Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 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	$ 328,153	$ 345,756	$ 412,353	$ 114,332
Restricted cash	10,000	25,500
Receivables and other current assets	326,433	262,762
Fair value of derivative instruments	15,710	19,504
Total current assets	680,296	653,522
Total property, plant and equipment, net	7,040,823	4,939,618
Other long-term assets:
Restricted cash	10,000	10,000
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	68,193	63,054
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization	891,512	855,155
Fair value of derivative instruments	4,555	10,878
Other long-term assets	222,337	196,135
Total assets	8,917,716	6,728,362
Current liabilities:
Fair value of derivative instruments	29,479	27,229
Other current liabilities	914,713	710,805
Total current liabilities	944,192	738,034
Deferred income taxes	260,035	189,428
Fair value of derivative instruments	21,044	32,190
Long-term debt, net of discounts	3,022,887	2,523,051
Other long-term liabilities	152,877	134,261
Redeemable non-controlling interest	366,238
Equity:
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	579,967	261,463
Total equity	4,150,443	3,111,398	2,515,696	1,395,242
Total liabilities and equity	8,917,716	6,728,362
Common Units
Equity:
Common units	2,968,451	2,097,404
Total equity	2,968,451	2,097,404	1,708,492	642,522
Class B Units
Equity:
Common units	602,025	752,531
Total equity	602,025	752,531	752,531	752,531
Reportable legal entities | Parent
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	181,213	210,015	300,013	22
Receivables and other current assets	3,146	9,191
Intercompany receivables	440,839	812,562
Total current assets	625,198	1,031,768
Total property, plant and equipment, net	3,598	3,542
Other long-term assets:
Investment in consolidated affiliates	5,716,977	4,104,473
Intercompany notes receivable	225,000	225,000
Other long-term assets	54,046	50,866
Total assets	6,624,819	5,415,649
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	1	461
Other current liabilities	47,522	42,301
Total current liabilities	47,523	42,762
Deferred income taxes	3,061	2,906
Long-term debt, net of discounts	3,022,887	2,523,051
Other long-term liabilities	2,838	2,959
Equity:
Total equity	3,548,510	2,843,971
Total liabilities and equity	6,624,819	5,415,649
Reportable legal entities | Parent | Common Units
Equity:
Common units	2,946,485	2,091,440
Reportable legal entities | Parent | Class B Units
Equity:
Common units	602,025	752,531
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	119,886	102,979	111,456	99,580
Receivables and other current assets	233,522	178,913
Intercompany receivables	6,659	18,472
Fair value of derivative instruments	14,872	18,389
Total current assets	374,939	318,753
Total property, plant and equipment, net	2,174,893	1,999,474
Other long-term assets:
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	68,193	63,054
Investment in consolidated affiliates	3,766,735	2,719,920
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization	608,748	559,320
Fair value of derivative instruments	4,214	10,878
Other long-term assets	92,380	70,009
Total assets	7,090,102	5,741,408
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	486,870	839,543
Fair value of derivative instruments	27,460	27,062
Other current liabilities	214,180	197,934
Total current liabilities	728,510	1,064,539
Deferred income taxes	256,974	186,522
Long-term intercompany financing payable	225,000	225,000
Fair value of derivative instruments	20,996	32,190
Other long-term liabilities	141,645	128,684
Equity:
Total equity	5,716,977	4,104,473
Total liabilities and equity	7,090,102	5,741,408
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Common Units
Equity:
Common units	5,716,977	4,104,473
Reportable legal entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	27,054	32,762	884	14,730
Restricted cash	10,000	25,500
Receivables and other current assets	89,765	74,658
Intercompany receivables	49,494	32,656
Fair value of derivative instruments	838	1,115
Total current assets	177,151	166,691
Total property, plant and equipment, net	4,940,452	3,032,121
Other long-term assets:
Restricted cash	10,000	10,000
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization	282,764	295,835
Fair value of derivative instruments	341
Other long-term assets	75,911	75,260
Total assets	5,486,619	3,579,907
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	10,121	23,686
Fair value of derivative instruments	2,019	167
Other current liabilities	655,079	472,462
Total current liabilities	667,219	496,315
Long-term intercompany financing payable	98,018	99,592
Fair value of derivative instruments	48
Other long-term liabilities	8,394	2,618
Equity:
Total equity	4,712,940	2,981,382
Total liabilities and equity	5,486,619	3,579,907
Reportable legal entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Common Units
Equity:
Common units	4,712,940	2,981,382
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables	(496,992)	(863,690)
Total current assets	(496,992)	(863,690)
Total property, plant and equipment, net	(78,120)	(95,519)
Other long-term assets:
Investment in consolidated affiliates	(9,483,712)	(6,824,393)
Intercompany notes receivable	(225,000)	(225,000)
Total assets	(10,283,824)	(8,008,602)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	(496,992)	(863,690)
Other current liabilities	(2,068)	(1,892)
Total current liabilities	(499,060)	(865,582)
Long-term intercompany financing payable	(323,018)	(324,592)
Redeemable non-controlling interest	366,238
Equity:
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	579,967	261,463
Total equity	(9,827,984)	(6,818,428)
Total liabilities and equity	(10,283,824)	(8,008,602)
Consolidating Adjustments | Common Units
Equity:
Common units	$ (10,407,951)	$ (7,079,891)