XML 28 R61.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.6

Derivatives and Risk Management Activities (Details 6) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 Level 3	Jun. 30, 2012 Level 3	Sep. 30, 2011 Level 3	Mar. 31, 2011 Level 3	Sep. 30, 2012 Level 3	Sep. 30, 2011 Level 3	Sep. 30, 2012 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 1	Dec. 31, 2011 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 1	Sep. 30, 2012 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 1 Commodity	Dec. 31, 2011 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 1 Commodity	Sep. 30, 2012 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 2	Dec. 31, 2011 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 2	Sep. 30, 2012 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 2 Commodity	Dec. 31, 2011 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 2 Commodity	Sep. 30, 2012 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 2 Interest Rate Contracts	Dec. 31, 2011 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 2 Interest Rate Contracts	Sep. 30, 2012 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 2 Foreign exchange contracts	Dec. 31, 2011 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 2 Foreign exchange contracts	Sep. 30, 2012 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 3	Dec. 31, 2011 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 3	Sep. 30, 2012 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 3 Commodity	Dec. 31, 2011 Recurring Fair Value Measures Level 3 Commodity	Sep. 30, 2012 Recurring Fair Value Measures Total	Dec. 31, 2011 Recurring Fair Value Measures Total	Sep. 30, 2012 Recurring Fair Value Measures Total Commodity	Dec. 31, 2011 Recurring Fair Value Measures Total Commodity	Sep. 30, 2012 Recurring Fair Value Measures Total Interest Rate Contracts	Dec. 31, 2011 Recurring Fair Value Measures Total Interest Rate Contracts	Sep. 30, 2012 Recurring Fair Value Measures Total Foreign exchange contracts	Dec. 31, 2011 Recurring Fair Value Measures Total Foreign exchange contracts
Recurring Fair Value Measures
Net asset/(liability) at fair value							$ 30	$ 80	$ 30	$ 80	$ (82)	$ (135)	$ 45	$ 1	$ (133)	$ (137)	$ 6	$ 1	$ 10	$ 12	$ 10	$ 12	$ (42)	$ (43)	$ 85	$ 93	$ (133)	$ (137)	$ 6	$ 1
Roll forward of Level 3 Net Asset
Beginning Balance	36		10	(14)	12	(14)
Unrealized gains/(losses):
Included in earnings	(9)		17		(1)	30
Included in other comprehensive income			3		3	2
Settlements	(4)		(2)		(18)	31
Derivatives entered into during the period	1		8		23	4
Transfers out of Level 3 (liability)		5
Transfers out of Level 3 (asset)	(14)			(17)	(9)	(17)
Ending Balance	10	36	36		10	36
Change in unrealized gains/(losses) included in earnings relating to level 3 derivatives still held at the end of the periods	$ (8)		$ 26		$ 25	$ 35

X

- Definition

Settlements that have taken place during the period in relation to assets and liabilities measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilitiesSettlements
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Derivatives entered into during the period in relation to assets and liabilities measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetsLiabilitiesDerivativeEnteredInto
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), arising from the derivative net asset/liability balance measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3) which are included in earnings or resulted in a changed in net asset/liability balance.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisDerivativeNetAssetLiabilityGainLossIncludedInEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

This item represents the amount of the total change in unrealized (holding) gains or losses for the period which are included in the statement of income (or changes in net assets).Such unrealized (holding) gains or losses relate to those liabilities still held at the reporting date for which fair value is measured on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisDerivativeNetAssetLiabilityGainLossIncludedInEarningsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), arising from the derivative net asset/liability balance measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3) which are included in other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisDerivativeNetAssetLiabilityGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncome
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The derivative net asset/liability balance measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) which is required for reconciliation purposes of beginning and ending balances.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisDerivativeNetAssetLiabilityValue
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	paa_UnrealizedGainsAndLossesRelatingToLevel3DerivativesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Fair value of the assets less the liabilities of a derivative or group of derivatives.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 6

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7491637&loc=d3e13433-108611



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7491637&loc=d3e13495-108611

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Transfers out of liabilities measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy that have taken place during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7578670&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationLiabilityTransfersOutOfLevel3
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Transfers out of assets measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy that have taken place during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7578670&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetTransfersOutOfLevel3
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration