CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Partners' Capital Common Units	Partners' Capital Subordinated Units	Partners' Capital General Partner Units	Treasury Units	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 258,308	$ 298,010	$ (33,194)	$ 8,457	$ (108)	$ (14,857)
Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2009					(8,426)
Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2009		17,541,965	6,325,000	486,243
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital
Issuance of common units for vesting of phantom units (in units)		33,373
Treasury units purchased	(166)				(166)
Treasury units purchased (in units)					(7,330)
Transaction costs for conversion of subordinated units	(25)	(25)
Conversion of subordinated units to common units		(8,721)	8,721
Conversion of subordinated units to common units (in units)		1,581,250	(1,581,250)
Issuance of units to Exterran Holdings for a portion of its U.S. contract operations business	127,591	125,043		2,548
Issuance of units to Exterran Holdings for a portion of its U.S. contract operations business (in units)		8,206,863		167,075
Transaction costs for the public offering of common units by Exterran Holdings	(192)	(192)
Contribution of capital, net	32,645	21,401	10,316	928
Excess of purchase price of equipment over Exterran Holdings' cost of equipment	(972)	(558)	(385)	(29)
Cash distributions	(50,490)	(37,140)	(10,993)	(2,357)
Unit-based compensation expense	1,187	1,187
Interest rate swap gain (loss), net of reclassification to earnings	4,525					4,525
Amortization of payments to terminate interest rate swaps	1,659					1,659
Net income (loss)	(23,333)	(19,257)	(5,167)	1,091
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	350,737	379,748	(30,702)	10,638	(274)	(8,673)
Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2010					(15,756)
Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2010		27,363,451	4,743,750	653,318
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital
Issuance of common units for vesting of phantom units (in units)		67,026
Treasury units purchased	(484)				(484)
Treasury units purchased (in units)					(18,055)
Transaction costs for conversion of subordinated units	(71)	(71)
Conversion of subordinated units to common units		(29,556)	29,556
Conversion of subordinated units to common units (in units)		4,743,750	(4,743,750)
Net proceeds from issuance of common units	127,672	127,672
Net proceeds from issuance of common units (in units)		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 (in units)				53,431
Transaction costs for the registration of units by Exterran Holdings	(78)	(78)
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 (in units)				50,973
Contribution of capital, net	34,283	23,951	9,158	1,174
Excess of purchase price of equipment over Exterran Holdings' cost of equipment	(752)	(709)		(43)
Cash distributions	(70,636)	(58,319)	(8,337)	(3,980)
Unit-based compensation expense	515	515
Interest rate swap gain (loss), net of reclassification to earnings	(10,891)					(10,891)
Amortization of payments to terminate interest rate swaps	10,251					10,251
Net income (loss)	6,053	2,723	325	3,005
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	423,766	420,960		12,877	(758)	(9,313)
Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2011	(33,811)				(33,811)
Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2011		37,308,402		757,722
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital
Issuance of common units for vesting of phantom units (in units)		40,329
Treasury units purchased	(225)				(225)
Treasury units purchased (in units)					(9,819)
Net proceeds from issuance of common units	114,530	114,530
Net proceeds from issuance of common units (in units)		4,965,000
Proceeds from sale of general partner units to Exterran Holdings	2,426			2,426
Proceeds from sale of general partner units to Exterran Holdings (in units)				100,861
Acquisition of a portion of Exterran Holdings U.S. contract operations business	(28,221)	(28,221)
Contribution of capital, net	15,092	15,053		39
Excess of purchase price of equipment over Exterran Holdings' cost of equipment	(11,012)	(10,330)		(682)
Cash distributions	(87,866)	(82,073)		(5,793)
Unit-based compensation expense	782	782
Interest rate swap gain (loss), net of reclassification to earnings	(1,679)					(1,679)
Amortization of payments to terminate interest rate swaps	898					898
Net income (loss)	10,509	5,886		4,623
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 439,000	$ 436,587		$ 13,490	$ (983)	$ (10,094)
Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2012	(43,630)				(43,630)
Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2012		42,313,731		858,583