Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 28,067	$ 108,887	$ 98,036	$ 85,305
Restricted cash	10,000	20,000
Receivables and other current assets	329,000	380,748
Receivables from unconsolidated affiliates, net	18,074	7,097
Fair value of derivative instruments	18,077	20,921
Total current assets	403,218	537,653
Total property, plant and equipment, net	9,420,484	8,652,900
Other long-term assets:
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	916,331	805,633
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization	745,258	809,277
Fair value of derivative instruments	16,863	16,507
Other long-term assets	157,153	158,808
Total assets	11,659,307	10,980,778
Current liabilities:
Fair value of derivative instruments	854	0
Payables to unconsolidated affiliates	5,934	8,621
Other current liabilities	511,215	631,242
Total current liabilities	518,003	639,863
Deferred income taxes	348,565	357,260
Fair value of derivative instruments	20	0
Long-term debt, net of discounts	4,755,352	3,621,404
Other long-term liabilities	160,250	169,012
Equity:
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	1,019,887	983,477
Total equity	5,877,117	6,193,239	5,673,358	4,798,133
Total liabilities and equity	11,659,307	10,980,778
Common Units
Equity:
Common units or Class B units	4,556,217	4,758,243
Total equity	4,556,217	4,758,243	4,320,229	3,476,295
Class B Units
Equity:
Common units or Class B units	301,013	451,519
Total equity	$ 301,013	451,519	451,519	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				224
Receivables and other current assets	$ 4,336	1,219
Receivables from unconsolidated affiliates, net		247
Intercompany receivables	160,829	633,994
Total current assets	165,165	635,460
Total property, plant and equipment, net	9,928	9,992
Other long-term assets:
Investment in consolidated affiliates	9,158,016	7,990,532
Intercompany notes receivable	238,500	186,100
Other long-term assets	53,944	52,825
Total assets	9,625,553	8,874,909
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	446	3,287
Payables to unconsolidated affiliates	14
Other current liabilities	64,983	69,552
Total current liabilities	65,443	72,839
Deferred income taxes	4,097	6,162
Long-term debt, net of discounts	4,755,352	3,621,404
Other long-term liabilities	8,873	8,794
Equity:
Total equity	4,791,788	5,165,710
Total liabilities and equity	9,625,553	8,874,909
Reportable legal entities | Parent | Common Units
Equity:
Common units or Class B units	4,490,775	4,714,191
Reportable legal entities | Parent | Class B Units
Equity:
Common units or Class B units	301,013	451,519
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	2			79,363
Receivables and other current assets	153,697	225,695
Receivables from unconsolidated affiliates, net	7,388	3,001
Intercompany receivables	15,580	24,683
Fair value of derivative instruments	13,138	17,386
Total current assets	189,805	270,765
Total property, plant and equipment, net	2,222,107	2,140,565
Other long-term assets:
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	83,792	82,616
Investment in consolidated affiliates	7,243,734	6,500,008
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization	494,633	546,637
Fair value of derivative instruments	16,686	16,507
Other long-term assets	26,592	29,412
Total assets	10,277,349	9,586,510
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	214,478	729,714
Fair value of derivative instruments	781
Payables to unconsolidated affiliates	820
Other current liabilities	179,530	177,269
Total current liabilities	395,609	906,983
Deferred income taxes	344,468	351,098
Fair value of derivative instruments	20
Long-term intercompany financing payable	238,500	186,100
Other long-term liabilities	140,736	151,797
Equity:
Total equity	9,158,016	7,990,532
Total liabilities and equity	10,277,349	9,586,510
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Common Units
Equity:
Common units or Class B units	9,158,016	7,990,532
Reportable legal entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	28,065	108,887	$ 98,036	$ 5,718
Restricted cash	10,000	20,000
Receivables and other current assets	170,967	153,834
Receivables from unconsolidated affiliates, net	10,686	3,849
Intercompany receivables	46,550	178,109
Fair value of derivative instruments	4,939	3,535
Total current assets	271,207	468,214
Total property, plant and equipment, net	7,215,447	6,550,040
Other long-term assets:
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	842,349	733,226
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization	250,625	262,640
Fair value of derivative instruments	177
Other long-term assets	76,617	76,571
Total assets	8,656,422	8,090,691
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	8,035	103,787
Fair value of derivative instruments	73
Payables to unconsolidated affiliates	5,100	8,621
Other current liabilities	269,326	386,821
Total current liabilities	282,534	499,229
Long-term intercompany financing payable	93,064	95,061
Other long-term liabilities	10,641	8,421
Equity:
Total equity	8,270,183	7,487,980
Total liabilities and equity	8,656,422	8,090,691
Reportable legal entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Common Units
Equity:
Common units or Class B units	8,270,183	7,487,980
Eliminations
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables	(222,959)	(836,786)
Total current assets	(222,959)	(836,786)
Total property, plant and equipment, net	(26,998)	(47,697)
Other long-term assets:
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(9,810)	(10,209)
Investment in consolidated affiliates	(16,401,750)	(14,490,540)
Intercompany notes receivable	(238,500)	(186,100)
Total assets	(16,900,017)	(15,571,332)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	(222,959)	(836,788)
Other current liabilities	(2,624)	(2,400)
Total current liabilities	(225,583)	(839,188)
Long-term intercompany financing payable	(331,564)	(281,161)
Equity:
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	1,019,887	983,477
Total equity	(16,342,870)	(14,450,983)
Total liabilities and equity	(16,900,017)	(15,571,332)
Eliminations | Common Units
Equity:
Common units or Class B units	$ (17,362,757)	$ (15,434,460)