CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 15,128	$ 24,292
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $10,344 and $9,948 as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively	157,269	176,570
Receivable from related party	72	205
Inventories	29,549	26,857
Other current assets	25,979	22,508
Total current assets	227,997	250,432
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	6,388,927	6,243,481
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(2,001,703)	(1,942,548)
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,387,224	4,300,933
Intangible assets, net	771,623	784,479
Goodwill	1,094,661	1,097,475
Deferred income tax asset	0	233
Other long-term assets, net	105,208	101,681
Total assets	6,586,713	6,535,233
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	122,040	145,932
Short-term debt	70,000	35,000
Current portion of long-term debt	349,973	349,990
Accrued interest payable	43,974	40,449
Accrued liabilities	47,520	61,578
Taxes other than income tax	12,751	14,385
Income tax payable	6,378	4,172
Total current liabilities	652,636	651,506
Long-term debt, less current portion	3,306,093	3,263,069
Deferred income tax liability	23,032	22,272
Other long-term liabilities	112,895	118,297
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)
Partners' equity:
Common limited partners (93,182,045 and 93,176,683 common units outstanding as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)	1,772,874	1,770,587
General partner	26,692	37,826
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(64,003)	(84,927)
Total partners’ equity	2,492,057	2,480,089
Total liabilities and partners' equity	6,586,713	6,535,233
Series A Preferred Limited Partner [Member]
Partners' equity:
Preferred limited partners	218,307	218,307
Series B Preferred Limited Partner [Member]
Partners' equity:
Preferred limited partners	371,634	371,634
Series C Preferred Limited Partner [Member]
Partners' equity:
Preferred limited partners	$ 166,553	$ 166,662

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.