Partners' Capital and Distributions (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Reduction in incentive distributions
Reduction in incentive distributions	$ 15	$ 11	$ 7
General partner \| BP NGL Acquisition \| PNG Merger
Reduction in incentive distributions
Reduction in incentive distributions per quarter for distributions paid during 2013 (in dollars per quarter)	3.75
Reduction in incentive distributions in February 2014	6.75
Reduction in incentive distributions per quarter from May 2014 through November 2015 (in dollars per quarter)	5.5
Reduction in incentive distributions per quarter in 2016 (in dollars per quarter)	5.0
Reduction in incentive distributions per quarter after 2016 (in dollars per quarter)	$ 3.75

The total reduction in the amount of incentive distributions paid to the general partner during the period related to acquisitions.

No definition available.

Name:	paa_ReductionInIncentiveDistributions
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

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

This element represents the reduction in incentive distributions in February 2014.

No definition available.

Name:	paa_ReductionInIncentiveDistributionsInFebruary2014
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the reduction per quarter in incentive distributions after 2016.

No definition available.

Name:	paa_ReductionInIncentiveDistributionsPerQuarterAfter2016
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the reduction per quarter in incentive distributions during the year 2013.

No definition available.

Name:	paa_ReductionInIncentiveDistributionsPerQuarterCurrentPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the reduction per quarter in incentive distributions beginning in May 2014 through November 2015.

No definition available.

Name:	paa_ReductionInIncentiveDistributionsPerQuarterFromMay2014ThroughNovember2015
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the reduction per quarter in incentive distributions in 2016.

No definition available.

Name:	paa_ReductionInIncentiveDistributionsPerQuarterIn2016
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant