<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001185612-03-000003
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030721
<FILING-DATE>20030731
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>WILLIAMS ENERGY PARTNERS L P
<CIK>0001126975
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4610
<IRS-NUMBER>731599053
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>ONE WILLIAMS CENTER
<CITY>TULSA
<STATE>OK
<ZIP>74172
<PHONE>9185732000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>ONE WILLIAMS CENTER
<CITY>TULSA
<STATE>OK
<ZIP>74171
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>PAPA MARK G
<CIK>0001185612
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-16335
<FILM-NUMBER>03813886
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>POST OFFICE BOX 4362
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77210-4362
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-21</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001126975</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WILLIAMS ENERGY PARTNERS L P</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WEG</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185612</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PAPA MARK G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>POST OFFICE BOX 4362</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77210-4362</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Units</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes/><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Mark G. Papa</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
