Quarterly Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income reduction from KMP's discontinued operations loss from costs to sell FTC Natural Pipelines disposal group		$ 15
net income reduction for our share of KMP’s discontinued operations losses from the remeasurement of its FTC Natural Gas Pipelines disposal group to fair value		19	60	59
Net Income Reduction For Share Of Kmps Rate Case Liability Adjustment							30
Income tax (benefit) expense	28	(6)	(18)	(7)	18	(10)	(7)	5	(3)	6	45
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	43	(3)	(36)	(24)	31	(15)	(13)	10	(20)	13	74
Earnings (loss) Per Share, Basic and Diluted	$ 0.38	$ (0.03)	$ (0.36)	$ (0.24)	$ 0.32	$ (0.16)	$ (0.14)	$ 0.11	$ (0.19)	$ 0.14	$ 0.84
Number of shares used in computing basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share	114	107	101	99	98	96	94	93	105	95	89
Net Income Reduction For Share Of Kmps Remeasurement Of Equity Interest In Kinderhawk						30
Net Income Reduction For Share Of Rights Of Way Lease Payment Liability Adjustments						12
Net Income Reduction For Share Of Kmps Special Bonus Expense								15
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L P [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Special Bonus Expense Allocated To Kmp								87
Kmps Increase In Expense Associated With Rate Case Liability Adjustments							165
KMP [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
KmpsDiscontinuedOperationsLossFromRemeasurementFtcNaturalGasPipelinesDisposalGr		100	327	322
KMP's discontinued operations loss from costs to sell its FTC Natural Gas Pipelines disposal group.		78
Special Bonus Expense Allocated To Kmp										87
Kmps Increase In Expense Associated With Rate Case Liability Adjustments						69				168	172
Loss on remeasurement of previously held equity interest in KinderHawk						167				167
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	30.80%								30.80%
Kinderhawk [Member] | KMP [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage					50.00%	50.00%				50.00%
KMP [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Equity in (loss) earnings of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.	$ 71	$ (9)	$ (54)	$ (31)	$ 49	$ (25)	$ (20)	$ 15	$ (23)	$ 19	$ 119