XML 47 R36.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.4.0.3

Partners' Capital and Distributions - Units Outstanding (Details) - shares | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jan. 31, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2015
Series A Preferred Units |  |  |
Activity for preferred units and common units |  |  |
Outstanding, end of period |  | 61,030,127 |
Series A Preferred Units | Limited Partners |  |  |
Activity for preferred units and common units |  |  |
Sale of Series A preferred units | 61,000,000 |  |
Series A Preferred Units | Limited Partners | Partners' Capital Excluding Noncontrolling Interests |  |  |
Activity for preferred units and common units |  |  |
Sale of Series A preferred units |  | 61,030,127 |
Outstanding, end of period |  | 61,030,127 |
Common Units |  |  |
Activity for preferred units and common units |  |  |
Outstanding, beginning of period | 397,727,624 | 397,727,624 |
Outstanding, end of period |  | 397,730,991 |
Common Units | Limited Partners | Partners' Capital Excluding Noncontrolling Interests |  |  |
Activity for preferred units and common units |  |  |
Outstanding, beginning of period | 397,727,624 | 397,727,624 | 375,107,793
Issuance of common units under LTIP |  | 3,367 |
Sale of common units |  |  | 22,133,904
Outstanding, end of period |  | 397,730,991 | 397,241,697

X
- Definition A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPartnersCapitalRollForward
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of limited partner units outstanding. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 4.F) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187171-122770 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 272 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70434-108055 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 4 -Section F + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Total units issued during the year due to the sale of units. All partners include general, limited and preferred partners. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 272 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70478-108055 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountUnitsSaleOfUnits
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of units sold in a private placement of each class of partners' capital account. Units represent shares of ownership of the general, limited, and preferred partners. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 4.F) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187171-122770 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph a, b -Article 6 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountUnitsSoldInPrivatePlacement
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Gross number of shares (or other type of equity) issued during the period as a result of any equity-based compensation plan other than an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Shares issued could result from the issuance of restricted stock, the exercise of stock options, stock issued under employee stock purchase plans, and/or other employee benefit plans. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensationGross
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountByClassAxis=paa_SeriesaPreferredUnitsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis=us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PartnerCapitalComponentsAxis=us-gaap_ParentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountByClassAxis=paa_CommonUnitsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |