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Partners' Capital and Distributions (Details 4) (USD $)
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 0 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, 2012
Sep. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2012
Mar. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Feb. 13, 2015
Partners Capital and Distribution                                
Distributions paid to common unit holders                         $ 934us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountDistributionAmount $ 791us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountDistributionAmount $ 684us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountDistributionAmount  
Distributions paid to General Partner - 2%                         19us-gaap_GeneralPartnerDistributions 16us-gaap_GeneralPartnerDistributions 14us-gaap_GeneralPartnerDistributions  
Distributions paid to General Partner - Incentive                         454us-gaap_IncentiveDistributionDistributionPerYear 353us-gaap_IncentiveDistributionDistributionPerYear 271us-gaap_IncentiveDistributionDistributionPerYear  
Total distributions paid during the period                         1,410us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions 1,209us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions 1,017us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions  
Cash distributions per limited partner unit (in dollars per unit) $ 0.6600us-gaap_DistributionsPerLimitedPartnershipUnitOutstanding $ 0.6450us-gaap_DistributionsPerLimitedPartnershipUnitOutstanding $ 0.6300us-gaap_DistributionsPerLimitedPartnershipUnitOutstanding $ 0.6150us-gaap_DistributionsPerLimitedPartnershipUnitOutstanding $ 0.6000us-gaap_DistributionsPerLimitedPartnershipUnitOutstanding $ 0.5875us-gaap_DistributionsPerLimitedPartnershipUnitOutstanding $ 0.5750us-gaap_DistributionsPerLimitedPartnershipUnitOutstanding $ 0.5625us-gaap_DistributionsPerLimitedPartnershipUnitOutstanding $ 0.5425us-gaap_DistributionsPerLimitedPartnershipUnitOutstanding $ 0.5325us-gaap_DistributionsPerLimitedPartnershipUnitOutstanding $ 0.5225us-gaap_DistributionsPerLimitedPartnershipUnitOutstanding $ 0.5125us-gaap_DistributionsPerLimitedPartnershipUnitOutstanding $ 2.5500us-gaap_DistributionsPerLimitedPartnershipUnitOutstanding $ 2.3250us-gaap_DistributionsPerLimitedPartnershipUnitOutstanding $ 2.11us-gaap_DistributionsPerLimitedPartnershipUnitOutstanding  
General Partner Interest Distribution Percentage                         2.00%paa_GeneralPartnerDistributionPercentage      
Subsequent Event | Fourth Quarter Distribution                                
Partners Capital and Distribution                                
Distributions paid to common unit holders                               254us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountDistributionAmount
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= paa_FourthQuarterDistributionFY2014Member
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Distributions paid to General Partner - 2%                               5us-gaap_GeneralPartnerDistributions
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= paa_FourthQuarterDistributionFY2014Member
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Distributions paid to General Partner - Incentive                               131us-gaap_IncentiveDistributionDistributionPerYear
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= paa_FourthQuarterDistributionFY2014Member
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Total distributions paid during the period                               390us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= paa_FourthQuarterDistributionFY2014Member
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Cash distributions per limited partner unit (in dollars per unit)                               $ 0.6750us-gaap_DistributionsPerLimitedPartnershipUnitOutstanding
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= paa_FourthQuarterDistributionFY2014Member
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Distribution declared, date                         Jan. 08, 2015      
Unitholders of record, date                         Jan. 30, 2015      
Distribution Date                         Feb. 13, 2015      
General Partner Interest Distribution Percentage                               2.00%paa_GeneralPartnerDistributionPercentage
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= paa_FourthQuarterDistributionFY2014Member
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Partners' Capital Excluding Noncontrolling Interests                                
Partners Capital and Distribution                                
Total distributions paid during the period                         $ 1,407us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions
/ us-gaap_PartnerCapitalComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_ParentMember
$ 1,160us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions
/ us-gaap_PartnerCapitalComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_ParentMember
$ 969us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions
/ us-gaap_PartnerCapitalComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_ParentMember