)				$ 1.14	$ 0.65	$ 2.04	$ 1.45
Diluted net income per limited partner unit (in dollars per unit)				$ 1.13	$ 0.65	$ 2.03	$ 1.45
General partner ownership interest (as a percent)						2.00%

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The 2% General Partner's allocation of the Net Income after incentive distribution is paid.

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Net income (loss) after incentive distribution is paid to the limited partnership general partner.

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This element represents the net income (loss) available to limited partners after making an adjustment in accordance with the application of two-class method for Master Limited Partnership (MLPs).

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- Definition

Amount of incentive obligation paid in cash or stock during the period to a limited liability corporation managing member or limited partnership general partner.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 12
-Paragraph 10

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 07-4
-Paragraph 2, 9

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The number of units or percentage investment held by the managing member or general partner of the LLC or LP.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Practice Bulletin (PB)
-Number 14
-Paragraph 15

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The portion of consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent. If the entity does not present consolidated financial statements, the amount of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 19
-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 38
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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 10, 15

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 87-21

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 28, 29, 30

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Aggregate amount of net income allocated to general partners in a publicly trade limited partnership or master limited partnership (MLP). Limited partners have limited liability and do not manage the partnership.

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Net income (loss) allocated to each outstanding limited partnership unit in a publicly traded limited partnership or master limited partnership (MLP). Limited partners have limited liability and do not manage the partnership.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Net income (loss) allocated to each limited partner unit outstanding during the reporting period and each unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of limited partner units for all dilutive potential units outstanding during the reporting period. Limited partners have limited liability and do not manage the partnership.

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Weighted average number of limited partnership units outstanding determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that limited partnership units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

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Weighted average number of limited partnership units outstanding determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that limited partnership units have been outstanding to the total time in that period. Used in the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per limited partnership unit.

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The sum of dilutive potential limited partnership units used in the calculation of the diluted per-unit computation.

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