v3.10.0.1
Subsequent Events (Details) - USD ($)
12 Months Ended
Feb. 14, 2019
Feb. 01, 2019
Jan. 31, 2019
Jan. 18, 2019
Nov. 14, 2018
Aug. 14, 2018
May 15, 2018
Feb. 14, 2018
Nov. 14, 2017
Aug. 14, 2017
May 15, 2017
Feb. 14, 2017
Nov. 14, 2016
Aug. 12, 2016
May 13, 2016
Feb. 12, 2016
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                                      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount                                 $ 4,300,000,000 $ 4,550,000,000  
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt                                 $ 0 $ 496,705,000 $ 1,142,997,000
Partners' Capital Account, Units, Unit-based Compensation (in shares)                                 168,913 216,679 350,552
Units granted (in shares)                                 302,487    
Partners' Capital Account, Distribution Per Unit of Limited Partner Interest (in dollars per share)         $ 0.9775 $ 0.9575 $ 0.9375 $ 0.9200 $ 0.9050 $ 0.8900 $ 0.8725 $ 0.8550 $ 0.83750 $ 0.8200 $ 0.8025 $ 0.7850 $ 3.7925 $ 3.5225 $ 3.245
Total cash distributions         $ 223,061,000 $ 218,497,000 $ 213,933,000 $ 209,940,000 $ 206,362,000 $ 202,942,000 $ 198,951,000 $ 194,961,000 $ 190,769,000 $ 186,783,000 $ 182,797,000 $ 178,808,000 $ 865,431,000 $ 803,216,000 $ 739,157,000
6.55% Notes Due 2019 [Member]                                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                                      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount                                 $ 550,000,000 $ 550,000,000  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage                                 6.55%    
Management [Member]                                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                                      
Partners' Capital Account, Units, Unit-based Compensation (in shares)                                 168,913 216,679 350,552
Director [Member]                                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                                      
Partners' Capital Account, Units, Unit-based Compensation (in shares) [1]                                 1,691 23,961 6,117
Subsequent Event [Member]                                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                                      
Partners' Capital Account, Units, Unit-based Compensation (in shares)   208,268                                  
Units granted (in shares)   347,473                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period   3 years                                  
Partners' Capital Account, Distribution Per Unit of Limited Partner Interest (in dollars per share) $ 0.9975                                    
Total cash distributions $ 227,800,000                                    
Subsequent Event [Member] | Four Point Two Percentage Notes Due Two Thousand Forty Five [Member]                                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                                      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount       $ 500,000,000.0                              
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage       4.85%                              
Debt Instrument, Notes At Price       99.371%                              
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt       $ 492,500,000                              
Subsequent Event [Member] | Management [Member]                                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                                      
Partners' Capital Account, Units, Unit-based Compensation (in shares)   199,792                                  
Subsequent Event [Member] | Director [Member]                                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                                      
Partners' Capital Account, Units, Unit-based Compensation (in shares)   8,476                                  
Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]                                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                                      
Concentration Risk, Percentage     24.00%                                
Collective Bargaining Agreement, Extension Term     1 day                                
[1] Limited partner units issued to settle the equity-based retainer paid to independent directors of our general partner.