Long-term debt, Face Values before unamortized discount and debt issuance costs

No definition available.

Name:	gel_LongtermdebtFaceValues
Namespace Prefix:	gel_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The remaining balance of debt issuance expenses that were capitalized and are being amortized against income over the lives of the respective bond issues. This does not include the amounts capitalized as part of the cost of the utility plant or asset. Also includes the amount of debt discount (premium) that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gel_UnamortizedDebtIssuanceExpenseandDiscountsPremiums
Namespace Prefix:	gel_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775985&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs of long-term debt classified as noncurrent and excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Definition

Carrying amount of collateralized debt obligations with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer, excluding the current portion. Obligations include, but not limited to, mortgage loans, chattel loans, and other borrowings secured by assets.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of uncollateralized debt obligation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer), excluding current portion.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=gel_FivePointSeventyFivePercentageSeniorUnsecuredNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=gel_SixPointSevenFivePercentageSeniorUnsecuredNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=gel_SixPercentageSeniorUnsecuredNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=gel_FivePointSixTwoFivePercentageSeniorUnsecuredNotesMemberDomain
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=gel_SixPointfivepercentageSeniorUnsecuredNotesDue2025Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=gel_SixpointtwofivepercentageseniorunsecurednotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=gel_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt (Schedule of Obligations Under Debt Arrangements) (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 11, 2017	May 21, 2015	May 15, 2014	Feb. 08, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior secured credit facility	$ 970,100,000	$ 1,099,200,000
Unamortized discount an debt issuance costs	37,637,000	46,252,000
Senior unsecured notes, net of debt issuance costs	2,462,363,000	2,598,918,000
Long-term debt, principal	3,470,100,000	3,744,370,000
Total long-term debt, net value	3,432,463,000	3,698,118,000
5.750% senior unsecured notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior unsecured notes, principal	0	145,170,000				$ 350,000,000
Unamortized discount an debt issuance costs	0	1,303,000
Senior unsecured notes, net of debt issuance costs	0	143,867,000
6.750% senior unsecured notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior unsecured notes, principal	750,000,000	750,000,000
Unamortized discount an debt issuance costs	12,763,000	16,077,000
Senior unsecured notes, net of debt issuance costs	737,237,000	733,923,000
6.000% senior unsecured notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior unsecured notes, principal	400,000,000	400,000,000		$ 400,000,000
Unamortized discount an debt issuance costs	4,624,000	5,691,000
Senior unsecured notes, net of debt issuance costs	395,376,000	394,309,000
5.625% senior unsecured notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior unsecured notes, principal	350,000,000	350,000,000			$ 350,000,000
Unamortized discount an debt issuance costs	4,820,000	5,717,000
Senior unsecured notes, net of debt issuance costs	345,180,000	344,283,000
6.500% senior unsecured notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior unsecured notes, principal	550,000,000	550,000,000
Unamortized discount an debt issuance costs	8,241,000	9,462,000
Senior unsecured notes, net of debt issuance costs	541,759,000	540,538,000
6.250% senior unsecured notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior unsecured notes, principal	450,000,000	450,000,000	$ 450,000,000
Unamortized discount an debt issuance costs	7,189,000	8,002,000
Senior unsecured notes, net of debt issuance costs	442,811,000	441,998,000
Senior secured credit facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized discount an debt issuance costs	10,800,000	14,100,000
Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized discount an debt issuance costs	$ 0	$ 0