Represents the number of conditions imposed by a regulatory agency related to compliance with regulations.

No definition available.

Name:	paa_ConditionsImposedRelatedToRegulatoryCompliance
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the cost incurred, to date, to clean up and remediate the site.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_CostToCleanUpAndRemediateSite
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the estimated size of the pipeline release.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_EstimatedSizeOfRelease
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents penalty or fine assessed on the entity in connection with an environmental matter.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_LossContingencyPenaltyOrFineAssessed
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of penalty or fine recommended by a regulatory agency against the entity in connection with an environmental matter.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_LossContingencyPenaltyOrFineRecommended
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of separate rule violations of the Clean Air Act alleged by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_NumberOfAllegedRuleViolations
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of events resulting in a pipeline release.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_NumberOfEventsResultingInRelease
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of occasions on which the regulatory agency maintains that the entity failed to carry out a written damage prevention program and other procedures, with such failures resulting in a pipeline release.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_NumberOfOccasionsOfAllegedFailureToCarryOutProgramAndProcedures
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total third-party recoveries related to environmental remediation obligations, including amounts received to date and estimated amounts recoverable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the total cost to clean up and remediate the site.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	paa_TotalCostToCleanUpAndRemediateSite
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Undiscounted amount of the accrual for environmental loss contingencies.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.Y.Q1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011672&loc=d3e149879-122751

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13207-110859

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section Y
-Paragraph Question 1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying value of the obligation (known or estimated) arising from requirements to perform activities to remediate one or more sites, payable in twelve months or in the next operating cycle if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13207-110859

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6911-107765

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (d)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13237-110859

Reference 5: 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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying value of the obligation (known or estimated) arising from requirements to perform activities to remediate one or more sites, payable after twelve months or beyond the next 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 210.5-02.24)
-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 410
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (d)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13237-110859

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13207-110859

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Reflects the estimated amount of loss from the specified contingency as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349

+ Details

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

- Definition

The total number of new claims filed pertaining to a loss contingency during the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyNewClaimsFiledNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of collections of receivables pertaining to a loss contingency.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyRelatedReceivableCarryingValueReceipts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of known and reasonably estimable amounts of recoveries from third-parties pertaining to an entity's environmental remediation obligations. An entity's balance sheet may include several assets that relate to an environmental remediation obligation. Among them are the following: a. Receivables from other potentially responsible parties that are not providing initial funding; b. anticipated recoveries from insurers; and c. anticipated recoveries from prior owners as a result of indemnification agreements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393211&loc=d3e13022-110858

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13207-110859

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=paa_PlainsMidstreamCanadaULCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RegulatoryAgencyAxis=paa_NationalEnergyBoardMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=paa_Line901IncidentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=paa_ClassActionLawsuitsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=paa_SecuritiesLawClassActionLawsuitsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=paa_UnitholderDerivativeLawsuitsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=paa_WorstCaseEstimateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=paa_MP29ReleaseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=paa_CushingTankCathodicProtectionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RegulatoryAgencyAxis=paa_PipelineAndHazardousMaterialsSafetyAdministrationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=paa_BakersfieldCrudeTerminalLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=paa_MesaToBasinPipelineReleaseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=paa_KempRiverPipelineReleaseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=paa_BaySpringsPipelineReleaseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments and Contingencies - Legal, Environmental or Regulatory (Details)					1 Months Ended			2 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	8 Months Ended	32 Months Ended	35 Months Ended
	Jan. 06, 2016 USD ($) item	Jul. 10, 2015 bbl	Jan. 15, 2015 item	Jan. 01, 2015 bbl	Jan. 31, 2016 USD ($)	May. 31, 2015 bbl	Feb. 28, 2013 bbl	Jun. 30, 2013 item bbl	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) lawsuit	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) lawsuit	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	May. 22, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2015 item	Feb. 28, 2015 CAD	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Legal, Environmental or Regulatory Matters
Estimated undiscounted reserve for environmental liabilities									$ 185,000,000	$ 185,000,000	$ 185,000,000	$ 185,000,000				$ 82,000,000
Estimated undiscounted reserve for environmental liabilities, short-term									81,000,000	81,000,000	81,000,000	81,000,000				13,000,000
Estimated undiscounted reserve for environmental liabilities, long-term									104,000,000	104,000,000	104,000,000	104,000,000				69,000,000
Amounts probable of recovery under insurance and from third parties under indemnification agreements									161,000,000	161,000,000	161,000,000	161,000,000				$ 8,000,000
PMC \| National Energy Board Audit
Legal, Environmental or Regulatory Matters
Number of conditions imposed related to regulatory compliance \| item			6
Fines or penalties assessed \| CAD															CAD 76,000
Line 901 Incident
Legal, Environmental or Regulatory Matters
Aggregate total estimated costs									269,000,000	269,000,000	269,000,000	269,000,000
Estimated undiscounted reserve for environmental liabilities									116,000,000	116,000,000	116,000,000	116,000,000
Recoveries from insurance carriers					$ 69,000,000					31,000,000
Total release costs probable of recovery									186,000,000	186,000,000	186,000,000	186,000,000
Amounts probable of recovery under insurance and from third parties under indemnification agreements									155,000,000	155,000,000	155,000,000	155,000,000
Fines or penalties assessed									0	$ 0	0	0
Line 901 Incident \| Class Action Lawsuits
Legal, Environmental or Regulatory Matters
Number of cases filed during the period \| lawsuit										7
Line 901 Incident \| Securities Law Class Action Lawsuits
Legal, Environmental or Regulatory Matters
Number of cases filed during the period \| lawsuit										2
Line 901 Incident \| Unitholder Derivative Lawsuits
Legal, Environmental or Regulatory Matters
Number of cases filed during the period \| lawsuit										3
Line 901 Incident \| Worst Case Estimate
Legal, Environmental or Regulatory Matters
Estimated size of release (in barrels) \| bbl						2,935
MP 29 Release
Legal, Environmental or Regulatory Matters
Estimated size of release (in barrels) \| bbl		100
Fines or penalties assessed									0	$ 0	0	0
MP 29 Release \| Maximum
Legal, Environmental or Regulatory Matters
Aggregate total estimated costs									$ 10,000,000	10,000,000	10,000,000	10,000,000
MP 29 Release \| Class Action Lawsuits
Legal, Environmental or Regulatory Matters
Number of cases filed during the period \| lawsuit									1
Cushing Tank Cathodic Protection \| PHMSA
Legal, Environmental or Regulatory Matters
Fines or penalties assessed													$ 102,900
In the Matter of Bakersfield Crude Terminal LLC et al
Legal, Environmental or Regulatory Matters
Number of alleged rule violations \| item														10
Fines or penalties assessed									$ 0	0	0	0
Mesa to Basin Pipeline
Legal, Environmental or Regulatory Matters
Estimated size of release (in barrels) \| bbl				500
Mesa to Basin Pipeline \| PHMSA
Legal, Environmental or Regulatory Matters
Number of occasions of alleged failure to carry out damage prevention program and other procedures \| item	4
Fines or penalties recommended	$ 190,000
Kemp River Pipeline Release
Legal, Environmental or Regulatory Matters
Estimated size of release (in barrels) \| bbl								700
Aggregate total estimated costs									15,000,000	15,000,000	15,000,000	15,000,000
Number of events occurred \| item								2
Cost incurred, to date, to clean up and remediate the site											9,000,000
Kemp River Pipeline Release \| PMC
Legal, Environmental or Regulatory Matters
Fines or penalties assessed									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	0
Bay Springs Pipeline Release
Legal, Environmental or Regulatory Matters
Estimated size of release (in barrels) \| bbl							120
Total cost to clean up and remediate the site												$ 6,000,000