Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Policy Text Block [Abstract]

Schedule Of Property Plant And Equipment Useful Lives [Table Text Block]

Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful life of each asset, as follows:

	Useful Lives
Transmission assets	20 - 30 years
Gathering systems	15 - 20 years
Gas processing plants	20 years
Other property and equipment	3 - 15 years

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]

The following table represents the Partnership's total purchased intangible assets at years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands)

	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount
2013
Customer relationships (1)	$	148,456	$	(65,125	)	$	83,331
Dedicated and non-dedicated acreage	395,649		(162,758		)	232,891
Total	$	544,105	$	(227,883	)	$	316,222
2012
Customer relationships	$	292,658	$	(130,458	)	$	162,200
Dedicated and non-dedicated acreage	395,652		(132,847		)	262,805
Total	$	688,310	$	(263,305	)	$	425,005

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]

The following table summarizes the Partnership's estimated aggregate amortization expense for the next five years (in thousands):

2014	$	35,827
2015	34,430
2016	32,944
2017	32,269
2018	31,882
Thereafter	148,870
Total	$	316,222

Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Table Text Block]

Amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements with respect to these plans are as follows (in thousands):

	Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Cost of share-based compensation charged to general and administrative expense	$	12,546	$	8,240	$	6,405
Cost of share-based compensation charged to operating expense	1,837		1,243		1,151
Total amount charged to income	$	14,383	$	9,483	$	7,556
Interest of non-controlling partners in share-based compensation	$	5,656	$	3,813	$	3,052
Amount of related income tax benefit recognized in income	$	3,235	$	2,102	$	1,670