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Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Nov. 14, 2014 | Aug. 31, 2012
Equity Method of Accounting |  |  |  |  |
Payments to acquire or subsequent contributions to unconsolidated entities | $ 1,246 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestments | $ 133 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestments | $ 76 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestments |  |
Amount by which investments in unconsolidated entities exceed our share of the underlying equity in the net assets | 763 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDifferenceBetweenCarryingAmountAndUnderlyingEquity | 78 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDifferenceBetweenCarryingAmountAndUnderlyingEquity |  |  |
Cash received upon formation of equity-method investment |  |  | 59 us-gaap_ProceedsFromEquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributionsReturnOfCapital |  |
Settoon Towing, LLC |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method of Accounting |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest (as a percent) | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = paa_SettoonTowingLlcMember |  |  |  |
BridgeTex Pipeline Company, LLC |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method of Accounting |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest (as a percent) | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = paa_BridgeTexPipelineCompanyLLCMember |  |  | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = paa_BridgeTexPipelineCompanyLLCMember |
Capacity of crude oil pipeline (in barrels per day) |  |  |  | 300,000 paa_CrudeOilPipelineCapacity / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = paa_BridgeTexPipelineCompanyLLCMember |
Payments to acquire or subsequent contributions to unconsolidated entities |  |  |  | 1,088 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = paa_BridgeTexPipelineCompanyLLCMember |
Working capital adjustments |  |  |  | 13 paa_PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestmentsWorkingCapitalAdjustment / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = paa_BridgeTexPipelineCompanyLLCMember |
Eagle Ford Pipeline LLC |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method of Accounting |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest (as a percent) | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = paa_EagleFordPipelineLLCMember |  |  |  |
Estimated book value of fixed assets contributed |  |  |  |  | 134 us-gaap_ContributionOfProperty / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = paa_EagleFordPipelineLLCMember
Cash received upon formation of equity-method investment |  |  |  |  | 59 us-gaap_ProceedsFromEquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributionsReturnOfCapital / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = paa_EagleFordPipelineLLCMember
Eagle Ford Pipeline LLC | Enterprise Products Partners |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method of Accounting |  |  |  |  |
Estimated book value of fixed assets contributed |  |  |  |  | $ 15 us-gaap_ContributionOfProperty / dei_LegalEntityAxis = paa_EnterpriseProductsPartnersMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = paa_EagleFordPipelineLLCMember
White Cliffs Pipeline, LLC |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method of Accounting |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest (as a percent) | 36.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = paa_WhiteCliffsPipelineLlcMember |  |  |  |
Butte Pipe Line Company |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method of Accounting |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest (as a percent) | 22.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = paa_ButtePipelineCompanyMember |  |  |  |
Frontier Pipeline Company |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method of Accounting |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest (as a percent) | 22.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = paa_FrontierPipelineCompanyMember |  |  |  |

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- Definition Cash outflow representing a working capital adjustment to the purchase price of equity method investments, which are investments in joint ventures and entities in which the entity has an equity ownership interest normally of 20 to 50 percent and exercises significant influence. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Difference between amount at which an investment accounted for under the equity method of accounting is carried (reported) on the balance sheet and amount of underlying equity in net assets the reporting Entity has in the investee. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
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- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
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