Partners' Equity, Allocations and Cash Distributions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended				12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended
	May 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Mar. 31, 2012 Common units	Aug. 31, 2011 Common units	May 31, 2011 Common units	Aug. 31, 2010 Common units	Dec. 31, 2012 Common units	Dec. 31, 2011 Common units	Dec. 31, 2010 Common units	Sep. 30, 2011 Common units Minimum	Dec. 31, 2012 Common units Minimum	Mar. 31, 2012 General partner units	May 31, 2011 General partner units	Dec. 31, 2012 General partner units	Dec. 31, 2011 General partner units	Jun. 30, 2011 Subordinated unitholders	Jun. 30, 2010 Subordinated unitholders	Dec. 31, 2011 Subordinated unitholders	Dec. 31, 2010 Subordinated unitholders	Dec. 31, 2012 Exterran Holdings	Mar. 31, 2011 Exterran Holdings Common units	Sep. 30, 2010 Exterran Holdings Common units	Dec. 31, 2012 Exterran Holdings Common units	Dec. 31, 2012 Exterran Holdings General partner units	Jun. 30, 2011 June 2011 Contract Operations Acquisition General partner units	Aug. 31, 2010 August 2010 Contract Operations Acquisition Common units	Aug. 31, 2010 August 2010 Contract Operations Acquisition General partner units
Common units sold (in units)					4,965,000		5,134,175		4,965,000	5,134,175													5,914,466	5,290,000
Common units sold pursuant to over-allotment option (in units)					465,000		134,175																664,466	690,000
Net proceeds from sale of common units		$ 114,530	$ 127,672		$ 114,500		$ 127,700
Repayment of borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility	64,800	684,350	620,434	454,500
General partner units issued to maintain ownership percentage (in units)														101,000	53,000	100,861	53,431
General partner's ownership interest in general partner units as a percentage		2.00%	2.00%											2.00%	2.00%	2.00%
Capital contribution by general partner		$ 2,426	$ 1,316											$ 2,400	$ 1,300
Conversion of subordinated units to common units (in units)						1,581,250		1,581,250		4,743,750	1,581,250									(4,743,750)	(1,581,250)
Number of units eligible for early conversion to common units																		1,581,250	1,581,250
Units issued in conjunction with acquisition (in units)																	50,973										51,000	8,200,000	167,000
Common units owned (in units)									42,270,101																12,495,391
Effective ownership interest held by other entity (as a percent)									98.00%
General partner units owned (in units)		858,583	757,722													858,583										858,583
Quarterly distribution (in dollars per unit)												$ 0.35	$ 0.35
Percentage of ownership interest held by other entity																						31.00%