Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Ownership of the Partnership in its guarantor subsidiaries (as a percent)	100.00%
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 347,899	$ 117,016	$ 67,450	$ 97,752
Restricted cash	25,500	26,193
Receivables and other current assets	263,736	294,200
Fair value of derivative instruments	19,504	8,698
Total current assets	656,639	446,107
Total property, plant and equipment, net	5,075,628	2,864,307
Other long-term assets:
Restricted cash	10,000
Investment in unconsolidated affiliate	31,179	27,853	28,688
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization	855,155	603,767
Fair value of derivative instruments	10,878	16,092
Other long-term assets	196,237	112,299
Total assets	6,835,716	4,070,425	3,333,362
Current liabilities:
Fair value of derivative instruments	27,229	90,551
Other current liabilities	711,997	351,322
Total current liabilities	739,226	441,873
Deferred income taxes	191,318	93,664
Fair value of derivative instruments	32,190	65,403
Long-term debt, net of discounts	2,523,051	1,846,062
Other long-term liabilities	134,340	121,356
Equity:
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	328,346	70,227
Total equity	3,215,591	1,502,067	1,458,566	1,309,553
Total liabilities and equity	6,835,716	4,070,425
Common Units
Equity:
Common units	2,134,714	679,309
Total equity	2,134,714	679,309	993,049	1,026,814
Class B Units
Equity:
Common units	752,531	752,531
Total equity	752,531	752,531
Parent
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	210,015	22
Receivables and other current assets	9,191	7,097
Intercompany receivables	812,562	19,981
Total current assets	1,031,768	27,100
Total property, plant and equipment, net	3,542	4,012
Other long-term assets:
Investment in consolidated affiliates	4,141,782	3,071,124
Intercompany notes receivable	225,000	235,700
Other long-term assets	50,866	41,492
Total assets	5,452,958	3,379,428
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	461	40,503
Other current liabilities	42,301	38,775
Total current liabilities	42,762	79,278
Deferred income taxes	2,906	1,228
Long-term debt, net of discounts	2,523,051	1,846,062
Other long-term liabilities	2,959	3,232
Equity:
Total equity	2,881,280	1,449,628
Total liabilities and equity	5,452,958	3,379,428
Parent | Common Units
Equity:
Common units	2,128,749	697,097
Parent | Class B Units
Equity:
Common units	752,531	752,531
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	102,979	99,580	63,850	74,448
Receivables and other current assets	178,517	232,010
Intercompany receivables	18,868	40,519
Fair value of derivative instruments	18,389	8,015
Total current assets	318,753	380,124
Total property, plant and equipment, net	1,999,474	1,714,857
Other long-term assets:
Investment in unconsolidated affiliate	31,179	27,853
Investment in consolidated affiliates	2,790,994	1,097,350
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization	559,320	603,224
Fair value of derivative instruments	10,878	16,092
Other long-term assets	70,009	70,434
Total assets	5,780,607	3,909,934
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	839,543	40,374
Fair value of derivative instruments	27,062	90,551
Other current liabilities	197,934	219,622
Total current liabilities	1,064,539	350,547
Deferred income taxes	188,412	92,436
Long-term intercompany financing payable	225,000	212,700
Fair value of derivative instruments	32,190	65,403
Other long-term liabilities	128,684	117,724
Equity:
Total equity	4,141,782	3,071,124
Total liabilities and equity	5,780,607	3,909,934
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Common Units
Equity:
Common units	4,141,782	3,071,124
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	34,905	17,414	3,600	23,304
Restricted cash	25,500	26,193
Receivables and other current assets	76,028	55,098
Intercompany receivables	32,656	22,193
Fair value of derivative instruments	1,115	683
Total current assets	170,204	121,581
Total property, plant and equipment, net	3,168,131	1,163,226
Other long-term assets:
Restricted cash	10,000
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization	295,835	543
Other long-term assets	75,362	373
Total assets	3,719,532	1,285,723
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	24,082	1,816
Fair value of derivative instruments	167
Other current liabilities	473,654	92,930
Total current liabilities	497,903	94,746
Long-term intercompany financing payable	99,592	23,000
Other long-term liabilities	2,697	400
Equity:
Total equity	3,119,340	1,167,577
Total liabilities and equity	3,719,532	1,285,723
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Common Units
Equity:
Common units	3,119,340	1,167,577
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Receivables and other current assets		(5)
Intercompany receivables	(864,086)	(82,693)
Total current assets	(864,086)	(82,698)
Total property, plant and equipment, net	(95,519)	(17,788)
Other long-term assets:
Investment in consolidated affiliates	(6,932,776)	(4,168,474)
Intercompany notes receivable	(225,000)	(235,700)
Total assets	(8,117,381)	(4,504,660)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	(864,086)	(82,693)
Other current liabilities	(1,892)	(5)
Total current liabilities	(865,978)	(82,698)
Long-term intercompany financing payable	(324,592)	(235,700)
Equity:
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	328,346	70,227
Total equity	(6,926,811)	(4,186,262)
Total liabilities and equity	(8,117,381)	(4,504,660)
Consolidating Adjustments | Common Units
Equity:
Common units	$ (7,255,157)	$ (4,256,489)