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v2.4.1.9

Partners' Capital and Distributions (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Partners' Capital and Distributions |  |
Common unitholders, units outstanding (in units) | 375,107,793 us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding | 359,133,200 us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding
Ownership interest (as a percent) | 98.00%us-gaap_LimitedLiabilityCompanyLLCOrLimitedPartnershipLPMembersOrLimitedPartnersOwnershipInterest |
General partner ownership interest (as a percent) | 2.00%us-gaap_LimitedLiabilityCompanyLLCOrLimitedPartnershipLPManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerOwnershipInterest |
Percentage of available cash distributed (as a percent) | 100.00%paa_PercentageDistributionOfAvailableCash |
Number of days after end of quarter within which distributions must be paid to unitholders | 45 days |
Partners Capital and Distribution |  |
Percent of distribution amount to the general partner before incentive distributions | 2.00%paa_GeneralPartnerDistributionPercentage |
General Partner Distribution - Level One |  |
Partners Capital and Distribution |  |
Percent of distribution amount to the general partner before incentive distributions | 2.00%paa_GeneralPartnerDistributionPercentage / us-gaap_IncentiveDistributionMadeToManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerAxis = paa_GeneralPartnerDistributionLevelOneMember |
General Partner Distribution - Level Two |  |
Partners Capital and Distribution |  |
Percent of distribution amount to the general partner above threshold | 15.00%paa_GeneralPartnerDistributionIncludingIncentiveDistributionPercentage / us-gaap_IncentiveDistributionMadeToManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerAxis = paa_GeneralPartnerDistributionLevelTwoMember |
Quarterly incentive distribution threshold amount (in dollars per unit) | 0.2250 paa_GeneralPartnerIncentiveDistributionThreshold / us-gaap_IncentiveDistributionMadeToManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerAxis = paa_GeneralPartnerDistributionLevelTwoMember |
General Partner Distribution - Level Three |  |
Partners Capital and Distribution |  |
Percent of distribution amount to the general partner above threshold | 25.00%paa_GeneralPartnerDistributionIncludingIncentiveDistributionPercentage / us-gaap_IncentiveDistributionMadeToManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerAxis = paa_GeneralPartnerDistributionLevelThreeMember |
Quarterly incentive distribution threshold amount (in dollars per unit) | 0.2475 paa_GeneralPartnerIncentiveDistributionThreshold / us-gaap_IncentiveDistributionMadeToManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerAxis = paa_GeneralPartnerDistributionLevelThreeMember |
General Partner Distribution - Level Four |  |
Partners Capital and Distribution |  |
Percent of distribution amount to the general partner above threshold | 50.00%paa_GeneralPartnerDistributionIncludingIncentiveDistributionPercentage / us-gaap_IncentiveDistributionMadeToManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerAxis = paa_GeneralPartnerDistributionLevelFourMember |
Quarterly incentive distribution threshold amount (in dollars per unit) | 0.3375 paa_GeneralPartnerIncentiveDistributionThreshold / us-gaap_IncentiveDistributionMadeToManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerAxis = paa_GeneralPartnerDistributionLevelFourMember |

X
- Definition The percentage of the distribution amount over the threshold that the general partner is entitled to as incentive distributions and distributions related to its general partner interest. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | paa_GeneralPartnerDistributionIncludingIncentiveDistributionPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | paa_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The percentage of the distribution that the general partner is entitled to based on its ownership. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | paa_
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Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The threshold over which the general partner is entitled to receive a percentage of the distribution amount as incentive distributions. + References No definition available. + Details
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Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of days after the end of the relevant quarter within which distributions of available cash must be paid to unitholders. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Details
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- Definition This element represents the percentage of cash distributed out of available cash. + References No definition available. + Details
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X
- Definition Percentage investment held by the managing member or general partner of the limited liability company (LLC) or limited partnership (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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Period Type: | duration

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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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Period Type: | duration

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- Definition The number of limited partner units outstanding. + 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 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 4 -Section F + Details
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