Inventory, Linefill and Base Gas and Long-term Inventory (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Inventory-related disclosures
Charge related to the write-down of inventory	$ 24us-gaap_InventoryWriteDown	$ 37us-gaap_InventoryWriteDown
Inventory by category
Inventory	929us-gaap_InventoryNet		891us-gaap_InventoryNet
Linefill and base gas	960paa_LinefillAndBaseGas		930paa_LinefillAndBaseGas
Long-term inventory	149us-gaap_InventoryNoncurrent		186us-gaap_InventoryNoncurrent
Total	2,038paa_InventoryCurrentAndNoncurrent		2,007paa_InventoryCurrentAndNoncurrent
Crude oil
Inventory by category
Inventory	686		304
Linefill and base gas	777		744
Long-term inventory	117		136
Inventory, Volumes (in barrels or in Mcf)	15,351,000		6,465,000
Linefill and base gas, Volumes (in barrels or in Mcf)	12,970,000		11,810,000
Long-term inventory, Volumes (in barrels or in Mcf)	2,646,000		2,582,000
Inventory, Price/Unit of measure (in dollars per unit)	44.69		47.02
Linefill and base gas, Price/Unit of measure (in dollars per unit)	59.91		63.00
Long-term inventory, Price/Unit of measure (in dollars per unit)	44.22		52.67
NGL
Inventory by category
Inventory	154		454
Linefill and base gas	48		52
Long-term inventory	32		50
Inventory, Volumes (in barrels or in Mcf)	7,277,000		13,553,000
Linefill and base gas, Volumes (in barrels or in Mcf)	1,215,000		1,212,000
Long-term inventory, Volumes (in barrels or in Mcf)	1,681,000		1,681,000
Inventory, Price/Unit of measure (in dollars per unit)	21.16		33.50
Linefill and base gas, Price/Unit of measure (in dollars per unit)	39.51		42.90
Long-term inventory, Price/Unit of measure (in dollars per unit)	19.04		29.74
Natural gas
Inventory by category
Inventory	31		102
Linefill and base gas	135		134
Inventory, Volumes (in barrels or in Mcf)	10,965,000		32,317,000
Linefill and base gas, Volumes (in barrels or in Mcf)	28,612,000		28,612,000
Inventory, Price/Unit of measure (in dollars per unit)	2.83		3.16
Linefill and base gas, Price/Unit of measure (in dollars per unit)	4.72		4.68
Other
Inventory by category
Inventory	$ 58		$ 31

Name:	paa_InventoryByCategoryAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the aggregate of current and non-current inventory.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_InventoryCurrentAndNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The volume of current inventory as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_InventoryVolumesCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The volume of linefill and base gas inventory as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_InventoryVolumesLinefillAndBaseGas
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The volume of noncurrent inventory as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_InventoryVolumesNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The weighted-average price per unit of current inventory.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_InventoryWeightedAveragePricePerUnitCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The weighted-average price per unit of linefill and base gas inventory.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_InventoryWeightedAveragePricePerUnitLinefillAndBaseGas
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The weighted-average price per unit of noncurrent inventory.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_InventoryWeightedAveragePricePerUnitNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Crude oil, refined products, and NGL linefill in pipelines and base gas in natural gas storage facilities that are owned by the entity. The linefill and base gas are intended for long-term use.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_LinefillAndBaseGas
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InventoryDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after valuation and LIFO reserves of inventory expected to be sold, or consumed within one year or operating cycle, if longer.

+ 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 210.5-02.6(a))

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

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 330

-SubTopic 10

-Section 35

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6386567&loc=d3e3927-108312

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6676-107765

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InventoryNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Inventories not expected to be converted to cash, sold or exchanged within the normal operating cycle.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InventoryNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Charge to cost of goods sold that represents the reduction of the carrying amount of inventory, generally attributable to obsolescence or market conditions.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 330

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28360613&loc=d3e4542-108314

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InventoryWriteDown
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesInventoryAxis=paa_NaturalGasMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesInventoryAxis=paa_NGLMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesInventoryAxis=paa_OtherInventoryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesInventoryAxis=us-gaap_CrudeOilMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: