Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents ($150,728 and $33,727, respectively)	$ 654,170	$ 347,899
Restricted cash ($500 and $500, respectively)	500	25,500
Receivables, net ($1,248 and $1,591, respectively)	212,957	198,769
Inventories	20,514	24,633
Fair value of derivative instruments	16,814	19,504
Deferred income taxes	2,993	5,281
Other current assets ($1,594 and $264, respectively)	24,070	35,053
Total current assets	932,018	656,639
Property, plant and equipment ($888,402 and $568,063, respectively)	6,380,671	5,700,176
Less: accumulated depreciation ($30,670 and $24,636, respectively)	(688,724)	(624,548)
Total property, plant and equipment, net	5,691,947	5,075,628
Other long-term assets:
Restricted cash	10,000	10,000
Investment in unconsolidated affiliate	34,106	31,179
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $236,245 and $221,416, respectively	840,326	855,155
Goodwill	142,174	142,174
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $20,218 and $18,567, respectively	56,995	51,145
Deferred contract cost, net of accumulated amortization of $2,652 and $2,574, respectively	598	676
Fair value of derivative instruments	10,181	10,878
Other long-term assets ($102 and $102, respectively)	2,209	2,242
Total assets	7,720,554	6,835,716
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable ($81,992 and $73,883, respectively)	300,056	320,645
Accrued liabilities ($136,794 and $110,746, respectively)	435,483	391,352
Fair value of derivative instruments	23,060	27,229
Total current liabilities	758,599	739,226
Deferred income taxes	211,091	191,318
Fair value of derivative instruments	23,938	32,190
Long-term debt, net of discounts of $7,479 and $8,061, respectively	3,022,521	2,523,051
Other long-term liabilities ($80 and $79, respectively)	137,856	134,340
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)
Redeemable non-controlling interest (Note 3)	326,249
Equity:
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	381,164	328,346
Total equity	3,240,300	3,215,591
Total liabilities and equity	7,720,554	6,835,716
Common Units
Equity:
Common units	2,106,605	2,134,714
Total equity	2,106,605	2,134,714
Class B Units
Equity:
Common units	752,531	752,531
Total equity	$ 752,531	$ 752,531