Equity Method Investment Ownership Percentage Sold

No definition available.

Name:	paa_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentageSold
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114001798&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of an equity method investment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(b)(7)(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116634182&loc=SL114868664-224227

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(b)(9)(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116634182&loc=SL114868664-224227

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentRealizedGainLossOnDisposal
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109237563&loc=d3e33749-111570

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 25
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115929826&loc=d3e8813-108599

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount by which the fair value of an investment is less than the amortized cost basis or carrying amount of that investment at the balance sheet date and the decline in fair value is deemed to be other than temporary, before considering whether or not such amount is recognized in earnings or other comprehensive income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 8A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118954083&loc=SL6284422-111562

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the sale of equity method investments, which are investments in joint ventures and entities in which the entity has an equity ownership interest normally of 20 to 50 percent and exercises significant influence.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

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

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=paa_BridgeTexPipelineCompanyLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=paa_CactusIIPipelineLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=paa_CaplinePipelineCompanyLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=paa_DiamondPipelineLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=paa_EagleFordPipelineLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=paa_EagleFordTerminalsCorpusChristiLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=paa_RedOakPipelineLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=paa_SaddlehornPipelineCompanyLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=paa_STACKPipelineLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=paa_WhiteCliffsPipelineLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=paa_WinktoWebsterPipelineLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=paa_OtherEquityMethodInvestmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=paa_GainOnimpairmentOfInvestmentsInUnconsolidatedEntitiesNetMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Investments in Unconsolidated Entities Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
Investments in unconsolidated entities		$ 3,714	$ 3,683
BridgeTex Pipeline Company, LLC
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
Ownership interest in unconsolidated entity		20.00%
Investments in unconsolidated entities		$ 427	431
Cactus II Pipeline LLC
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
Ownership interest in unconsolidated entity		65.00%
Investments in unconsolidated entities		$ 767	738
Capline Pipeline Company LLC
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
Ownership interest in unconsolidated entity		54.00%
Investments in unconsolidated entities		$ 499	484
Diamond Pipeline LLC
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
Ownership interest in unconsolidated entity		50.00%
Investments in unconsolidated entities		$ 477	476
Eagle Ford Pipeline LLC
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
Ownership interest in unconsolidated entity		50.00%
Investments in unconsolidated entities		$ 391	382
Eagle Ford Terminals Corpus Christi LLC
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
Ownership interest in unconsolidated entity		50.00%
Investments in unconsolidated entities		$ 128	126
Red Oak Pipeline LLC
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
Ownership interest in unconsolidated entity		50.00%
Investments in unconsolidated entities		$ 54	20
Saddlehorn Pipeline Company, LLC
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
Ownership interest in unconsolidated entity	30.00%	30.00%
Investments in unconsolidated entities		$ 181	234
Ownership percentage sold	10.00%
Proceeds from sale of interest in unconsolidated entity	$ 78
STACK Pipeline LLC
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
Ownership interest in unconsolidated entity		50.00%
Investments in unconsolidated entities		$ 116	117
White Cliffs Pipeline, LLC
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
Ownership interest in unconsolidated entity		36.00%
Investments in unconsolidated entities		$ 193	196
Wink to Webster Pipeline LLC
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
Ownership interest in unconsolidated entity		16.00%
Investments in unconsolidated entities		$ 182	136
Other investments
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
Investments in unconsolidated entities		299	$ 343
Gain on/(impairment of) investments in unconsolidated entities, net [Member] \| Saddlehorn Pipeline Company, LLC
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
Gain on sale of investment in unconsolidated entity	$ 21
Gain on/(impairment of) investments in unconsolidated entities, net [Member] \| Other investments
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
Write down of investments		$ 43