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Partners' Capital and Distributions - Noncontrolling Interests (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Partners Capital and Distributions
Common unit ownership interest (as a percent)			98.00%
Common unitholders, units outstanding (in units)			397,727,624	375,107,793
General partners' proportionate capital contributions			$ 23	$ 18	$ 25
Net impact of PNG Merger on total partners' capital					$ 12
Subordinated units | PNG
Partners Capital and Distributions
Common unit ownership interest (as a percent)	100.00%
Common units | PNG
Partners Capital and Distributions
Ownership interest (as a percent)	46.00%
Common unitholders, units outstanding (in units)	61,200,000
PNG Merger
Partners Capital and Distributions
Number of PAA common units issued for each outstanding common unit of PNG (in units)		0.445			0.445
PAA common units issued in exchange for outstanding PNG common units (in units)		14,700,000
Value of PAA common units issued in exchange for outstanding PNG common units		$ 760
Equity-classified loss from purchase of PNG common units		290
Transaction costs		4
Net impact of PNG Merger on total partners' capital		12
PNG Merger | General Partner
Partners Capital and Distributions
General partners' proportionate capital contributions		$ 16
SLC Pipeline LLC
Partners Capital and Distributions
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries (as a percent)			25.00%

X

- Definition

Represents the amount of transaction costs for purchase by the parent of an additional equity interest in a subsidiary during the period, thereby effecting a change in total (consolidated) equity attributable to the parent. The purchase of the additional equity interest represented by this element increases the parent's controlling interest in the subsidiary.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the units of the parent issued by the parent in exchange for all equity interests in a subsidiary owned by other than the parent entity.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the value of the units of the parent issued by the parent in exchange for all equity interests in a subsidiary owned by other than the parent entity.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Number of common units of the parent issued per each outstanding common unit of the subsidiary other than that owned by the parent associated with the acquisition of all the publicly held common units of the subsidiary by the parent.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the period impacting the parent's ownership interest in a subsidiary as it relates to the total (consolidated) equity attributable to the parent. The changes to the parent's ownership interest in a subsidiary represented by this element did not arise in a deconsolidation of the subsidiary from the consolidated financial statements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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- Definition

Represents the purchase by the parent of an additional equity interest in a subsidiary during the period, thereby effecting a change in total (consolidated) equity attributable to the parent. The purchase of the additional equity interest represented by this element increases the parent's controlling interest in the subsidiary.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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- Definition

The number of units or percentage investment held by one or more members or limited partners of the LLC or LP.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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- Definition

The number of limited partner units outstanding.

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- Definition

The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

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No definition available.

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The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

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- Definition

The cash inflow from an entity that is affiliated with the entity by means of direct or indirect ownership.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Paragraph 14
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