Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	236,284	$ 108,887	$ 123,481	$ 85,305
Restricted cash	10,000	20,000
Receivables and other current assets	326,607	380,748
Receivables from unconsolidated affiliates, net	5,669	7,097
Fair value of derivative instruments	19,164	20,921
Total current assets	597,724	537,653
Total property, plant and equipment, net	8,888,937	8,652,900
Other long-term assets:
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	838,766	805,633
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization	776,532	809,277
Fair value of derivative instruments	10,291	16,507
Other long-term assets	161,517	158,808
Total assets	11,273,767	10,980,778
Current liabilities:
Fair value of derivative instruments	187	0
Payables to unconsolidated affiliates	11,295	8,621
Other current liabilities	508,011	631,242
Total current liabilities	519,493	639,863
Deferred income taxes	353,351	357,260
Long-term debt, net of discounts	4,184,463	3,621,404
Other long-term liabilities	165,632	169,012
Redeemable non-controlling interest			131,565	235,617
Equity:
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	1,015,034	983,477
Total equity	6,050,828	6,193,239	5,042,731	4,798,133
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	3,613,507	3,476,295
Class B Units
Equity:
Common units or Class B units	451,519	451,519
Total equity	451,519	451,519	602,025	602,025
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
Percentage of Partnership interest in subsidiaries guaranteeing the Senior Notes	100.00%
Reportable legal entities | Parent
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	61,000			224
Receivables and other current assets	1,563	1,219
Receivables from unconsolidated affiliates, net		247
Intercompany receivables	868,412	633,994
Total current assets	930,975	635,460
Total property, plant and equipment, net	10,346	9,992
Other long-term assets:
Investment in consolidated affiliates	8,040,510	7,990,532
Intercompany notes receivable	213,100	186,100
Other long-term assets	58,167	52,825
Total assets	9,253,098	8,874,909
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	111	3,287
Other current liabilities	67,170	69,552
Total current liabilities	67,281	72,839
Deferred income taxes	6,328	6,162
Long-term debt, net of discounts	4,184,463	3,621,404
Other long-term liabilities	8,633	8,794
Equity:
Total equity	4,986,393	5,165,710
Total liabilities and equity	9,253,098	8,874,909
Reportable legal entities | Parent | Common Units
Equity:
Common units or Class B units	4,534,874	4,714,191
Reportable legal entities | Parent | Class B Units
Equity:
Common units or Class B units	451,519	451,519
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	13,350		119,069	79,363
Receivables and other current assets	191,268	225,695
Receivables from unconsolidated affiliates, net	2,859	3,001
Intercompany receivables	25,324	24,683
Fair value of derivative instruments	16,351	17,386
Total current assets	249,152	270,765
Total property, plant and equipment, net	2,136,418	2,140,565
Other long-term assets:
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	85,791	82,616
Investment in consolidated affiliates	6,837,186	6,500,008
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization	517,991	546,637
Fair value of derivative instruments	10,291	16,507
Other long-term assets	26,651	29,412
Total assets	9,863,480	9,586,510
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	948,971	729,714
Fair value of derivative instruments	165
Payables to unconsolidated affiliates	39
Other current liabilities	164,654	177,269
Total current liabilities	1,113,829	906,983
Deferred income taxes	347,023	351,098
Long-term intercompany financing payable	213,100	186,100
Other long-term liabilities	149,018	151,797
Equity:
Total equity	8,040,510	7,990,532
Total liabilities and equity	9,863,480	9,586,510
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Common Units
Equity:
Common units or Class B units	8,040,510	7,990,532
Reportable legal entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	161,934	108,887	4,412	5,718
Restricted cash	10,000	20,000
Receivables and other current assets	133,776	153,834
Receivables from unconsolidated affiliates, net	2,810	3,849
Intercompany receivables	85,970	178,109
Fair value of derivative instruments	2,813	3,535
Total current assets	397,303	468,214
Total property, plant and equipment, net	6,784,889	6,550,040
Other long-term assets:
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	763,051	733,226
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization	258,541	262,640
Other long-term assets	76,699	76,571
Total assets	8,280,483	8,090,691
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	30,624	103,787
Fair value of derivative instruments	22
Payables to unconsolidated affiliates	11,256	8,621
Other current liabilities	278,659	386,821
Total current liabilities	320,561	499,229
Long-term intercompany financing payable	94,415	95,061
Other long-term liabilities	7,981	8,421
Equity:
Total equity	7,857,526	7,487,980
Total liabilities and equity	8,280,483	8,090,691
Reportable legal entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Common Units
Equity:
Common units or Class B units	7,857,526	7,487,980
Eliminations
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables	(979,706)	(836,786)
Total current assets	(979,706)	(836,786)
Total property, plant and equipment, net	(42,716)	(47,697)
Other long-term assets:
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(10,076)	(10,209)
Investment in consolidated affiliates	(14,877,696)	(14,490,540)
Intercompany notes receivable	(213,100)	(186,100)
Total assets	(16,123,294)	(15,571,332)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	(979,706)	(836,788)
Other current liabilities	(2,472)	(2,400)
Total current liabilities	(982,178)	(839,188)
Long-term intercompany financing payable	(307,515)	(281,161)
Equity:
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	1,015,034	983,477
Total equity	(14,833,601)	(14,450,983)
Total liabilities and equity	(16,123,294)	(15,571,332)
Eliminations | Common Units
Equity:
Common units or Class B units	(15,848,635)	$ (15,434,460)