Debt and Banking Arrangements Credit Facilities and Commercial Paper (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Credit Facility and Commercial Paper [Line Items]
Commercial paper, outstanding		$ 0	$ 93
Williams Companies Inc [Member]
Credit Facility and Commercial Paper [Line Items]
Credit facility, capacity		1,500
Credit facility, loans outstanding		595
Williams Partners L.P. [Member]
Credit Facility and Commercial Paper [Line Items]
Credit facility, capacity	[1]	3,500
Credit facility, loans outstanding	[1]	0
Commercial Paper [Member] | Williams Partners L.P. [Member]
Credit Facility and Commercial Paper [Line Items]
Credit facility, capacity		3,000
Commercial paper, outstanding		0
Letters Of Credit Under Certain Bilateral Bank Agreements [Member] | Williams Companies Inc [Member]
Credit Facility and Commercial Paper [Line Items]
Credit facility, letters of credit outstanding		13
Letters Of Credit Under Certain Bilateral Bank Agreements [Member] | Williams Partners L.P. [Member]
Credit Facility and Commercial Paper [Line Items]
Credit facility, letters of credit outstanding		$ 1

[1] In managing our available liquidity, we do not expect a maximum outstanding amount in excess of the capacity of WPZ’s credit facility inclusive of any outstanding amounts under its commercial paper program.