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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 $ 1,246us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestments $ 133us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestments $ 76us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestments    
Amount by which investments in unconsolidated entities exceed our share of the underlying equity in the net assets 763us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDifferenceBetweenCarryingAmountAndUnderlyingEquity 78us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDifferenceBetweenCarryingAmountAndUnderlyingEquity      
Cash received upon formation of equity-method investment     59us-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)       300,000paa_CrudeOilPipelineCapacity
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= paa_BridgeTexPipelineCompanyLLCMember
 
Payments to acquire or subsequent contributions to unconsolidated entities       1,088us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= paa_BridgeTexPipelineCompanyLLCMember
 
Working capital adjustments       13paa_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         134us-gaap_ContributionOfProperty
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= paa_EagleFordPipelineLLCMember
Cash received upon formation of equity-method investment         59us-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         $ 15us-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