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Partners' Capital and Distributions - Common Unit Distributions (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions				12 Months Ended			22 Months Ended
	Feb. 14, 2019	Jan. 08, 2019	Nov. 15, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Nov. 14, 2016
Distribution Made to Limited Partner [Line Items]
Total distributions paid				$ 1,069	$ 1,399	$ 1,631
General partner ownership interest							2.00%
Common Units | Cash Distribution
Distribution Made to Limited Partner [Line Items]
Total distributions paid				$ 871	$ 1,386	$ 1,627
Distributions per common unit (in dollars per unit)				$ 1.20	$ 1.95	$ 2.65
Public | Common Units | Cash Distribution
Distribution Made to Limited Partner [Line Items]
Distributions paid to limited partners				$ 532	$ 849	$ 1,062
AAP | Common Units | Cash Distribution
Distribution Made to Limited Partner [Line Items]
Distributions paid to limited partners				$ 339	$ 537	$ 565
Simplification Transactions | AAP | Common Units
Distribution Made to Limited Partner [Line Items]
Units issued in connection with the Simplification Transactions			244.7
Simplification Transactions | PAA GP
Distribution Made to Limited Partner [Line Items]
Economic ownership interest converted into non-economic interest			2.00%
Fourth quarter distribution | Subsequent Event | Common Units | Cash Distribution
Distribution Made to Limited Partner [Line Items]
Total distributions paid	$ 218
Distribution per common unit declared (in dollars per unit)		$ 0.30
Fourth quarter distribution | Subsequent Event | AAP | Common Units | Cash Distribution
Distribution Made to Limited Partner [Line Items]
Distributions paid to limited partners	$ 84

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Percentage of economic interest held by the managing member or general partner of the limited liability company (LLC) or limited partnership (LP), converted into a non-economic interest.

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Per unit of ownership amount of cash distributions declared to unit-holder of a limited partnership (LP).

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Per unit of ownership amount of cash distributions paid to unit-holder of a limited partnership (LP).

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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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