Condensed Consolidated Statements of Partners' Capital (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Partners' Capital Common Units	Partners' Capital Subordinated Units	Partners' Capital General Partner Units	Treasury Units	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 258,308	$ 298,010	$ (33,194)	$ 8,457	$ (108)	$ (14,857)
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2009		17,541,965	6,325,000	486,243	(8,426)
Issuance of common units for vesting of phantom units		33,373
Treasury units purchased	(166)				(166)
Treasury units purchased, shares					(7,330)
Transaction costs for the public offering of common units by Exterran Holdings	(6)	(4)	(2)
Contribution of capital	11,971	6,873	4,742	356
Excess of purchase price of equipment over Exterran Holdings' cost of equipment	(972)	(558)	(385)	(29)
Cash distributions	(23,169)	(16,233)	(5,850)	(1,086)
Unit based compensation expense	438	438
Interest rate swap gain (loss)	919					919
Net income (loss)	81	(400)	(144)	625
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2010	247,404	288,126	(34,833)	8,323	(274)	(13,938)
Ending Balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2010		17,575,338	6,325,000	486,243	(15,756)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	350,737	379,748	(30,702)	10,638	(274)	(8,673)
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010		27,363,451	4,743,750	653,318	(15,756)
Issuance of common units for vesting of phantom units		43,764
Treasury units purchased	(281)				(281)
Treasury units purchased, shares					(9,845)
Net proceeds from issuance of common units	127,672	127,672
Net proceeds from issuance of common units, shares		5,134,175
Proceeds from sale of general partner units to Exterran Holdings	1,316			1,316
Proceeds from sale of general partner units to Exterran Holdings, shares				53,431
Transaction costs for the public offering of common units by Exterran Holdings	(261)	(261)
Acquisition of a portion of Exterran Holdings U.S. contract operations business	(23,888)	(24,655)		767
Acquisition of a portion of Exterran Holdings U.S. contract operations business, shares				50,973
Contribution of capital	21,628	13,753	6,928	947
Cash distributions	(32,233)	(26,000)	(4,506)	(1,727)
Unit based compensation expense	510	510
Interest rate swap gain (loss)	(4,094)					(4,094)
Amortization of payments to terminate interest rate swaps	5,131					(5,131)
Net income (loss)	(1,715)	(2,537)	(426)	1,248
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2011	$ 444,522	$ 468,230	$ (28,706)	$ 13,189	$ (555)	$ (7,636)
Ending Balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2011		32,541,390	4,743,750	757,722	(25,601)