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Partners' Capital and Distributions (Details 6) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Partners Capital and Distribution |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest (as a percent) | 98.00%us-gaap_LimitedLiabilityCompanyLLCOrLimitedPartnershipLPMembersOrLimitedPartnersOwnershipInterest |  |  |  |
Contribution from general partner | $ 18 us-gaap_GeneralPartnersContributedCapital | $ 9 us-gaap_GeneralPartnersContributedCapital |  | $ 9 us-gaap_GeneralPartnersContributedCapital | $ 20 us-gaap_GeneralPartnersContributedCapital
Net impact of PNG Merger on total partners' capital |  | 12 us-gaap_ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangesNet |  |  |
PNG | Subordinated units |  |  |  |  |
Partners Capital and Distribution |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest (as a percent) |  |  | 100.00%us-gaap_LimitedLiabilityCompanyLLCOrLimitedPartnershipLPMembersOrLimitedPartnersOwnershipInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = paa_PNGMember / us-gaap_PartnerCapitalComponentsAxis = paa_SubordinatedUnitsMember |  |
Common Units | PNG |  |  |  |  |
Partners Capital and Distribution |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest (as a percent) |  |  | 46.00%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent / dei_LegalEntityAxis = paa_PNGMember / us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountByClassAxis = paa_CommonUnitsMember |  |
Outstanding units (in units) |  |  | 61,200,000 paa_PartnersCapitalCommonUnitHolderUnitsOutstanding / dei_LegalEntityAxis = paa_PNGMember / us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountByClassAxis = paa_CommonUnitsMember |  |
PNG Merger |  |  |  |  |
Partners Capital and Distribution |  |  |  |  |
Number of PAA common units issued for each outstanding common unit of PNG (in units) |  | 0.445 paa_NumberOfCommonUnitsOfParentIssuedPerUnitOfSubsidiaryOwned / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = paa_PNGMergerMember |  | 0.445 paa_NumberOfCommonUnitsOfParentIssuedPerUnitOfSubsidiaryOwned / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = paa_PNGMergerMember |
PAA common units issued in exchange for outstanding PNG common units (in units) |  |  |  | 14,700,000 paa_ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangesPurchaseOfInterestByParentUnitsIssued / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = paa_PNGMergerMember |
Value of PAA common units issued in exchange for outstanding PNG common units |  |  |  | 760 paa_ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangesPurchaseOfInterestByParentUnitsIssuedValue / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = paa_PNGMergerMember |
Equity-classified loss from purchase of PNG common units |  |  |  | 290 us-gaap_ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangesPurchaseOfInterestByParent / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = paa_PNGMergerMember |
Contribution from general partner |  | 16 us-gaap_GeneralPartnersContributedCapital / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = paa_PNGMergerMember |  | 16 us-gaap_GeneralPartnersContributedCapital / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = paa_PNGMergerMember |
Transaction costs |  |  |  | 4 paa_ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChanges / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = paa_PNGMergerMember |
Net impact of PNG Merger on total partners' capital |  |  |  | $ 12 us-gaap_ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangesNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = paa_PNGMergerMember |
SLC Pipeline LLC |  |  |  |  |
Partners Capital and Distribution |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries (as a percent) | 25.00%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = paa_SLCPipelineLLCMember |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Represents the amount of transaction costs for purchase by the parent of an additional equity interest in a subsidiary during the period, thereby effecting a change in total (consolidated) equity attributable to the parent. The purchase of the additional equity interest represented by this element increases the parent's controlling interest in the subsidiary. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the units of the parent issued by the parent in exchange for all equity interests in a subsidiary owned by other than the parent entity. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the value of the units of the parent issued by the parent in exchange for all equity interests in a subsidiary owned by other than the parent entity. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of common units of the parent issued per each outstanding common unit of the subsidiary other than that owned by the parent associated with the acquisition of all the publicly held common units of the subsidiary by the parent. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Details
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- Definition The number of limited partner common units outstanding. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The increase (decrease) during the period impacting the parent's ownership interest in a subsidiary as it relates to the total (consolidated) equity attributable to the parent. The changes to the parent's ownership interest in a subsidiary represented by this element did not arise in a deconsolidation of the subsidiary from the consolidated financial statements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1A -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18733093&loc=SL4573702-111684 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 55 -Paragraph 4M -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35736750&loc=SL4591554-111686 + Details
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- Definition Represents the purchase by the parent of an additional equity interest in a subsidiary during the period, thereby effecting a change in total (consolidated) equity attributable to the parent. The purchase of the additional equity interest represented by this element increases the parent's controlling interest in the subsidiary. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1A -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18733093&loc=SL4573702-111684 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 55 -Paragraph 4M -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35736750&loc=SL4591554-111686 + Details
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- Definition The amount of capital contributed by the general partner. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 272 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70434-108055 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 4.F) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187171-122770 + Details
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- Definition The number of units or percentage investment held by one or more members or limited partners of the LLC or LP. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 272 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70478-108055 + Details
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- Definition The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
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- Details
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- Details
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- Details
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- Details
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