Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 66,306		$ 990
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance of $864 and $1,190	43,169		43,917
Accrued revenues	99,730		68,011
Related party receivables	5,394		45,204
Derivative assets	5,671		4,374
Other current assets	25,320		24,628
Total current assets	245,590		187,124
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Property, plant and equipment	2,142,111		2,080,932
Less accumulated depreciation	(237,159)		(195,404)
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,904,952		1,885,528
Other Assets:
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	2,007,414		1,924,705
Long-term derivative assets	324		474
Other, net of accumulated amortization of debt issuance costs of $12,057 and $10,186	38,011		39,353
Total other assets	2,045,749		1,964,532
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $52,174 and $44,856	733,565		740,883
Goodwill	789,789		789,789
TOTAL ASSETS	5,719,645		5,567,856
Current Liabilities:
Drafts payable	0		2,507
Trade accounts payable	50,340		73,462
Accrued cost of gas and liquids	76,375		84,943
Related party payables	25,235		12,625
Deferred revenues, including related party amounts of $28 and $41	13,728		16,225
Derivative liabilities	5,653		10,535
Other current liabilities	38,393		33,009
Total current liabilities	209,724		233,306
Long-term derivative liabilities	38,887		39,112
Other long-term liabilities	5,845		6,071
Long-term debt, net	1,604,915		1,687,147
Commitments and contingencies
Series A Preferred Units, redemption amount of $84,889 and $84,773	72,196	[1]	71,144
Partners' capital and noncontrolling interest:
Common units	3,421,707		3,173,090
General partner interest	329,064		329,876
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,094)		(4,759)
Total partners' capital	3,749,677		3,498,207
Noncontrolling interest	38,401		32,869
Total partners' capital and noncontrolling interest	3,788,078		3,531,076
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL AND NONCONTROLLING INTEREST	$ 5,719,645		$ 5,567,856

[1] *This amount will be accreted to $80 million plus any accrued and unpaid distributions and interest by deducting amounts from partners’ capital over the remaining periods until the mandatory redemption date of September 2, 2029.