Net Income Per Limited Partner Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Net Income Per Limited Partner Unit
General partner ownership interest (as a percent)			2.00%
Basic Net Income per Limited Partner Unit
Net income attributable to PAA	$ 249	$ 323	$ 657	$ 994
Less: General partner's incentive distribution	(148)	(124)	(437)	(351)
Less: General partner 2% ownership	(2)	(4)	(5)	(13)
Net income attributable to limited partners	99	195	215	630
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated and distributions to participating securities	(1)	(1)	(4)	(5)
Net income attributable to limited partners in accordance with application of the two-class method for MLPs	$ 98	$ 194	$ 211	$ 625
Basic weighted average limited partner units outstanding	398	370	393	365
Basic net income per limited partner unit	$ 0.25	$ 0.52	$ 0.54	$ 1.71
Diluted Net Income per Limited Partner Unit
Net income attributable to PAA	$ 249	$ 323	$ 657	$ 994
Less: General partner's incentive distribution	(148)	(124)	(437)	(351)
Less: General partner 2% ownership	(2)	(4)	(5)	(13)
Net income attributable to limited partners	99	195	215	630
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated and distributions to participating securities	(1)	(1)	(4)	(5)
Net income attributable to limited partners in accordance with application of the two-class method for MLPs	$ 98	$ 194	$ 211	$ 625
Basic weighted average limited partner units outstanding	398	370	393	365
Effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted average LTIP units	1	1	2	2
Diluted weighted average limited partner units outstanding	399	371	395	367
Diluted net income per limited partner unit	$ 0.24	$ 0.52	$ 0.53	$ 1.70

Amount of incentive distribution paid or to be paid to the general partner based on current period earnings.

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The general partner's ownership allocation of net income attributable to the parent after the incentive distribution is paid.

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Aggregate amount of net income allocated to limited partners in the calculated of diluted net income per limited partner unit.

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This element represents the net income (loss) available to limited partners in the calculation of basic net income per limited partner unit after making an adjustment in accordance with the application of the two-class method for Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs).

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This element represents the net income (loss) available to limited partners in the calculation of diluted net income per limited partner unit after making an adjustment in accordance with the application of the two-class method for Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs).

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Percentage investment held by the managing member or general partner of the limited liability company (LLC) or limited partnership (LP).

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The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

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Aggregate amount of net income allocated to limited partners.

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Per unit of ownership amount after tax of income (loss) available to limited partnership (LP) unit-holder and units that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of limited partner units for dilutive potential units outstanding.

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Per unit of ownership amount after tax of income (loss) available to outstanding limited partnership (LP) unit-holder.

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Amount of earnings (loss) distributed and earnings (loss) allocated to participating securities for the basic earnings (loss) per share or per unit calculation under the two-class method.

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Amount of earnings (loss) distributed and earnings (loss) allocated to participating securities for the diluted earnings (loss) per share or per unit calculation under the two-class method.

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Weighted average number of limited partnership units outstanding determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that limited partnership units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

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The sum of dilutive potential limited partnership units used in the calculation of the diluted per-unit computation.

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