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Derivatives and Risk Management Activities (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified		6 Months Ended				1 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011 bbl Segments InterestRateSwaps	Jun. 30, 2011 Forward starting interest rate swaps terminated in January 2011 InterestRateSwaps	Jun. 30, 2011 Forward starting swap (30-year) InterestRateSwaps	Jun. 30, 2011 Forward starting swap (10-year) InterestRateSwaps	Jun. 30, 2011 PNG Interest Rate Swaps InterestRateSwaps	Jul. 31, 2009 Interest Rate Swaps	Jun. 30, 2011 Interest Rate Swaps InterestRateSwaps
Interest Rate Risk Hedging
Net deferred gains from interest rate risk hedging included in AOCI	$ 9
Number of outstanding interest rate swaps	6	3	3	3	2		4
Rate of fixed interest to be received on interest rate swap (as a percent)		3.60%	4.35%	3.53%	1.06%	4.25%
Notional amount of interest rate derivatives		100	150	150	50		300
Cash proceeds associated with termination of interest rate swaps		$ 12
Basis for variable interest rate						three-month LIBOR plus a spread on a notional principal amount
Additional average spread over LIBOR (as a percent)							2.42%
Number of interest rate swaps that terminate in 2011							2
Number of interest rate swaps that terminate in 2012							2

X

- Definition

This element represents the percentage of additional interest rate over LIBOR for computation of interest rate swap.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Amount of gain or loss related to terminated interest rate swaps and treasury locks that were designated for hedge accounting.

+ Details

Name:	paa_GainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesPretaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome
Namespace Prefix:	paa
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The number of interest rate swaps that terminate between one and two years from the balance sheet date.

+ Details

Name:	paa_NumberOfInterestRateSwapsThatTerminateBetweenOneAndTwoYears
Namespace Prefix:	paa
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The number of interest rate swaps that terminate in the twelve months following the balance sheet date.

+ Details

Name:	paa_NumberOfInterestRateSwapsThatTerminateInOneYear
Namespace Prefix:	paa
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The cash inflow provided by derivative instruments during the period, which are classified as financing activities, excluding those designated as hedging instruments.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

The reference rate for the variable rate of the interest rate derivative, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeDescriptionOfVariableRateBasis
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Fixed interest rate related to the interest rate derivative.

+ Details

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

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount of interest rate derivatives, which relates to the currency amount specified in the interest rate derivative instruments.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfInterestRateDerivatives
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Number of interest rate derivative instruments held by the entity at the reporting date.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfInterestRateDerivativesHeld
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant