Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
REVENUES:
Natural gas operations	$ 1,476,107	$ 1,082,866	$ 3,985,661	$ 3,435,521
Retail propane	213,496	183,786	962,258	914,372
Other	25,713	23,992	83,069	80,438
Total revenues	1,715,316	1,290,644	5,030,988	4,430,331
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Cost of products sold - natural gas operations	926,026	666,022	2,470,159	2,232,867
Cost of products sold - retail propane	141,868	104,533	587,460	519,796
Cost of products sold - other	7,632	6,856	20,992	20,470
Operating expenses	196,737	174,740	574,528	515,021
Depreciation and amortization	112,942	85,612	313,878	252,765
Selling, general and administrative	57,768	44,734	158,074	137,743
Total costs and expenses	1,442,973	1,082,497	4,125,091	3,678,662
OPERATING INCOME	272,343	208,147	905,897	751,669
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized	(124,000)	(101,241)	(347,706)	(309,217)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	6,713	595	13,386	10,848
Losses on non-hedged interest rate derivatives	(68,595)	(11,963)	(64,705)	(11,963)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	636	12,432	705	18,039
Impairment of investments in affiliates	(5,355)	0	(5,355)	(52,620)
Other, net	(1,653)	1,410	(1,935)	(3,929)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE	80,089	109,380	500,287	402,827
Income tax expense	4,039	1,993	20,419	12,486
NET INCOME	76,050	107,387	479,868	390,341
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTEREST	9,285	0	17,673	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO PARTNERS	66,765	107,387	462,195	390,341
GENERAL PARTNER'S INTEREST IN NET INCOME	104,810	97,046	318,241	287,644
LIMITED PARTNERS' INTEREST IN NET INCOME (LOSS)	$ (38,045)	$ 10,341	$ 143,954	$ 102,697
BASIC NET INCOME (LOSS) PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT	$ (0.19)	$ 0.05	$ 0.68	$ 0.54
BASIC AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING	209,151,808	185,247,021	203,918,940	186,761,917
DILUTED NET INCOME (LOSS) PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT	$ (0.19)	$ 0.05	$ 0.68	$ 0.53
DILUTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING	209,151,808	186,214,685	205,085,770	187,708,683