Debt (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified					9 Months Ended																													9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior secured hedged inventory facility maturing in August 2014	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior secured hedged inventory facility maturing in August 2014	Sep. 30, 2012 PAA senior unsecured revolving credit facility maturing in August 2016	Dec. 31, 2011 PAA senior unsecured revolving credit facility maturing in August 2016	Sep. 30, 2012 5.63% senior notes due December 2013	Dec. 31, 2011 5.63% senior notes due December 2013	Sep. 30, 2012 5.25% senior notes due June 2015	Dec. 31, 2011 5.25% senior notes due June 2015	Sep. 30, 2012 3.95% senior notes due September 2015	Dec. 31, 2011 3.95% senior notes due September 2015	Sep. 30, 2012 5.88% senior notes due August 2016	Dec. 31, 2011 5.88% senior notes due August 2016	Sep. 30, 2012 6.13% senior notes due January 2017	Dec. 31, 2011 6.13% senior notes due January 2017	Sep. 30, 2012 6.50% senior notes due May 2018	Dec. 31, 2011 6.50% senior notes due May 2018	Sep. 30, 2012 8.75% senior notes due May 2019	Dec. 31, 2011 8.75% senior notes due May 2019	Sep. 30, 2012 5.75% senior notes due January 2020	Dec. 31, 2011 5.75% senior notes due January 2020	Sep. 30, 2012 5.00% senior notes due February 2021	Dec. 31, 2011 5.00% senior notes due February 2021	Sep. 30, 2012 3.65% senior notes due June 2022	Mar. 31, 2012 3.65% senior notes due June 2022	Sep. 30, 2012 6.70% senior notes due May 2036	Dec. 31, 2011 6.70% senior notes due May 2036	Sep. 30, 2012 6.65% senior notes due January 2037	Dec. 31, 2011 6.65% senior notes due January 2037	Sep. 30, 2012 5.15% senior notes due June 2042	Mar. 31, 2012 5.15% senior notes due June 2042	Dec. 31, 2011 4.25% senior notes due September 2012	Sep. 30, 2012 PNG senior unsecured credit facility	Dec. 31, 2011 PNG senior unsecured credit facility	Sep. 30, 2012 PNG GO Bond term loans	Dec. 31, 2011 PNG GO Bond term loans
Debt
Debt instrument, interest rate (as a percent)							5.63%	5.63%	5.25%	5.25%	3.95%	3.95%	5.88%	5.88%	6.13%	6.13%	6.50%	6.50%	8.75%	8.75%	5.75%	5.75%	5.00%	5.00%	3.65%	3.65%	6.70%	6.70%	6.65%	6.65%	5.15%	5.15%	4.25%
Credit facility, interest rate (as a percent)			1.40%	1.50%	2.60%	1.60%																												2.10%	2.10%
Term Loans, interest rate (as a percent)																																				1.50%	1.50%
Short-term debt:
Total short-term debt	$ 834	$ 679
Credit Facility, Current			694	75	58	32																												80	68
Other short-term debt	2	4
Repayment period					1 year																													1 year
Senior Notes, Current																																	500
Long-term debt:
Senior notes							250	250	150	150	400	400	175	175	400	400	600	600	350	350	500	500	600	600	750	750	250	250	600	600	500	500
Senior notes, net of unamortized discounts	5,511	4,262
Long-term debt under credit facilities																																		95	54
Term Loans, amounts outstanding																																				200	200
Unamortized discount	(14)	(13)
Long-term debt, other	5	4
Total long-term debt	5,811	4,520
Total debt	$ 6,645	$ 5,199