Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Ownership of the Partnership in its guarantor subsidiaries (as a percent)	100.00%
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 354,554	$ 345,756	$ 122,373	$ 114,332
Restricted cash	10,000	25,500
Receivables and other current assets	304,592	262,762
Fair value of derivative instruments	24,746	19,504
Total current assets	693,892	653,522
Total property, plant and equipment, net	6,292,862	4,939,618
Other long-term assets:
Restricted cash		10,000
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	69,327	63,054
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization	907,733	855,155
Fair value of derivative instruments	12,418	10,878
Other long-term assets	224,651	196,135
Total assets	8,200,883	6,728,362
Current liabilities:
Fair value of derivative instruments	17,871	27,229
Other current liabilities	792,943	710,805
Total current liabilities	810,814	738,034
Deferred income taxes	244,422	189,428
Fair value of derivative instruments	2,010	32,190
Long-term debt, net of discounts	3,022,704	2,523,051
Other long-term liabilities	151,947	134,261
Redeemable non-controlling interest	486,670
Equity:
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	456,026	261,463
Total equity	3,482,316	3,111,398	2,256,269	1,395,242
Total liabilities and equity	8,200,883	6,728,362
Common Units
Equity:
Common units	2,273,759	2,097,404
Total equity	2,273,759	2,097,404	1,503,140	642,522
Class B Units
Equity:
Common units	752,531	752,531
Total equity	752,531	752,531	752,531	752,531
Parent
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	135,188	210,015		22
Receivables and other current assets	5,114	9,191
Intercompany receivables	1,411,736	812,562
Total current assets	1,552,038	1,031,768
Total property, plant and equipment, net	3,521	3,542
Other long-term assets:
Investment in consolidated affiliates	4,260,881	4,104,473
Intercompany notes receivable	225,000	225,000
Other long-term assets	55,768	50,866
Total assets	6,097,208	5,415,649
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables		461
Other current liabilities	59,937	42,301
Total current liabilities	59,937	42,762
Deferred income taxes	3,068	2,906
Long-term debt, net of discounts	3,022,704	2,523,051
Other long-term liabilities	2,894	2,959
Equity:
Total equity	3,008,605	2,843,971
Total liabilities and equity	6,097,208	5,415,649
Parent | Common Units
Equity:
Common units	2,256,074	2,091,440
Parent | Class B Units
Equity:
Common units	752,531	752,531
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	127,186	102,979	118,908	99,580
Receivables and other current assets	211,511	178,913
Intercompany receivables	17,423	18,472
Fair value of derivative instruments	23,140	18,389
Total current assets	379,260	318,753
Total property, plant and equipment, net	2,156,435	1,999,474
Other long-term assets:
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	69,327	63,054
Investment in consolidated affiliates	3,200,111	2,719,920
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization	621,003	559,320
Fair value of derivative instruments	11,410	10,878
Other long-term assets	92,484	70,009
Total assets	6,530,030	5,741,408
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	1,445,187	839,543
Fair value of derivative instruments	17,871	27,062
Other current liabilities	197,247	197,934
Total current liabilities	1,660,305	1,064,539
Deferred income taxes	241,354	186,522
Long-term intercompany financing payable	225,000	225,000
Fair value of derivative instruments	2,010	32,190
Other long-term liabilities	140,480	128,684
Equity:
Total equity	4,260,881	4,104,473
Total liabilities and equity	6,530,030	5,741,408
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Common Units
Equity:
Common units	4,260,881	4,104,473
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	92,180	32,762	3,465	14,730
Restricted cash	10,000	25,500
Receivables and other current assets	87,967	74,658
Intercompany receivables	37,392	32,656
Fair value of derivative instruments	1,606	1,115
Total current assets	229,145	166,691
Total property, plant and equipment, net	4,215,787	3,032,121
Other long-term assets:
Restricted cash		10,000
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization	286,730	295,835
Fair value of derivative instruments	1,008
Other long-term assets	76,399	75,260
Total assets	4,809,069	3,579,907
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	21,364	23,686
Fair value of derivative instruments		167
Other current liabilities	537,767	472,462
Total current liabilities	559,131	496,315
Long-term intercompany financing payable	98,558	99,592
Other long-term liabilities	8,573	2,618
Equity:
Total equity	4,142,807	2,981,382
Total liabilities and equity	4,809,069	3,579,907
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Common Units
Equity:
Common units	4,142,807	2,981,382
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables	(1,466,551)	(863,690)
Total current assets	(1,466,551)	(863,690)
Total property, plant and equipment, net	(82,881)	(95,519)
Other long-term assets:
Investment in consolidated affiliates	(7,460,992)	(6,824,393)
Intercompany notes receivable	(225,000)	(225,000)
Total assets	(9,235,424)	(8,008,602)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	(1,466,551)	(863,690)
Other current liabilities	(2,008)	(1,892)
Total current liabilities	(1,468,559)	(865,582)
Long-term intercompany financing payable	(323,558)	(324,592)
Redeemable non-controlling interest	486,670
Equity:
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	456,026	261,463
Total equity	(7,929,977)	(6,818,428)
Total liabilities and equity	(9,235,424)	(8,008,602)
Consolidating Adjustments | Common Units
Equity:
Common units	$ (8,386,003)	$ (7,079,891)