Equity and Distributions, Issuances of Equity (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended				0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 Distribution Reinvestment Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Distribution Reinvestment Plan [Member]	Nov. 07, 2014 Distribution Reinvestment Plan [Member] EPCO and affiliates [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Distribution Reinvestment Plan [Member] EPCO and affiliates [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Employee Unit Purchase Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Employee Unit Purchase Plan [Member]	Oct. 31, 2014 Shelf Registration 2013 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Shelf Registration 2013 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 2013 At-the-Market Registration [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 2012 At-the-Market Registration [Member]
Registration Statements and Equity Offerings [Line Items]
Common units issued in connection with acquisition of Oiltanking (in units)	54,807,352
Senior notes issued under universal shelf registration										$ 2,750,000,000	$ 2,000,000,000
Maximum common units authorized for issuance												1,250,000,000
Maximum common units authorized for issuance (in units)				140,000,000				8,000,000
Remaining units available for issuance												1,190,000,000
Remaining units available for issuance (in units)				29,812,978				7,219,762
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Number of common units issued (in units)				7,148,778	7,298,646		2,232,872	207,126	221,662			1,590,334	14,569,614
Gross proceeds from the sale of common units												58,300,000	439,600,000
Net cash proceeds from the issuance of common units		$ 304,900,000	$ 1,134,700,000	$ 240,000,000	$ 206,000,000	$ 25,000,000	$ 75,000,000	$ 7,400,000	$ 6,600,000			$ 57,700,000	$ 435,500,000
Unit split conversion ratio		2