Equity Indexed Compensation Plans (Details 2) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013
Special PAA Awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement, by Share-based Payment Award
Annualized distribution threshold for vesting of DERs (in dollars per share)	$ 2.40
Outstanding (in units)
Granted (in units)	143,000
Special PAA Awards \| PNG
Share-based Compensation Arrangement, by Share-based Payment Award
Annualized distribution threshold for vesting of DERs (in dollars per share)	$ 1.43
Special PAA Awards \| Awards with a vesting date of August 2018
Share-based Compensation Arrangement, by Share-based Payment Award
Awards that will vest upon satisfaction of performance and/or service conditions (as a percent)	50.00%
Special PAA Awards \| Awards with a vesting date of August 2018 \| PNG
Share-based Compensation Arrangement, by Share-based Payment Award
Annualized distribution threshold for vesting of awards (in dollars per share)	$ 1.48
Period prior to each vesting date for which the average annualized distribution threshold must be maintained for vesting of awards	12 months
Special PAA Awards \| Awards with a vesting date of August 2019
Share-based Compensation Arrangement, by Share-based Payment Award
Awards that will vest upon satisfaction of performance and/or service conditions (as a percent)	50.00%
Special PAA Awards \| Awards with a vesting date of August 2019 \| PNG
Share-based Compensation Arrangement, by Share-based Payment Award
Annualized distribution threshold for vesting of awards (in dollars per share)	$ 1.43
Period prior to each vesting date for which the average annualized distribution threshold must be maintained for vesting of awards	12 months
PAA Long-term Incentive Plan Awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement, by Share-based Payment Award
DERs that will vest upon satisfaction of performance and/or service conditions (as a percent)	33.00%
Outstanding (in units)
Outstanding at beginning of period (in units)		6,000,000
Granted (in units)		4,100,000
Vested (in units)		(1,800,000)
Cancelled or forfeited (in units)		(200,000)
Outstanding at end of period (in units)		8,100,000
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per unit
Outstanding at beginning of period (in dollars per unit)		$ 25.55
Granted (in dollars per unit)		$ 47.57
Vested (in dollars per unit)		$ 24.77
Cancelled or forfeited (in dollars per unit)		$ 35.70
Outstanding at end of period (in dollars per unit)		$ 36.66
Units issued in connection with the settlement of vested awards, net of tax withholding (in units)		500,000
Units withheld for taxes (in units)		300,000
Vested awards settled in cash (in units)		1,000,000
PAA Long-term Incentive Plan Awards \| Distribution threshold one
Share-based Compensation Arrangement, by Share-based Payment Award
Annualized distribution threshold for vesting of DERs (in dollars per share)	$ 2.35
PAA Long-term Incentive Plan Awards \| Distribution threshold two
Share-based Compensation Arrangement, by Share-based Payment Award
Annualized distribution threshold for vesting of DERs (in dollars per share)	$ 2.50
PAA Long-term Incentive Plan Awards \| Distribution threshold three
Share-based Compensation Arrangement, by Share-based Payment Award
Annualized distribution threshold for vesting of DERs (in dollars per share)	$ 2.65
PAA Long-term Incentive Plan Awards \| Equity Awards
Outstanding (in units)
Granted (in units)	2,400,000
PAA Long-term Incentive Plan Awards \| Equity Awards \| Awards with a minimum vesting date of August 2016
Share-based Compensation Arrangement, by Share-based Payment Award
Awards that will vest upon satisfaction of performance and/or service conditions (as a percent)	33.00%
Annualized distribution threshold for vesting of awards (in dollars per share)	$ 2.35
PAA Long-term Incentive Plan Awards \| Equity Awards \| Awards with a minimum vesting date of August 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement, by Share-based Payment Award
Awards that will vest upon satisfaction of performance and/or service conditions (as a percent)	33.00%
Annualized distribution threshold for vesting of awards (in dollars per share)	$ 2.50
PAA Long-term Incentive Plan Awards \| Equity Awards \| Awards with a minimum vesting date of August 2018
Share-based Compensation Arrangement, by Share-based Payment Award
Awards that will vest upon satisfaction of performance and/or service conditions (as a percent)	33.00%
Annualized distribution threshold for vesting of awards (in dollars per share)	$ 2.65
PAA Long-term Incentive Plan Awards \| Liability Awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement, by Share-based Payment Award
Annualized quarterly distribution, low end of range (in dollars per unit)	$ 2.30
Annualized quarterly distribution, high end of range (in dollars per unit)	$ 2.65
Outstanding (in units)
Granted (in units)	1,500,000
PNG LTIP Awards Including Transaction Grants
Outstanding (in units)
Outstanding at beginning of period (in units)		900,000
Granted (in units)		400,000
Outstanding at end of period (in units)		1,300,000
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per unit
Outstanding at beginning of period (in dollars per unit)		$ 17.49
Granted (in dollars per unit)		$ 17.34
Vested (in dollars per unit)		$ 14.77
Cancelled or forfeited (in dollars per unit)		$ 14.40
Outstanding at end of period (in dollars per unit)		$ 17.57
PNG LTIP Awards Including Transaction Grants \| Maximum
Outstanding (in units)
Vested (in units)		(100,000)
Cancelled or forfeited (in units)		(100,000)

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Percentage of awards that will vest upon satisfaction of applicable performance and service conditions.

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Percentage of distribution equivalent rights that will vest upon satisfaction of applicable performance and/or service conditions.

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Represents the annualized distribution threshold that must be met for the vesting of awards.

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Represents the period prior to each vesting date for which the average annualized distribution threshold must be maintained in order for awards to vest.

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Represents the vested units which were settled in cash during the reporting period as a result of any share-based compensation plan other than an employee stock ownership plan.

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The number of shares associated with an employee's income tax withholding obligation as part of a net-share settlement of a share-based award.

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The floor of a customized range of annualized distribution amounts required for vesting.

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The ceiling of a customized range of annualized distribution amounts required for vesting.

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The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that were forfeited during the reporting period.

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Weighted average fair value as of the grant date of equity-based award plans other than stock (unit) option plans that were not exercised or put into effect as a result of the occurrence of a terminating event.

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The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

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The number of non-vested equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance sheet date.

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- Definition

The weighted average fair value of nonvested awards on equity-based plans excluding option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, revenue or profit achievement stock award plan) for which the employer is contingently obligated to issue equity instruments or transfer assets to an employee who has not yet satisfied service or performance criteria necessary to gain title to proceeds from the sale of the award or underlying shares or units.

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The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that vested during the reporting period.

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The weighted average fair value as of grant date pertaining to an equity-based award plan other than a stock (or unit) option plan for which the grantee gained the right during the reporting period, by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash in accordance with the terms of the arrangement.

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Number of shares (or other type of equity) issued during the period as a result of any equity-based compensation plan other than an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), net of any shares forfeited. Shares issued could result from the issuance of restricted stock, the exercise of stock options, stock issued under employee stock purchase plans, and/or other employee benefit plans.

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-Paragraph 10

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-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

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