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Operating Segments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2013 | Mar. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2014 segment | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Operating Segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating segments number |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments |  |
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues | $ 9,459 us-gaap_Revenues | $ 11,127 us-gaap_Revenues | $ 11,195 us-gaap_Revenues | $ 11,684 us-gaap_Revenues | $ 10,631 us-gaap_Revenues | $ 10,703 us-gaap_Revenues | $ 10,295 us-gaap_Revenues | $ 10,620 us-gaap_Revenues | $ 43,464 us-gaap_Revenues | $ 42,249 us-gaap_Revenues | $ 37,797 us-gaap_Revenues
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Other Information about Entity's Reportable Segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity earnings in unconsolidated entities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 108 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | 64 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | 38 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Segment profit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,291 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 2,167 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 1,945 us-gaap_GrossProfit
Capital expenditures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,125 paa_CapitalExpenditures | 1,641 paa_CapitalExpenditures | 3,471 paa_CapitalExpenditures
Maintenance capital |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 224 paa_MaintenanceCapital | 176 paa_MaintenanceCapital | 170 paa_MaintenanceCapital
Total assets | 22,256 us-gaap_Assets |  |  |  | 20,360 us-gaap_Assets |  |  |  | 22,256 us-gaap_Assets | 20,360 us-gaap_Assets | 19,235 us-gaap_Assets
Investments in unconsolidated entities | 1,735 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments |  |  |  | 485 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments |  |  |  | 1,735 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments | 485 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments | 343 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Transportation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 774 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember | 701 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember | 623 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Other Information about Entity's Reportable Segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity earnings in unconsolidated entities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 108 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember | 64 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember | 38 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember
Segment profit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 925 us-gaap_GrossProfit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember | 729 us-gaap_GrossProfit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember | 710 us-gaap_GrossProfit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember
Capital expenditures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,483 paa_CapitalExpenditures / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember | 1,046 paa_CapitalExpenditures / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember | 1,244 paa_CapitalExpenditures / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember
Maintenance capital |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 165 paa_MaintenanceCapital / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember | 123 paa_MaintenanceCapital / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember | 108 paa_MaintenanceCapital / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember
Total assets | 9,637 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember |  |  |  | 7,221 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember |  |  |  | 9,637 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember | 7,221 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember | 6,423 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember
Investments in unconsolidated entities | 1,735 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember |  |  |  | 485 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember |  |  |  | 1,735 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember | 485 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember | 343 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember
Facilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 576 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember | 856 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember | 736 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Other Information about Entity's Reportable Segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment profit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 584 us-gaap_GrossProfit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember | 616 us-gaap_GrossProfit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember | 482 us-gaap_GrossProfit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember
Capital expenditures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 582 paa_CapitalExpenditures / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember | 549 paa_CapitalExpenditures / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember | 1,724 paa_CapitalExpenditures / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember
Maintenance capital |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 52 paa_MaintenanceCapital / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember | 38 paa_MaintenanceCapital / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember | 49 paa_MaintenanceCapital / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember
Total assets | 6,843 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember |  |  |  | 6,555 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember |  |  |  | 6,843 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember | 6,555 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember | 6,134 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember
Supply and Logistics |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 42,114 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember | 40,692 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember | 36,438 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Other Information about Entity's Reportable Segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment profit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 782 us-gaap_GrossProfit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember | 822 us-gaap_GrossProfit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember | 753 us-gaap_GrossProfit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember
Capital expenditures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60 paa_CapitalExpenditures / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember | 46 paa_CapitalExpenditures / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember | 503 paa_CapitalExpenditures / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember
Maintenance capital |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7 paa_MaintenanceCapital / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember | 15 paa_MaintenanceCapital / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember | 13 paa_MaintenanceCapital / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember
Total assets | 5,776 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember |  |  |  | 6,584 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember |  |  |  | 5,776 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember | 6,584 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember | 6,678 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember
Interest expense related to hedged inventory purchases |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 paa_InterestExpenseHedgedInventoryPurchases / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember | 30 paa_InterestExpenseHedgedInventoryPurchases / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember | 12 paa_InterestExpenseHedgedInventoryPurchases / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember
Operating Segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 44,932 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember | 43,571 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember | 38,954 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Operating Segments | Transportation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,655 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember | 1,498 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember | 1,416 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember
Operating Segments | Facilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,127 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember | 1,377 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember | 1,098 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember
Operating Segments | Supply and Logistics |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 42,150 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember | 40,696 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember | 36,440 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember
Intersegment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,468)us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember | (1,322)us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember | (1,157)us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember
Intersegment | Transportation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (881)us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember | (797)us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember | (793)us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentPipelineTariffActivitiesTruckingMember
Intersegment | Facilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (551)us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember | (521)us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember | (362)us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentStorageTerminallingProcessingMember
Intersegment | Supply and Logistics |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (36)us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember | $ (4)us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember | $ (2)us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = paa_SegmentSalesAndLogisticsMember

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