v2.4.0.8
Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Sep. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2012
Mar. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]                      
Total revenues $ 577,438,000 $ 443,835,000 $ 443,912,000 $ 432,421,000 $ 503,195,000 $ 325,869,000 $ 449,527,000 $ 493,483,000 $ 1,897,606,000 $ 1,772,074,000 $ 1,748,667,000
Total costs and expenses 355,081,000 291,586,000 260,191,000 291,967,000 318,601,000 248,334,000 283,724,000 372,318,000 1,198,825,000 1,222,977,000 1,232,533,000
Operating margin (loss) 296,335,000 222,649,000 251,905,000 208,893,000 248,698,000 138,527,000 224,181,000 178,067,000 979,782,000 789,473,000 742,745,000
Net income 190,007,000 125,623,000 153,640,000 112,967,000 153,803,000 50,522,000 137,821,000 93,524,000 582,237,000 435,670,000 413,566,000
Basic and diluted net income per limited partner unit         $ 0.68 $ 0.22 $ 0.61 $ 0.41      
Basic net income per limited partner unit (in dollars per unit) $ 0.84 $ 0.55 $ 0.68 $ 0.50         $ 2.57 $ 1.92 $ 1.83
Diluted net income per limited partner unit (in dollars per unit) $ 0.83 $ 0.55 $ 0.68 $ 0.50         $ 2.56 $ 1.92 $ 1.83
Texas Commission On Environmental Quality Fees [Member]
                     
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]                      
Loss Contingency, Loss in Period                 $ (10,600,000)