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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jan. 07, 2015
Foreign Currency Transactions
Gain (loss) on revaluation of foreign currency transactions and monetary assets and liabilities	$ (13)us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	$ 1us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	$ (2)us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Repayment of commercial paper notes	(366)us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfCommercialPaper	1,110us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfCommercialPaper
Outstanding checks included in accounts payable that were reclassified from cash and cash equivalents	94paa_LiabilitiesForOutstandingChecks	70paa_LiabilitiesForOutstandingChecks
Accounts Receivable
Advance cash payments received from third parties to mitigate credit risk	180us-gaap_CustomerAdvancesCurrent	117us-gaap_CustomerAdvancesCurrent
Standby letters of credit	198paa_StandbyLettersOfCreditReceived	426paa_StandbyLettersOfCreditReceived
Substantially all accounts receivable, net, maximum age of balances past their scheduled invoice date	30 days	30 days
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable	4us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	5us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent
Asset Retirement Obligation [Abstract]
Fair value of asset retirement obligations	36us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation	34us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation
Subsequent Event
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Repayment of commercial paper notes				$ (400)us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfCommercialPaper / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember

X

- Definition

The maximum number of days past their scheduled invoice date for substantially all of the accounts receivable.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Liability as of the balance sheet date of outstanding checks that were reclassified from cash and cash equivalents to accounts payable and accrued liabilities.

+ References

No definition available.

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X

- Definition

Represents a guarantee of payment issued by a financial institution that is used to support obligations due from third parties, a portion of which applies to future business.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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X

- Definition

A valuation allowance for trade and other receivables due to an Entity within one year (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) that are expected to be uncollectible.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 4

-Article 5



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=d3e5074-111524



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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- Definition

The carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 410

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Asset Retirement Obligation

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505190

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- Definition

The current portion of prepayments received from customers for goods or services to be provided in the future.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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- Details

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- Definition

Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction realized and unrealized gain (loss) recognized in the income statement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 830

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450189&loc=d3e30690-110894



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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450222&loc=d3e30840-110895



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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 830

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

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- Definition

The net cash inflow or cash outflow from issuing (borrowing) and repaying commercial paper.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph c

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3098-108585

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