2.4.0.81010 - Disclosure - Organization and Basis of Presentationtruefalsefalse1false falsefalseD2013Q2YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001166036duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:001true 1us-gaap_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Organization and Basis of Presentation2false 2us-gaap_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsDisclosureTextBlockus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> 1. Organization and Basis of Presentation   MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. was formed in 2002 as a Delaware limited partnership. The Partnership is engaged in the gathering, processing and transportation of natural gas; the gathering, transportation, fractionation, storage and marketing of NGLs; and the gathering and transportation of crude oil. The Partnership has a leading presence in many unconventional gas plays including the Marcellus Shale, Utica Shale, Huron/Berea Shale, Haynesville Shale, Woodford Shale and Granite Wash formation.   These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements included in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. In management’s opinion, the Partnership has made all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of its results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the periods shown. These adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.  Finally, results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year 2013 or any other future period.   The Partnership’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all majority-owned or majority-controlled subsidiaries. In addition, MarkWest Utica EMG, L.L.C. and its subsidiaries (“MarkWest Utica EMG”), a VIE for which the Partnership has been determined to be the primary beneficiary, is included in the condensed consolidated financial statements (see Note 3). All intercompany investments, accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The Partnership’s investments in MarkWest Pioneer, L.L.C. (“MarkWest Pioneer”), in which the Partnership exercises significant influence but does not control and is not the primary beneficiary, and Centrahoma Processing, LLC (“Centrahoma”) are accounted for using the equity method.   </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaThe entire disclosure for organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 46R -Paragraph 4, 14, 15 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. 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