Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents ($98,032 and $73,300, respectively)	$ 236,284	$ 108,887
Restricted cash	10,000	20,000
Receivables, net ($18,542 and $22,722, respectively)	264,125	302,259
Receivables from unconsolidated affiliates, net ($0 and $30, respectively)	5,669	7,097
Inventories ($2,922 and $2,434, respectively)	27,718	31,749
Fair value of derivative instruments	19,164	20,921
Deferred income taxes	10	9
Other current assets ($6,472 and $9,511, respectively)	34,754	46,731
Total current assets	597,724	537,653
Property, plant and equipment ($1,461,209 and $1,411,797, respectively)	10,259,868	9,923,524
Less: accumulated depreciation ($72,383 and $56,987, respectively)	(1,370,931)	(1,270,624)
Total property, plant and equipment, net	8,888,937	8,652,900
Other long-term assets:
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates ($724,284 and $696,784, respectively)	838,766	805,633
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $355,715 and $350,327, respectively	776,532	809,277
Goodwill	79,729	82,411
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $32,984 and $31,298, respectively	58,336	52,919
Deferred contract cost, net of accumulated amortization of $3,250 and $3,198, respectively	20,000	20,052
Fair value of derivative instruments	10,291	16,507
Other long-term assets ($664 and $664, respectively)	3,452	3,426
Total assets	11,273,767	10,980,778
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable ($28,246 and $28,021, respectively)	233,929	270,997
Accrued liabilities ($16,426 and $48,793, respectively)	273,750	360,006
Deferred income taxes	332	239
Fair value of derivative instruments	187	0
Payables to unconsolidated affiliates, net ($8,774 and $5,500, respectively)	11,295	8,621
Total current liabilities	519,493	639,863
Deferred income taxes	353,351	357,260
Long-term debt, net of premium and discount of $4,463 and $6,196, respectively	4,184,463	3,621,404
Other long-term liabilities	165,632	169,012
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Equity:
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	1,015,034	983,477
Total equity	6,050,828	6,193,239
Total liabilities and equity	11,273,767	10,980,778
Common Units
Equity:
Common units or Class B units	4,584,275	4,758,243
Total equity	4,584,275	4,758,243
Class B Units
Equity:
Common units or Class B units	451,519	451,519
Total equity	$ 451,519	$ 451,519