v3.8.0.1

PARTNERS' EQUITY Table 5 - Cash Distributions Earned - General and Common Limited Partners (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Distributions Made to Limited Partners and General Partner [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
General partner interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 9,252 | $ 7,877 | $ 7,844
General partner incentive distribution |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 45,669 | 43,407 | 43,220
Total general partner distributions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 54,921 | 51,284 | 51,064
Common limited partners' distribution |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 407,681 | 342,598 | 341,140
Total cash distributions applicable to common unitbolders and general partner (distribution earned) | $ 115,267 | $ 115,084 | $ 115,083 | $ 117,168 |  |  |  |  | $ 462,602 | $ 393,882 | $ 392,204
Common Limited Partner [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Distributions Made to Limited Partners and General Partner [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash distributions per unit applicable to limited partners | $ 1.095 | $ 1.095 | $ 1.095 | $ 1.095 | $ 1.0950 | $ 1.0950 | $ 1.0950 | $ 1.0950 | $ 4.380 | $ 4.380 | $ 4.380

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- Definition Per unit of ownership amount of cash distributions declared to unit-holder of a limited partnership (LP). + References Reference 1: 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 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 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 + Details
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